Tricky Words Resources – Phonics Worksheets, Games & Activities
Help children master tricky words with our range of engaging tricky words worksheets, games, and phonics activities. Tricky words are essential for early reading and writing, appearing frequently in books, phonics lessons, and everyday language. Unlike decodable words, tricky words do not follow phonetic rules and must be recognised by sight. Our structured resources support children in learning tricky words through repetition, exposure, and interactive play.
What Are Tricky Words?
Tricky words are words that cannot be decoded using phonics knowledge at the child’s current stage of learning. They contain spellings that do not follow regular phonetic rules, meaning they need to be recognised as whole words. Tricky words are introduced progressively from Phase 2 to Phase 5 within phonics instruction.
Phases 2-5 Tricky Words List
- Phase 2 tricky words: I, no, go, to, the, into.
- Phase 3 tricky words: he, she, we, me, be, was, you, they, all, are, my, her.
- Phase 4 tricky words: said, have, like, so, do, some, come, were, there, little, one, when, out, what.
- Phase 5 tricky words: oh, their, people, Mr, Mrs, looked, called, asked, could.
Tricky Words Worksheets & Printable Activities
Our tricky words worksheets provide structured practice to reinforce tricky word recognition and spelling. These resources are perfect for phonics lessons, independent work, and intervention groups.
- Tracing and writing worksheets: Help children become familiar with tricky word spellings.
- Sentence-building activities: Support tricky word usage in context.
- Cut-and-stick word matching: Encourage interactive learning through hands-on activities.
- Tricky word mats: Provide a quick reference for children during reading and writing tasks.
Tricky Words Games for Phonics Lessons
Phonics games make learning tricky words fun and engaging. Our tricky words games encourage children to recognise, read, and use tricky words in different contexts.
- Tricky word bingo: A fun way to reinforce word recognition in small groups.
- Flashcard snap: A fast-paced game where children match tricky words and read them aloud.
- Memory matching pairs: Helps children recall tricky words through visual memory.
- Roll and read: A dice-based game that encourages fluency in reading tricky words.
How to Teach Tricky Words Effectively
Teaching tricky words requires repeated exposure and structured practice. Here are some effective strategies:
- Introduce tricky words gradually: Teach a small number of words at a time.
- Use flashcards: Our Phase 3 tricky word flashcards are great for daily review.
- Encourage multi-sensory learning: Get children to say, trace, and write the words.
- Practise through reading: Use decodable texts that contain tricky words to reinforce learning.
Supporting Reading Fluency with Tricky Words
Tricky words appear frequently in reading books, meaning children need to recognise them quickly to develop fluency. Using tricky word flashcards, tricky word mats, and decodable texts can support children in recalling and applying these words with ease.
Our phonics resources align with structured phonics programmes and help embed tricky words into daily lessons.
Why Use Our Tricky Words Resources?
- Aligned with Letters and Sounds and other phonics schemes.
- Includes tricky words worksheets, games, and activities for Phases 2-5.
- Supports word recognition and reading fluency.
- Perfect for phonics intervention and whole-class teaching.
Explore our full collection of tricky words resources and help your pupils develop essential reading skills with confidence.
