Fundations/Spelling Concepts

 

• The spelling ck follows a short vowel sound and is usually found at the end of a word. (back, shock, check)

• C is almost always used at the beginning of words.

• K is used at the end of a word if the /k/ sound doesn't immediately follow a vowel. (milk)

• K should only be used before an e, i, or y. (skin, key, Kim)

• A bonus letter (ff, ll, ss) is added only if the f, l, or s comes immediately after the vowel. If it is part of a blend, a bonus letter is not added. (shelf)

• Closed Syllable Exceptions are ild (wild), ind (find), olt (colt), ost (post), old (cold). They have long vowel sounds rather than short vowel sounds.

• The suffixes we have learned are: s, es, ing, ed, er, est, ness, less, ment, ful, able, ish, en, y, ly, and ty. S is used to make a word plural. The suffix es is used to make plurals when words end in s, ch, sh, v, or x.

• The suffixes er and est are used to make comparisons. The suffix est is used when comparing three or more.

• The suffix ed has three different sounds: /ed/ (wanted), /t/ (looked), and /d/ (played)

• Y can be used as a suffix to make a word into a word that describes someone or something. When y is a suffix, it always says/e/.

• ck spelling is only used at the end of onesyllable words immediately after short vowels. Multisyllabic words ending in ic are spelled with ic not ick.(panic, public, static, clinic, panic)

• Vowel-consonant-e syllables have two vowels. The first vowel is long and the e is silent. An exception to the v-e syllable is ive-give-/iv/. It is pronounced with a short vowel sound. The e is added because words in the English language never end with the letter v.

• If there is a short vowel sound in the first syllable, we often double the consonant to keep the syllable closed and the vowel short. (penny, silly, taffy)

• y has two vowel sounds: y-cry-/i/ and y-baby-/e/

• When an r follows the vowel, the r controls the sound of the vowel. The vowel is not short or long. ar-car, or-horn, er-her, ir-bird, ur-burn

• r controlled vowels get only one tap

• The or spelling is used at the beginning or middle of a word, and ore is used at the end of a word.

Spellingcity.com offers students the opportunity to practice their spelling words through interactive games that engage the learner. The games include a variety of skills in addition to the weekly spelling words. You can even print off handwriting sheets made especially with the week's spelling words. Have fun!!!!