This week we are looking at the spelling patterns when we add the suffix -ing. We noticed that when a word ends with a VC pattern, we have to double the consonant before adding -ing. If a word ends with a VCC pattern, there are already two consonants before the -ing, so we do not have to do anything before adding -ing.

Here is the way the words should be sorted this week:

VC              double                   VCC             nothing
get             getting                  ask               asking
swim          swimming              yell               yelling
run            running                  rest              resting
sit              sitting                    stand           standing
put             putting                   pass            passing
                                               jump           jumping
                                              pick             picking

This week's sort is a pretty straightforward spelling sort. We are exploring all of the different silent consonants found in fairly frequently used words.

Here is how the words should be sorted this week (note the vertical columns this week):

Silent t
castle
whistle
fasten
listen
often
soften
(wrestle) - this could also go in silent w

silent g
design
resign
assignment

Silent W
wrinkle
wreckage
wrestle
answer

Silent k
knuckle
knowledge

Silent h
honest
honor
rhyme
rhythm

Silent gh
through
thought
brought
bought
though

This week we are continuing to look at syllable juncture patterns. We noticed how three consonants in a row, even if they are on opposite sides of a syllable break, still result in a short vowel sound. The V/V words give each vowel a distinct long vowel sound, since the first syllable is an open syllable.

Here is how the words should be sorted:

VCC/CV            VC/CCV                V/V
athlete             pilgrim                  create
kingdom          complete                poet
pumpkin           monster                riot
halfway             kitchen                 area
English              control                 trial
mushroom         hundred               cruel
                        inspect                 lion
                        children                diet
                                                    idea
                                                    video

This week, we are exploring the different vowel/consonant patterns in words. This is the basis for next week's work, which will look at adding endings to words. We noticed this week that words with two vowels, or a silent e at the end, have a long vowel sound. Words with only one vowel have a short vowel sound.

Here is how the words should be sorted this week:

VVC                VC                  VCC                   VCe
chief              wrap               smell                 whine
fruit               twig                sharp                 theme
brief               when              thank                 brave
scout              plot                front                   scale
clean              clog                climb                  phone
stain              quit*               trust                   quote*

*Notice how the vowel u is working with the letter q to make the /kw/ sound. Because of this, the u is disregarded as a vowel, since it doesn't have it's own sound.

This week we are looking at the way to spell the /j/ sound at the ends of words. We noticed that if there is a short vowel sound in the word, the /j/ sound is spelled "dge". If there is a long vowel sound, the /j/ sound is spelled with a "ge". We noticed that r, l, and n often make the sound of the vowel ambiguous, or hard to tell whether it is long or short. With words with those letters just before the /j/ sound, we spell the /j/ sound with just a "ge".

Here is how this week's words should be sorted:
dge                             ge                      r, l, n + ge
edge                         age                        large
badge                      stage                      charge
ridge                        rage                       range
lodge                       cage                      surge
fudge                      huge                       bulge
judge                                                    change
bridge                                                   sponge
dodge                                                   plunge
hedge
ledge
pledge

This week we are exploring the open and closed syllable patterns. We noticed that when a syllable is open (or ends with a vowel) the vowel has a long vowel sound. When a syllable is closed, or ends with a consonant, the vowel has a short vowel sound.

Here is the way the words should be sorted this week:
V/CV (long)           VC/V (short)               VVCV(long)
human                  wagon                         reason
pilot                      river                           meeting
frozen                   visit                             peanut
student                  never                          leader
humor                   planet                         sneaker
lazy                       lemon                         easy
music                    finish
                             seven
                             present
                             second
                             minute

This week we are exploring the different sounds of qu in words. Most of the time, qu makes the /kw/ sound, either in the first or second syllable. Occasionally, the qu can make the /k/ sound.

Here is how your words should be sorted:
1st                   2nd                       qu=k
question         equal                     antique
quality            frequent                racquet
squirrel            equipment            mosquito
squirm            equator                 conquer
quaint             equip
quotation         banquet
quizzes            inquire
queasy            liquid
                      require
                      sequence
                      sequel
                      request

This week we are looking at the -ce, -se, and -ve endings in words. The -ve words are included in this sort to point out that words with the /v/ sound at the end are always spelled with a -ve. We noticed also that the -ce words end with a /s/ sound, which follows the pattern we explored last week with the soft c patterns. The -se words have a /z/ sound, except for a couple of oddballs.

Here is the way the words should be sorted:
-ce                   -ve                        -se             oddball
chance           move                      please          loose
prince            leave                       tease           sense
dance            glove                       choose
fence             shove                      cheese
glance           solve                        wise
piece             peace
bounce           prove
France           twelve
pounce

This week we are exploring the different ways we spell the /k/ sound in words. You will notice the /k/ sound is spelled with a -ck, an -ic, or an -x. Notice also that one syllable words are always spelled with a -k, or a -ck (as in leak or shock) and that two syllable words almost always end with an -ic (except for compound words like homesick).

Here is how your words should be sorted:
-ck          ck         ic          x            oddball
shock    chicken  magic    relax       stomach
quick     pocket   attic      index
hammock nickel  traffic    perplex
attack    pickle    topic     complex
            buckle    metric  
            ticket     electric
                         fabric
                         plastic

Note that stomach is an oddball because it has the /k/ sound at the end, but is spelled with a ch.

This week we are continuing to look at the VCV and VCCV patterns in our words. Typically when we see the VCV pattern in words, there is a long vowel sound in the first syllable. When there is a VCCV pattern in words, there is a short vowel sound in the first syllable. Here is the way the words should be sorted this week.

VCV          VCCV                    VCCV                 Oddball
                doublet                different
silent        happen                 basket                 water
female      matter                  winter
stupid      follow                    problem
fever       butter                    number
moment   yellow                   finger
               pattern                  sister
               bottom                  chapter
               pillow                   member
                                           blanket
                                           window

We noticed that water was an oddball, because it has a VCV spelling, but does not have a long vowel sound in the first syllable.