Blend it — tap a word
Tap a card: you hear the first sound, then it joins -et to make the word. Say the whole word together.
▶ Watch
Read It Out! — the class reads each -et word aloud, and each word comes out of the book in color. About 5 minutes.
🧩 Play
In the -et game, children find the hidden words, sing along and take a short quiz. It is part of the full -et set on Teachers Pay Teachers. See how it works with our free -at game.
🖨️ Print
Free sample pages (color + black-and-white), or the full set: 14 color pages, 14 black-and-white pages, the game and the video for $4.
A 10-minute -et lesson
- Watch the video together and read each word with the class.
- Tap the cards above: say the first sound, then -et, then the whole word.
- Play the game from the full set — children shout the word when they find it.
- Finish with one worksheet page: read, trace and match.
Questions about the -et word family
What are the -et word family words?
The -et word family is a group of short e words that all end in -et: pet, wet, vet, jet and net. They are CVC words (consonant, vowel, consonant), so a child who can read -et can read every word in the family by changing only the first sound.
How do I teach the -et word family to a kindergartener?
Say the ending first (/et/), then put one first sound in front and blend: p + -et = pet, w + -et = wet, v + -et = vet. Point to a picture for each word, then let the child try a new first sound on their own. Short daily practice works better than one long lesson.
What age is the -et word family for?
Most children are ready for word families around ages 4 to 6 (pre-K to first grade), once they know their letter sounds. It also works for English learners (ESL/ELL) of any age who are starting to read.
Are the -et word family worksheets free?
Yes, there is a free sample of the -et worksheets (color and black-and-white) on Teachers Pay Teachers. The full set with 14 color pages, 14 black-and-white pages, a game and the video costs $4.
What word family comes after -et?
More short e word families are on the way. Until then, review -en and -et together: hen, pen, pet, wet.
Short e word families