Spelling Patterns

Week 1:  ie

Remember:

• i before e (except after c)

Words with 'ie' usually sound like the letter 'i,' such as pie, tie, lie.  However, many 'ie' words also sound like 'ee.'  Can you find the one word below that doesn't sound the same?  

• field

• shield

• thief

• piece

• view

• friend (Fri + end)

• believe

• relief

• series

• alien 

Week 2:  vowels + 'r'

Remember:

• er, ir, ur (like mother)

• ar (like a pirate)

• or (like a choice)

When the letter 'r' comes after a vowel, it changes the sound of the vowel.  Look at the rules on the vowel slideshow.  

• locker

• slippery

• nurse

• Thursday

• birthday

• circle

• handlebar

• spark

• score

• forget

Week 3:  ff, ll, ss, zz

Remember:

If it is in the 1st syllable

and there is a short vowel sound plus and f l s z sound then double the letter.  

Can you find the word that doesn't follow the rule?

• stuff

• pull

• puzzle

• mussel (food)

• mess

• bell

• quiz

• fill

• fluffy

• fall

Week 4:  doubles

Remember:

If there is a short vowel sound, we often have a double consonant to keep it "safe" from other vowels.

You should do this when you add -ed, -ing, -y, -er, and -est to words.

Note:  you never double an 'x'

Can you find the word that doesn't follow the rule?

• finally

• actually

• slipped

• hottest

• swimmer

• slammed

• spinning

• buses

• planning

• tripped

Week 5:  short vowel sounds

Remember:

Short vowel sounds can be hard to hear, but they make a big difference in spelling.  Look at the  vowel slideshow for more practice.

• check

• hint

• lunch

• went

• from

• desk

• sprint

• fantastic

• cost

• funny

Week 6: vowel + l

Remember:

'ol' usually makes the long 'o' sound, except in 'doll.'

'al' often makes the 'aw+l' sound instead.

• walk

• cold

• talk

• call

• 
  

Week 7: tricky common words

Remember:

• people

• because

• beautiful

• break

• breakfast

• ready

• of course

• 
  
• 
  

Week 8:  soft 'c' and soft 'g'

Remember:

• excited

•