Decodable Books for UFLI Foundations Lesson 113: ear /ear/
We’re passionate about ensuring literacy is accessible to every child, as it is essential for a happy, successful life. These decodable books for UFLI Lesson 113 centre on the ear spelling of the /ear/ sound, in words like ear, dear, hear, near and year. Children read the pattern in short stories, and a couple of free titles let you try it online.
Free
Not Done Yet, Ned
Ned finally has his shed, his shovel, and a hillside of dirt to dig. But when his shovel hits solid stone, he learns some jobs need a different tool entirely. Will he figure out what to build next? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 113: ear /ear/), this book practises words like ’near’, ‘clear’, ’ear’, ‘appeared’, ’nearby’.
Free
Gran Has Ears
Gran always says the same thing at mango time: “Every. Mango. Matters.” Harvest day means climbing high, catching carefully, and making sure nothing splats. But when the whole crew joins in, from tree to market to floating boats, can they get every single mango home safe? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 113: ear /ear/), this book practises words like ‘hear’, ’near’, ‘clearly’, ‘dear’, ‘fear’.
A Fresh Plate for Ash!
A boy is proud of the meal he grew all by himself, and he wants everyone to hear about it. But growing your own food means digging, watering, and shooing hungry birds and cows away from the crops. When his family finally sits down to eat, will there be a surprise waiting after dinner? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 113: ear /ear/), this book practises words like ‘hear’, ’near’, ‘clear’, ‘appeared’, ‘beard’.
The Cat Will Not Hear!
Dr. Can Do fixes everything in town, but a quick ginger cat near the farm won’t listen to a word he says. Jill just laughs and tells him the trick is fish, not orders. Can a proud doctor learn to sit still and let a wild little stray come to him? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 113: ear /ear/), this book practises words like ’near’, ‘hear’, ‘appeared’, ‘weary’, ’ears’.
Fisi and the Bones
Fisi the Hyena never knows when to stop taking bones, and when a windfall scatters across the rocky hills, he scrambles up to grab every last one. Deep in the rocks he finds a strange echo, and mistakes it for a generous spirit granting him permission to take more, and more, and more. Will Fisi ever hear the truth before it costs him everything? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 113: ear /ear/), this book practises words like ‘hear’, ’near’, ‘clearly’, ‘disappear’, ’nearly’.
Ajapa Hears Sky Food
Ajapa the tortoise cannot fly, but he longs to taste the sky-people’s feast. When he convinces the birds to lend him their feathers, will his clever plan earn him a seat at the greatest meal of the year? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 113: ear /ear/), this book practises words like ‘hear’, ’near’, ‘fearful’, ’nearby’, ‘disappear’.
The Cursed Emerald Part 5
A cursed emerald has trapped a player far from the Nether, and every plan to destroy it fails. Stone creeps up his friend’s arms, villagers flee at a glance, and the cold grows worse each day. Could one bold throw finally end the curse before it’s too late? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 113: ear /ear/), this book practises words like ’near’, ‘fear’, ‘appear’, ‘clear’, ‘hear’.
Hot Dog for Cat?
Dot finally has a cat, but there’s a problem: he won’t eat anything she brings him. She tries bread, apples, even eggs, but the cat just turns away every time. Could there be one food he’s been trying to show her all along, right from the very start? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 113: ear /ear/), this book practises words like ‘clearly’, ’near’, ’ears’, ‘hear’, ’nearby’.
Ben and His Birds
Ben loves his one small pet bird so much that he begs his father to catch more birds from the forest, imagining a whole house full of songs. Soon every cage is full, but something strange happens: not one bird will sing. Why have all the birds gone silent? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 113: ear /ear/), this book practises words like ‘hear’, ’near’, ‘clearly’, ’nearby’, ’tear’.
Yonas Slips Away
Saba wants Yonas, her new stepson, to finally feel at home, but the quiet boy won’t eat her food and slips away every night to stare at the hills alone. A wise healer says she needs a whisker from a live lion’s chin, and Saba’s mouth goes dry, but could patience really tame something so wild? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 113: ear /ear/), this book practises words like ’near’, ‘dear’, ‘fear’, ‘appear’, ’nearly’.
Stop The Fox!
Fig Pig’s peaceful chicken pen just gained a surprise visitor, and soon there are six clucking hens to love. But a hungry fox is watching from outside the fence, and when she strikes, she moves faster than anyone can catch. Can Fig Pig and his friends stop her before breakfast disappears for good? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 113: ear /ear/), this book practises words like ‘fear’, ’near’, ‘cleared’, ’nearly’, ‘smeared’.
Too Much Honey, Ned!
Ned has built the biggest, finest beehive around, and the honey is just too good to stop eating. But as jar after jar disappears, his tummy starts grumbling, his face turns green, and even the pigs seem worried. Will Ned listen before it’s too late? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 113: ear /ear/), this book practises words like ’near’, ‘hear’, ‘clearing’, ’nearby’, ‘weary’.
Fear Not, Village!
Pep the parrot has three days to finish his parade float, but one big splash of spilled paint gives him a much bigger idea: why paint one little cart when he could paint the whole town? Soon every dreary rooftop and fence nearby gets a wild splash of colour, whether the neighbours asked for it or not. As grumbles turn to shouts, can Pep convince the town before they catch him? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 113: ear /ear/), this book practises words like ’nearby’, ‘fear’, ‘clearly’, ‘dearest’, ‘years’.
Can Tad Get It?
Frog loves the stars so much he wants to hold one. He climbs higher and higher to reach them, but every stretch leaves his fingers grasping empty air. Can he ever get close enough to touch a star? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 113: ear /ear/), this book practises words like ’near’, ‘appeared’, ‘clearly’, ’nearby’, ’tears’.
Why Is Mama So Slow?
Every day at three, the school bell rings and every parent races to pick up their child. Mama Bear runs her hardest, but she is always last, arriving weary and out of breath while Baby Bear waits alone in the empty yard. Could a shiny new bike help Mama Bear finally beat the bell? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 113: ear /ear/), this book practises words like ‘weary’, ’nearby’, ‘fearful’, ‘disappeared’, and ‘clearly’.
No Shade Fits a Goat
Jill the goat is having the worst day ever in the summer heat, and no matter where she looks, no shade seems the right size for her. She tries the cool stream, then some shrubs on the hillside, but every spot is nearly too small for a goat. Then a building project in town gives her an idea. Can Jill build shade that fits a goat, all by herself? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 113: ear /ear/), this book practises words like ’ear’, ‘hear’, ’near’, ’tears’, ’nearly’.
Decodable Books Created to Align with the UFLI Foundations Scope and Sequence
Frequently Asked Questions
What words have the /ear/ sound?
The ear spelling is the most common, as in ear, dear, hear, near, clear, fear and year. The same sound can also be spelled eer, as in deer and cheer, or ere, as in here. The stories for UFLI Lesson 113 stick with ear, which gives children a strong base before the less common spellings.
When do you use eer and when do you use ear?
The sound gives no clue, so the choice depends on the word. The ear spelling covers more everyday words, while eer appears in a smaller group such as deer, cheer, steer and peer. Pairs like dear and deer show that meaning decides the spelling, which makes them a useful talking point when you read aloud together.
Which words with ere sound like ear?
Words like here, mere, sphere and severe use ere for the /ear/ sound. Be careful with where and there, where the same letters make the /air/ sound instead. Pointing out these pairs helps children stay flexible, and Snow, Burns & Griffin (1998) stressed that children need practice reading real text until word recognition becomes fluent.
Why does ear sound different in bear and learn?
The letters ear can make three sounds: /ear/ in hear, /air/ in bear and pear, and /er/ in learn and earth. The /ear/ sound is the most common, so it is a good first try when children meet a new word. If that does not make a real word, they can switch to another sound and check the meaning.
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