What are word families?
Word families are groups of words that share the same ending pattern and sound, like:
-at: cat, hat, bat, mat
-op: hop, pop, mop, top
-ig: big, pig, wig, dig
Once a child can read “cat,” it’s much easier for them to read “hat,” “sat,” or “mat.” They don’t need to sound out each word from scratch; they just recognize the pattern.
Why word families work
They build confidence
Kids feel successful when they read a group of words quickly and correctly.
They boost fluency
Recognizing patterns helps kids read more smoothly and with fewer pauses.
They strengthen spelling
If a child knows how to spell “log,” they can spell “dog” or “fog” by applying the same sound pattern.
They expand vocabulary
One word family instantly opens the door to five or more new words.
How to teach word families
Here are some simple ways to explore word families with early readers:
Word sorts
Write different word endings (-an, -en, -in) on cards and have your child sort words into the correct family.
Word family houses
Draw a little “house” for each word family and fill it with rhyming words. To make it fun, kids can decorate the houses.
Rhyming games
Say a word like “log” and challenge your child to come up with as many “-og” words as they can.
Word family readers
Use simple books that focus on just one word family per page or story. (Many phonics readers do this.)
Cut-and-paste matching
Match pictures (like a cat or a bat) with the correct word endings. This works great with visuals for young learners.
Word families worksheets
In our grade 1 phonics section, we have a set of worksheets that focus on grade appropriate word families.
Popular word families to start with
Here are some common short-vowel word families to try:
-at: cat, sat, rat, hat
-an: fan, man, pan, can
-it: sit, fit, hit, bit
-op: mop, hop, top, cop
-et: pet, net, wet, jet
Word families are a smart way to help kids unlock the code of reading. By learning just a few patterns, they gain access to many words—making early reading faster and smoother.
