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 year I am working to give students a more individualized spelling experience. Each week we will look at words with a specific spelling rule. Students take a pretest on Friday over the first 20 words. They then use the results of the pretest, as well as previous assessments, to choose their spelling words for the week. Students should have no more than 15 words. The challenge words are meant to extend the spelling rule, so students should only choose from the challenge words if they have missed fewer than 15 words on both their previous test and the pretest.