Teaching irregular and heart words can feel like an uphill climb, can’t it? These words defy the rules we so carefully teach, leaving many students frustrated and unsure of how to move forward. I’ve spent years working with struggling readers, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that mastering these words is a key step toward unlocking fluent, confident reading. But it’s not just about rote memorization, it’s about giving students the tools to recognize and understand these words in meaningful contexts.

That’s why I’m so excited to share UFLI Aligned Irregular Sight and Heart Words Decodable Passages with Comprehension Questions with you. This resource is packed with multi-level, skill-centered activities that help students engage with these tricky words in a way that’s both structured and approachable. It’s designed specifically to support educators and parents in guiding learners toward success, whether they’re just starting out or need extra practice to build fluency.

To give you a firsthand look, I’m offering a free sample of the resource. It’s my way of showing how effectively it can integrate into your routines and support the growth of your students. Trust me, once you see the progress they make, you’ll wonder how you taught these concepts without it!

Why Mastery of Irregular and Heart Words Is Essential

Irregular and heart words are critical for fluency as they appear frequently in nearly every text students read.
These words often don’t follow traditional phonics rules, making it challenging for students to “sound them out” effectively.
Struggling readers may feel frustrated when they hit words like “does” or “said,” causing hesitation and chipping away at their confidence.
Consistent, purposeful practice is essential to help students recognize these words automatically rather than relying on pure memorization.
Automatic recognition of irregular words frees up mental energy, allowing students to focus on comprehension and text meaning.
Without targeted support, irregular words can become roadblocks that interrupt reading flow and lower overall motivation.
Prioritizing exposure and engaging practice builds both skills and confidence, setting students up for success as fluent, confident readers.

When you think about teaching students how to read fluently, high-frequency words, like “the” or “said,” are often some of the biggest hurdles. These are the words they encounter over and over in nearly every text they read, so learning to recognize them quickly is key to building fluency. But here’s the challenge many educators face, these words often don’t play by the phonics rules we’ve been teaching. You can’t just tell students to “sound it out” when the letters don’t align with the sounds they expect. This can leave educators and students feeling stuck.

I’ve seen it myself in the classroom. A student might start to gain confidence, stringing together decodable words like “cat” or “run,” only to hit a wall when they reach something like “does.” You can see that hesitation creep in, followed quickly by frustration. These irregular words can feel like roadblocks, especially for early readers or those already struggling with decoding skills. And when they hit those roadblocks too often, it starts to chip away at their confidence.

That’s why it’s so important to provide consistent, purposeful practice with these words. Memorization alone isn’t enough; students need multiple opportunities to see, read, write, and internalize these words in varied contexts. By doing this, we help them move from stumbling through “the” and “what” to reading them automatically. That automaticity frees up their mental energy, allowing them to focus on the meaning of what they’re reading instead of getting stuck on individual words.

Without targeted practice, these words can feel like stumbling blocks that interrupt the flow of reading. Over time, that can make texts seem more overwhelming and impact a student’s overall motivation. Prioritizing consistent exposure and engaging practice not only helps students recognize these words more easily but also sets them up for success as confident, fluent readers. If you’ve seen your students struggle with these tricky words, then you know how vital it is to give them a solid foundation to overcome that challenge.

What Makes This Resource a Must-Have for Educators

Three levels of decodable passages aligned with UFLI lessons:

Level 1: Foundational support for beginners
Level 2: Longer passages for engagement and growth
Level 3: Challenging, fully decodable passages for mastery

Activities to reinforce essential literacy skills, including:

Word mapping to break down phonetic and non-phonetic parts of words.
Spelling and reading practice to solidify learning and build confidence.

Comprehension questions that promote critical thinking and deeper engagement with texts.
Two convenient formats for classroom and at-home learning needs:

Double-sided sheets for structured practice and activities in one place.
Foldable readers for creating mini booklets and easy take-home support.

Versatile design suitable for small groups, independent learning, intervention blocks, or home reinforcement.
Clear and user-friendly for both educators and parents, supporting consistent student progress with irregular and heart words.

If you’ve been searching for a resource that truly helps students tackle irregular and heart words, this one has everything you need. Each element is designed to give targeted practice while being accessible for diverse learners. Here’s a closer look at what makes it so effective and how it can fit seamlessly into your teaching routine.

Three Decodable Passages with Flexible Levels of Support

These passages are the heart of the resource, and they’re carefully designed to grow with your students.

Level 1 provides foundational support for early learners or those needing extra scaffolding. These passages are shorter, simpler, and focus on basic recognition and usage of specific sight words. Aligned with UFLI Lessons 1-128, this level is great for building confidence while ensuring students feel successful right from the start.
Level 2 steps it up with longer passages to keep students engaged and challenge them just enough. Aligned with UFLI Lessons 1-128, these passages strike a balance between support and growth, encouraging students to strengthen their decoding and fluency skills.
Level 3 offers the most text, pushing students toward mastery. Aligned with UFLI Lessons 1-128, these fully decodable passages support fluent reading and improve spelling through consistent exposure. This level is perfect for students ready to stretch their abilities and apply what they’ve learned in a more robust way.

This tiered structure is a lifesaver when you’re working with students at varying skill levels. I’ve used the levels in small group instruction, where one group focuses on Level 1 while another dives into Level 3. It keeps everyone challenged and engaged without feeling left behind.

Activities That Reinforce Key Skills

Beyond the passages, the resource includes activities that target essential literacy skills. Students practice word mapping, which breaks words down into their phonetic and non-phonetic parts, helping them internalize tricky spellings. They also engage in hands-on spelling and reading practice, which builds mastery and carries over into their writing.

For example, I’ve had students map out the word “does,” writing out the sounds they hear and noting the unexpected spelling. Watching them take ownership of these words instead of feeling defeated is incredibly rewarding.

Comprehension Questions That Build Critical Thinking

The comprehension questions add another layer of depth. These aren’t just simple “who” or “what” questions; they push students to connect ideas, infer meaning, and engage with the text on a deeper level.

For example, one question might ask students to explain why a character chose a particular action, encouraging them to think critically about what they’ve read. These thoughtful exercises not only improve understanding but also prepare students for similar tasks they’ll encounter in standardized assessments and beyond.

Two Convenient Formats

This resource comes in two formats, so you can choose what works best for your classroom or home setting.

The double-sided option is perfect for keeping everything in one place. One side covers sound practice, word mapping, and decoding, while the reverse includes comprehension questions and word sorts.
The foldable reader format is great for creating mini booklets. I love using this option for one-on-one practice or for sending home as reinforcement. Parents often tell me how helpful the foldable version is for keeping kids on track with their reading goals.

Real-Life Applications in the Classroom and Beyond

What I appreciate most about this resource is its versatility. Whether you’re using it in small groups, assigning it for independent practice, or sending it home for extra support, it adapts to fit your needs. I’ve used it during intervention blocks, where students can work through activities at their own pace, and even included it in substitute plans when I needed something reliable and effective.

Parents appreciate the clear structure, too, especially when working with their children at home. Many have told me that it’s helped them feel more confident in supporting their child’s learning. Not an easy feat when dealing with irregular and heart words!

This UFLI Aligned Irregular Sight and Heart Words Decodable Passages with Comprehension Questions resource is more than just a stack of worksheets. It’s a thoughtfully designed toolkit that gives students the repeated exposure and meaningful practice they need to feel confident and successful. And as teachers, isn’t that what we’re all striving for?

How This Resource Will Transform Your Students’ Reading Skills

Builds fluency and confidence by helping students decode irregular words in meaningful, decodable contexts, transforming hesitant readers into confident ones.
Improves spelling through hands-on activities like word mapping, reading, and writing, helping students understand and internalize tricky spellings.
Enhances comprehension with thought-provoking questions that push students to engage deeply with texts and think critically about characters and events.
Develops critical thinking skills through interactive activities that encourage problem-solving and careful analysis, skills that extend across subjects.
Strengthens overall literacy by improving fluency, comprehension, and writing skills, setting students up for success in all areas of learning.

One of the most rewarding parts of teaching is seeing measurable growth in your students, and this resource is designed to make those moments happen. With carefully structured practice, students can build skills that not only help them tackle challenging words but also create a strong foundation for overall literacy. Here’s what you can expect to see in your classroom:

Fluency and Confidence Through Meaningful Practice
Struggling readers often get stuck when they encounter words that break the rules they’re used to. By providing texts that incorporate irregular and heart words into meaningful, decodable contexts, this resource allows students to confidently decode as they read. For instance, a student who hesitated over words like “what” will begin to read them smoothly, without pause. This confidence grows as they repeatedly see and master similar words, transforming hesitant readers into ones who approach texts with excitement instead of frustration.

Improved Spelling Through Hands-On Engagement
Effective spelling practice isn’t just about rote repetition. With activities like word mapping, reading, and writing built right into the resource, students engage with words in multiple ways. For example, mapping out the parts of a word like “said” helps students break down tricky spellings and commit them to memory. They aren’t just learning how to spell; they’re learning why a word is spelled that way, which makes the knowledge stick. This same understanding then transfers into their own written work, helping them become more confident writers.

Stronger Comprehension With Thought-Provoking Questions
It’s not enough for students to read the words on a page; they need to understand what they’re reading, too. The comprehension questions included in this resource push students to think critically about the text. Instead of simply recalling details, questions might ask them to explain why a character made a specific decision or predict what might happen next. One of my favorite moments came when a quiet student confidently explained how a character’s choice reflected their personality. Seeing kids engage with the material on that level feels like a big victory, and it helps prepare them for higher-level reading comprehension tasks as they continue to grow.

Critical Thinking Through Interactive Activities
Through activities that guide students to analyze and interact with words, this resource fosters critical thinking at every step. Whether they’re choosing the correct use of an irregular word in a sentence or using context clues to determine meaning, students develop skills they’ll rely on across subjects. These activities encourage them to slow down, think through the problem, and arrive at an answer on their own. Over time, you’ll notice their problem-solving skills improving—not just in reading, but in other areas of learning, too.

Extending Skills Beyond Reading
What makes these improvements so impactful is that they don’t just stop at reading. A student who becomes fluent and confident with irregular words is better equipped for writing, where quick word recognition keeps ideas flowing without pause. Strong comprehension and critical thinking pave the way for more insightful essays and class discussions. Ultimately, these skills help your students stand out as capable, literate learners in every subject.

This UFLI Aligned Irregular Sight and Heart Words Decodable Passages with Comprehension Questions resource is more than a set of activities to get through; it’s a thoughtful approach to building the kind of fluency, confidence, and understanding that shape lifelong readers and learners. Watching your students grow in these areas, knowing they didn’t just memorize words but truly internalized them, is the kind of progress that reminds us why we’re here as educators.

Practical Ways to Use This Resource

Practical Ways to Use This UFLI Aligned Resource

Classroom Use: Perfect for small groups, centers, and independent practice. Students can map words, answer comprehension questions, and work at their level without extra prep.
Homework/At-Home Learning: Engages parents with clear, manageable activities like foldable readers and word mapping to support skill reinforcement at home.
Intervention/RTI Focus: Tailored for targeted practice in struggling areas. Teachers can zero in on specific irregular words or decoding skills with easy-to-use materials.
Substitute Plans: Clear, structured format allows substitutes to guide students effectively, ensuring meaningful learning continues during your absence.
Educator Success Stories: Teachers have used it during morning work, for fluency activities, and for interactive exercises like mapping words. Interventionists report students enjoy the hands-on aspect of the resource.

What I love about this resource is how adaptable it is to different teaching routines. Whether you’re in a bustling classroom setting, providing one-on-one support, or sending materials home, it fits right in without feeling like “one more thing” to manage. Here are some effective ways you can use it:

Classroom Use
This resource is ideal for small group instruction. I’ve often used the leveled passages to match students’ skills, so no one feels lost or under-challenged. For instance, while one group works on foundational Level 1 passages, others can stretch their abilities with Level 3. The variety of activities keeps everyone engaged, from working on word mapping to practicing comprehension questions.

It’s also great for literacy centers. Students can rotate between decoding practice, writing the tricky words they’ve mapped, and answering thoughtfully designed comprehension questions. Plus, it’s straightforward enough that independent workers can stay on task while you guide another group. For students who finish early, this resource makes an excellent extension activity because it reinforces skills without busy work.

Homework/At-Home Learning
Parents are often eager to help but may not know the best way to support their child. This resource can bridge that gap. The foldable reader format, for example, is perfect for sending home as a manageable, structured activity. Parents can listen to their child read, guide them through word mapping, or discuss the comprehension questions together.

One parent of a former student shared how the nightly use of these simple tools became a turning point for her child; they went from feeling unsure with irregular words to proudly mastering them. Small, consistent practice at home truly adds up.

Intervention/RTI Focus
For personalized intervention or RTI groups, this resource is a lifesaver. It allows you to target specific areas with struggling readers. If a student is tripping over certain heart words, you can zero in on those with Level 1 passages and reinforce spelling through mapping activities.

I’ve often seen measurable growth by focusing just 10 minutes of intervention time a few times a week on these tailored exercises. The built-in scaffolding means you don’t have to start from scratch or scramble for materials that truly meet students where they are.

Substitute Plans
We’ve all been there. You need to leave plans that work without you hovering over every step. This resource is a dream for those days. Its clear structure means substitutes can jump in and guide students through without endless prep.

For example, I’ve left the double-sided format in a stack for small group rotations, and subs have shared how easy it was to follow along with the comprehension questions and word work. It’s reliable enough that you can trust your students are continuing meaningful learning, even when you’re out.

What Educators Are Saying
I’ve heard so many creative approaches from colleagues using this resource. One teacher used it during morning work, giving students time to revisit tricky words and practice fluency before the day got busy. Another interventionist shared how their students loved visually mapping words because it felt like solving a puzzle. It’s always inspiring to hear the different ways educators are adapting it to their unique needs.

No matter how you choose to use it, these UFLI Aligned Irregular Sight and Heart Words Decodable Passages with Comprehension Questions adapt to your workflow and complement your teaching. With structured, engaging materials that target key skills, it supports your students where they are and helps them steadily move forward. That kind of progress doesn’t just stay in the classroom; it builds lifelong learners.

Why I Recommend This Resource

Personal Impact: Shared a story of a hesitant reader transforming into a confident student through consistent use of this resource.
Flexibility for Differentiation: Offers tailored activities suitable for learners at various levels, ensuring everyone feels supported and challenged.
Confidence Building: Helps struggling readers overcome frustration, fostering curiosity and a positive attitude towards reading.
Skill Integration: Strengthens fluency, comprehension, and critical thinking, ensuring well-rounded literacy development.
Teacher-Friendly: Balances effective, engaging, and easy-to-use features, making it a practical tool for busy educators.

Over the years, I've worked with countless students who struggle with irregular words. One student, in particular, comes to mind. She came into the year hesitant and disengaged, stumbling over basic sight words and losing confidence with every missed attempt. I remember sitting with her during small group time and breaking down tricky words using word mapping activities from this resource. At first, she needed constant guidance, but little by little, those lightbulb moments started happening. The resource gave her the tools to work through the words instead of freezing in frustration. By midyear, she wasn’t just reading “the” and “said”; she was breezing through short texts and proudly helping her peers with words she had once avoided.

What makes this resource such a standout for me is its flexibility. It’s designed to meet students where they are, so you can tailor it to each learner’s specific needs. Whether it’s foundation-level practice for students like my hesitant reader or enrichment for those ready to tackle deeper comprehension work, the variety ensures everyone feels challenged, but not overwhelmed. This approach has been a turning point for differentiating instruction in my classroom.

For struggling readers, progress often feels painfully slow. But what I love about this material is that it breaks skills down into manageable steps and provides consistent, meaningful practice. Students realize they can succeed, and that confidence spills into other areas of learning. I’ve seen it with my own students who initially resisted reading at all. After working with irregular words in engaging, tangible ways, they start to approach reading with curiosity instead of dread.

I recommend these UFLI Aligned Irregular Sight and Heart Words Decodable Passages with Comprehension Questions because it doesn’t just teach isolated skills. It builds fluency, comprehension, and critical thinking while also boosting confidence. And confidence, as any educator knows, is half the battle. If you’re like me, always looking to strike a balance between effective, engaging, and easy-to-use, you’ll find a lot to love here. It’s a resource that genuinely helps you help your students, and that’s the kind of tool every educator hopes to have in their corner.

Try Before You Buy – Free Sample

Risk-Free Trial: A chance to evaluate the resource’s impact on student learning before committing.
Flexible Use: Suitable for small groups, independent work, or intervention sessions.

I know how important it is to find a resource that truly fits your classroom’s needs. That’s why I encourage you to test this out with a free sample, no strings attached. It’s a great way to see how the materials work and how your students interact with them before committing to the full resource.

The sample includes a Level 1 decodable passage, designed with struggling readers in mind. Along with the passage, you’ll have comprehension questions and skill-based activities that reinforce essential skills like decoding and word mapping. What I especially appreciate is the full answer key included, making it easy to assess student progress and guide them where they need extra practice.

You can use the sample in a small group setting, incorporate it into independent work, or even test it as part of your next intervention session. It’s an ideal way to get a feel for the resource’s structure and see firsthand how it can support your teaching goals.

Trying out the sample is a risk-free way to determine if this tool is the right fit for your students. If you’re anything like me, you’re probably balancing several priorities at once, so knowing you can thoughtfully explore the resource before purchasing ensures it’s a good investment for your time and effort. Give it a try! I think you’ll find it’s both effective and easy to work into your routines.

Take the Next Step for Your Students

Encouragement to Download Free Sample: Try the resource risk-free to see its benefits firsthand.
Explore the Full Resource: Tailored materials for small groups, independent work, or intervention sessions.
Special Pricing and Bundle Options: Maximize your budget with affordable choices.
Motivational Tone: Highlights the importance of providing effective tools for student growth and confidence.
Support for Struggling Readers: Designed to make meaningful progress in skills and boost their love for learning.
Empowering Educators: A reminder of your role in creating breakthroughs for your students.

It’s one thing to read about how a resource can support your teaching, but it’s another to see it in action. That’s why I encourage you to download the free sample today. It’s a simple, no-risk way to experience how this tool can fit into your daily routines and benefit your students.

Once you’ve had the chance to explore the free sample, I recommend checking out the full resource. Whether you need materials for small groups, independent practice, or intervention, everything is thoughtfully designed to save you time while delivering meaningful results for your students.

You know firsthand how hard struggling readers work to make progress. Giving them access to engaging, effective tools can make all the difference, not just in their skills, but in their confidence and love of learning. You have the power to create those breakthroughs, and this resource is here to help you make it happen.

Don’t wait. Download the free sample, explore the full resource, and take this step toward supporting your students today. Their growth and success are worth it!

Wrapping Up

Helping your students build solid foundational skills like decoding and comprehension is one of the most rewarding parts of teaching. These are the skills that open doors—not just to reading success, but to a lifelong love of learning. Seeing a student move from frustration to pride because they're finally making progress is the moment that reminds us why we do what we do.

The UFLI Aligned Irregular Sight and Heart Words Decodable Passages with Comprehension Questions is designed to help you create those moments. Its carefully structured passages, comprehension activities, and skill-based focus strengthen reading abilities and build confidence. There’s nothing quite like seeing the self-assurance in a student’s smile after accomplishing a task they once dreaded.

If you haven’t yet, make sure to download the free sample. It’s an easy way to see how this resource can fit into your teaching routine and meet your students’ needs. Once you’ve explored the sample, take a deeper look at the whole product. It’s a practical, impactful addition to your toolkit with tailored content and special pricing options.

Your students deserve access to tools that help them thrive as readers. The UFLI Aligned Irregular Sight and Heart Words Decodable Passages with Comprehension Questions is here to make that difference. Download your free sample now and take the first step toward giving your students the support they need to succeed. Their progress, confidence, and joy in learning await!

Build Foundational Skills with UFLI Aligned Irregular Sight and Heart Words Decodables