Unit Overview: 

This unit is devoted to introducing spelling alternatives for vowel sounds. Vowel sounds and their spellings are the most challenging part of the English writing system. There are only two vowel sounds that are almost always spelled one way. One is /a/, which is almost always spelled ‘a’ as in at. The other is /ar/, which is almost always spelled ‘ar’ as in car. The other sixteen vowel sounds have at least one significant spelling alternative. Several of them have many spelling alternatives.

Vowel Spellings and Sounds

The sounds and spellings taught in this unit are:

• /ae/ spelled ‘a_e’ (cake), ‘a’ (paper), ‘ai’ (wait), ‘ay’ (day)

• /oe/ spelled ‘o_e’ (home), ‘o’ (open), ‘oa’ (boat), ‘oe’ (toe)

• /ie/ spelled ‘i_e’ (bite), ‘i’ (biting), ‘ie’ (tie)

• /ue/ spelled ‘ue’ (cue), ‘u_e’ (cute), ‘u’ (unit)

• /aw/ spelled ‘aw’ (paw), ‘au’ (Paul), ‘augh’ (caught)

Each sound is given a multiday treatment. On the first day you will do a board sort to preview the spellings for the sound. You will also set up a Spelling Tree—a graphic organizer that allows you to sort words by spelling—adding new words over a period of several lessons. You will update this Spelling Tree as students are formally introduced to the spelling alternatives for the sound and perform a series of word sorts.

Unit Calendar:

Unit 3 is 25 instructional days with 5 pausing points. It is recommended that it be taught from November 1st to December 20th.