There are times when some phonograms change their regular sounds when reading these in words. These are usually taught explicitly and as needed.

For example: In the word was the letter 'a' says an 'o' sound when it comes after a 'w' or 'wh' phonogram.   

• Other examples are: what, want and wash.

RED DOT WORDS

Red Dot Words are taught explicitly as you do with spelling rules. These words do not usually say their usual sounds in words. These are an alert to be aware that these words will try and trick you when spelling. No to be outsmarted, sound these words using their normal sounds so they will be stored with the correct spelling. 

• For example: Think of the word Wednesday. When spelling we say Wed nes day. We pronounce it this way to ensure we spell it with the correct letters. It is stored in our 'spelling file' so we can retrieve it in this format to spell it correctly. We store it in our 'reading file' exactly as we would say it to read it. 

The marking used for a Red Dot word is to double underline the unusual sound in a Red Dot Word such as in said. If there is no letter within the word causing it to change sound such in the word moth er the 'o' says an 'uh' sound because of the th Gangster called Theo (Explained in further detail below).

Below are explicit examples of Red Dot Words:

RED DOT WORDS:

Wally (w) & The Whisperer (wh):

The letter 'a' can say an 'o' sound when it comes after a 'w' or 'wh'.

• For example: was, what, want, wash

Luigi:

The letter 'a' usually says an 'or' sound in front of an l.

• For example: ball, talk, almost

Wally:

The phonogram 'ar' may say an 'or' sound after the letter w.

• For example: war, warm, award.

Robbie the Robber:

The 'ai' phonogram may say an eh sound when followed by r.

• For example: air, chair, fair (exception is said)

Robbie:

In the spelling pattern a-r-e the 'a' may say an eh sound.

• For example: bare.

Weirdo:

The phonogram 'u' when following an r or l often says an 'oo' sound. 

• For example: blue, true, include, lucid, crucial (S.F.E & Rule 4 apply as well).

GANGSTERS:

Theo, Mario, Nicko and Vincenzo:

The letter phonogram 'o' may say an uh sound when it comes in front of phonograms th, v, m or n. 

• For example: mother, love, some, money.

'oo':

The phonogram 'oo' when it is followed by r may say an 'or' sound.

• For example: door, floor.

'oa':

The phonogram 'oa' when it is followed by r may say an 'or' sound.

• For example: oar, board, roar.

'ou':

The phonogram 'ou' often says an 'or' sound before r.

• For example: your, four.

SCHWA Words

The Schwa is the vowel sound in many lightly pronounced unaccented syllables in words of more than one syllable. It is sometimes signified by the pronunciation 'uh' or symbolised by an upside down e. It is also called Mr Schwa. He eats the vowel sound and spits out the sound 'uh'.

These are not Red Dot Words but must be articulated with the pure vowel sound for spelling. For example say for spelling a gain, a ward for reading the word again and award. You will notice the 'a' is replace with an 'uh' sound.