Decodable Books for UFLI Foundations Lesson 42: FLSZ Spelling Rule (ff/ll/ss/zz)
We believe every child deserves access to quality reading materials that nurture a lifelong love of learning. This collection of decodable books for UFLI Lesson 42 focuses on the FLSZ spelling rule, often called the floss rule. After a short vowel, f, l, s and z usually double at the end of a word, so children read double letter words like off, ill, miss and buzz.
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Get the Buzz, Pals!
Jazz has a big plan: wow some new pals with his singing voice! But when he belts it out, the rabbit, rooster, and lizard bolt the other way. Heartbroken but determined, Jazz vows to drill his skill until nobody can resist. What will it take to get his pals back on stage? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 42: FLSZ Spelling Rule (ff, ll, ss, zz)), this book practises words like ‘stiff’, ‘yells’, ‘skill’, ‘bliss’, ‘swell’.
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Bones Ran Off!
Bones is the bravest hunting dog Skel has ever known, unafraid of snakes, rivers, or angry goats. But when thunder cracks over the hill and he bolts off into the grass, will Skel find him before the storm swallows him whole? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 42: FLSZ Spelling Rule (ff, ll, ss, zz)), this book practises words like ‘off’, ‘still’, ‘sniffs’, ‘yells’, ‘stiff’.
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Dig!
Alex is sure something special is buried in the hill, and she’s got her lucky boots on to prove it. Deep underground, she finds a strange surprise, sets it by the fire, and heads back down for more. Will her lunch survive the dig? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 42: FLSZ Spelling Rule (ff, ll, ss, zz)), this book practises words like ‘hill’, ‘sniff’, ‘off’, ‘still’.
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I Just Want It Hot!
Steve is starving, and all he wants is something hot to eat. First he catches a fish, but eating it raw is out of the question, so he builds a roaring fire in the grass. When there’s no wood left for round two, he trudges up a hill with his dinner, hoping for another way to get it sizzling. Will he ever get a proper hot meal? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 42: FLSZ Spelling Rule (ff, ll, ss, zz)), this book practises words like ‘grass’, ‘hill’, ‘puffs’, ‘yells’, ‘hiss’.
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I Think Curls Are Best!
Jazz has big, bouncy hair that puffs up no matter what, and she is sure curly beats straight every single time. From curled-up cats to spiral staircases to giant swirly buns, she hunts for proof all over. But when a cupboard full of shapes turns everything upside down, will Jazz still be so sure straight things are the worst? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 42: FLSZ Spelling Rule (ff, ll, ss, zz)), this book practises words like ‘puffs’, ‘still’, ‘hill’, ‘mess’, ‘bliss’.
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What Is His Plan?
Dr. Can Do’s workshop is a mess. Stuff and dust fill every corner, so he stacks and sorts until the floor is clear again, but soon a huge mass of stuff is left over that needs to go. He huffs off toward the lava pit, and an idea starts to fizz in his brain. Can he build something that will handle the mess for him? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 42: FLSZ Spelling Rule (ff, ll, ss, zz)), this book practises words like ‘mess’, ‘stuff’, ‘fill’, ‘huffs’, ‘fizz’.
Lost in the Rift
Gus tumbles through churning floodwater and gets swept straight into a dark, smelly tunnel far from home. He crawls on and on, dragging through puddles, just hoping to find a way out. Will he ever spot the light and get out? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 42: FLSZ Spelling Rule (ff, ll, ss, zz)), this book practises words like ‘mess’, ‘still’, ‘huff’, ‘spills’, ‘yell’.
Hands Off, Jill's Hen!
A strange house has appeared at the end of Jill’s street, and her chicken is now walking around upside down! When it lays an egg that shoots straight into the sky, Jill knows exactly who is to blame. Can Jill get the mysterious Mage to leave her farm animals alone? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 42: FLSZ Spelling Rule (ff, ll, ss, zz)), this book practises words like ‘yells’, ‘huffs’, ‘cross’, ‘mess’, ‘still’.
Look in the Pool!
Donkey is sure there must be another donkey out there somewhere. He checks the pond, the hill, even a shadow on the fence, but everyone he meets is too round, too tall, or too quiet to be his twin. Will he ever spot another donkey just like him? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 42: FLSZ Spelling Rule (ff, ll, ss, zz)), this book practises words like ‘still’, ‘hill’, ‘sniffs’, ‘off’, ‘bliss’.
Hare and the Boss
Hare can smell sweet berries on the hill across the river, but the gruff old boss of the water will not let anyone pass. He tries a gift, but Crocodile just huffs it down in one gulp. Sitting still in the grass, Hare spots something about the mob that gives him an idea. Can a clever bluff get him all the way across? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 42: FLSZ Spelling Rule (ff, ll, ss, zz)), this book practises words like ‘still’, ‘yells’, ‘hill’, ‘pass’, ‘boss’.
Grab the Grub!
A crow needs breakfast for three hungry chicks, and she’s convinced she’s the best food-finder in the whole city. A lazy dog and a quiet yard won’t cut it, so she sets her sights on something bigger down below. Can she grab enough grub before anyone notices? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 42: FLSZ Spelling Rule (ff, ll, ss, zz)), this book practises words like ‘yell’, ‘grass’, ‘fuss’, ‘still’, ‘stuff’.
A Noise Down Deep!
Sam the cave guide rides into a town that thinks it has no secrets, but he promises Dr. Can Do a hidden world just beneath the hill. Jill grabs a lamp and leads the way down endless stone steps into the dark. What could possibly be waiting at the bottom? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 42: FLSZ Spelling Rule (ff, ll, ss, zz)), this book practises words like ‘hill’, ’tells’, ‘grass’, ‘fuss’, ‘cliffs’.
Just a Haircut!
Ned needs a bed, but all he’s got is a cold stone floor and one very good idea: sheep have wool. First he must build shears, then find sheep on a grassy hillside, and somehow give a haircut without sending the whole flock running. Will Ned figure out how to get close enough to try? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 42: FLSZ Spelling Rule (ff, ll, ss, zz)), this book practises words like ‘still’, ‘yells’, ‘hill’, ‘stiff’, ‘fluff’.
Cheetah Scoffs
Cheetah is the fastest runner on the veld, and he never lets anyone forget it. So when slow, steady Tortoise challenges him to a race, the pals yell with laughter, but Tortoise stands still and will not fuss. Can Tortoise really beat the fastest animal around? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 42: FLSZ Spelling Rule (ff, ll, ss, zz)), this book practises words like ‘still’, ‘grass’, ‘yell’, ‘huffs’, ‘stiff’.
Drum in the Mud
Tano finds an old drum buried on the mud flat, carved with waves and hands, with strict rules for how to use it. Beat it right and it fills baskets with food for the whole village. But when another boy and his brother grab it and strike it again and again, the magic turns to mess. Can Tano get the drum back before it spoils everything? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 42: FLSZ Spelling Rule (ff, ll, ss, zz)), this book practises words like ‘hill’, ‘spills’, ‘mess’, ‘still’, ‘fills’.
The Girl and the Whales
Sara loves floating in the stream near her house, still and calm, dreaming of the ocean. One splashing afternoon, she frees a tiny fish tangled in the weeds, and the fish promises a grand gift if Sara will follow her downstream. Will Sara make it all the way to the ocean world waiting beyond the current? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 42: FLSZ Spelling Rule (ff, ll, ss, zz)), this book practises words like ‘fizz’, ‘still’, ‘bliss’, ‘fuss’, ‘boss’.
Rex Will Not Stop
Rooster spots something small and still in the grass, and he’s sure it’s about to be the greatest catch in farm history. But the moment he creeps close, Mouse is off, dashing past the hens, and Rooster huffs and puffs to keep up. Can he catch Mouse before Mouse gets away for good? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 42: FLSZ Spelling Rule (ff, ll, ss, zz)), this book practises words like ‘grass’, ‘still’, ‘huffs’, ‘puffs’, ‘mess’.
Leopard Is Gruff
A tortoise is walking home from the stream when a hungry leopard blocks the path, teeth bared and ready to pounce. Quick-thinking, the tortoise raps on his shell and claims it holds a powerful curse, one that could cost the leopard something he treasures most. Will the leopard risk it, or fall for the bluff? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 42: FLSZ Spelling Rule (ff, ll, ss, zz)), this book practises words like ‘gruff’, ‘huffs’, ‘bluff’, ‘yells’, ‘still’.
Decodable Books Created to Align with the UFLI Foundations Scope and Sequence
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you call a double letter in a word?
When the same consonant appears twice in a row, teachers usually call it a double consonant. At the end of short words such as puff, bell, kiss and fizz, the two letters stand for a single sound, so children learn to read ff, ll, ss and zz as one unit. In phonics lessons this pattern is taught as the FLSZ rule, also known as the floss rule.
Which letters double at the end of short words?
The letters f, l, s and z usually double when they come straight after a short vowel at the end of a one-syllable word, as in off, will, mess and jazz. That is why the pattern is named FLSZ, or floss, after the four letters. A few common words break the rule, such as if, bus, yes and gas, and these are worth pointing out when they come up in a story.
What are some double letter words for beginning readers?
Good first examples are off, puff and cuff for ff, hill, bell and tell for ll, mess, pass and boss for ss, and buzz and fizz for zz. Each is a short vowel word with the doubled letter at the end, so the sounds are easy to blend. Seeing the same spelling again and again helps children store these words through orthographic mapping.
How can I help my child learn the floss rule at home?
Read a book from UFLI Lesson 42 together and pause on the words that end in ff, ll, ss or zz, asking your child to point to the short vowel and the doubled letter. You can then write a few words, such as sniff, spell and press, and sort them by their ending. Snow, Burns & Griffin (1998) recommended that beginning readers learn common spelling conventions and use them to read printed words.
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