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Category:Spelling
How to Teach Spelling
Reading and spelling are like learning another language for a child, so it can be taught before birth, during infancy, or even during toddlerhood.
- Rule 1: Make it fun.
- Rule 2: Use many different ways.
- Rule 3: Keep it fun!
Teaching Tools
- Use carrots or celery sticks to make block letters.
- Use carrot slices with alphabet cookie cutters.
- Sing the ABC song, and explain it to the child, along with pointing to the letter as you sing it.
- Spell words with alphabet cereal, alphabet soup, alphabet crackers, or alphabet cookies.
- Eat crackers with letters stamped on them.
- Cut potatoes or other fruits and vegetables into letters.
- Use spaghetti, licorice, string, shoelaces, or rope to write a letter or word.
- Make words with a wooden alphabet train.
- Look at the words or letters on toy cars.
- Make fingers into the shape of a letter.
- Use magnetic letters on the refrigerator.
- Make books for each letter of the alphabet, with pictures that are important to the child.
- Learn the sign language alphabet.
- Write letters with your finger on your palm, back of hand, on child's back, knee, hand, or foot.
- Make words with wooden letter blocks.
- Make a picture/word shopping list using ad papers.
- Use large and small alphabet cookie cutters to make words with cheese slices, deli meat, bread, flavored gelatin, or cookie dough.
- Leave fun cereal boxes on the table during breakfast.
- Use raisins, pumpkin or sunflower seeds, peanuts (if not allergic), candies, or cereal to form letter shapes.
- Write a simple note and read it to the child, helping them correlate the sounds to the letters.
- Record what your interesting and fun thoughts your child would like to convey and put them in a letter to a parent, sibling, grandparent, or friend.
- Play with a Noah's Ark that has animals for each letter of the alphabet.
- Make letters out of paper, cardboard, flannel, felt, or another material.
- Make an alphabet quilt.
- Make an alphabet rug.
- Embroider or appliqué curtains, towels, or clothes with the alphabet.
- Use a wallpaper or border with the alphabet on it.
- Paint letters with water on a blackboard using a paintbrush.
- Write words with magnetic letters on the fridge or a magnetic blackboard.
- Spell words out loud.
- Print a letter on each sticky note to write words.
- Write words in wet sand or wet corn starch.
- Write words in salt, sugar, or flour on a cookie sheet.
- Make a grocery list together and let them cross off the words corresponding to what has been put in the shopping cart.
Introduction to Spelling
The old style spelling books have fallen into merited disrepute. It is felt to be irrational and wasteful of time to drill children on words whose meanings they have no idea, and a large number of which they will never have occasion to use.
The substitutes thus far provided are usually not satisfactory: for they merely reproduce, in modified forms, the artificial framework of the old-time books, or else are so unmethodical that the instruction they afford is irregular and incomplete.
Our children must have a spelling book based on the right principles. It must be clearly illustrative of God's laws and the natural laws of intellectual progress, and its pages, therefore, be attractive to the learner.
This Spelling Curriculum is constructed on a rational basis. God, after creating us deserves to be glorified by all that we think, do, and say. What we do with all God gives us, including the joys with which He blesses us and sufferings with which He allows proves our love for Him.
1.God grants each person a certain amount of knowledge. It is up to each individual to use one's own free will and intellect to learn more about the world God created for us. God created the world for each of us so that we could use everything to glorify God. Our hope is that you pray with your child(ren) before you begin each lesson, asking God to give you and your child(ren) wisdom, knowledge, and understanding so that you will be able to help each other to come to know Him, love Him, and serve Him in this world so that all can be with God for eternity in Heaven.
2.On the sixth day of creation, the Bible states, “God blessed them, saying to them, 'Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it. Be masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of Heaven and all living animals on earth.' God said, 'See, I give you all the seed-bearing plants that are upon the whole earth, and all the trees with seed-bearing fruit; this shall be your food.'” (Genesis 1: 28-29) By this, it is understood that we are to know about the plants and animals God created, which we will by integrating interesting science lessons with spelling lessons. You will find many interesting things about creation to share with your relatives, friends, neighbors, and other children you meet after the Holy Mass.
3.After Eve and Adam sinned, God stated, “With the sweat of your brow shall you eat your bread. . .” (Genesis 1:19) This means we will have to work to learn; we will have to work if we want to eat. Work is assigned to us by God usually through our parents. It is good and noble to work. Many people fall into sin by being idle and lazy, always living for “time off of work” or vacations. If we truly love God, we prove it by working on our assignments with joy and without complaints, whining, laziness, or disobedience. Think of all the graces you can merit for the world by being joyful while working, asking God to help and strengthen those who do not have work and, therefore, cannot feed their families.
4.The words are selected, not according to the number of syllables, but according to the order in which, as the child advances in knowledge, may be apprehended and used.
5.Each word, freshly given out to be spelled, shall be presented in intelligent connection with other words, so as to give a clear conception of its meaning.
6.Since the usefulness of knowing how to spell is limited mainly to connection with what one writes, it is plain that correctness must be determined by the eye rather than the ear. This demands that the orthography (the study of correct spelling according to established usage) of such words as are in most familiar use in daily conversations, and such as apply to familiar things—which are therefore most likely to be employed in letters to relatives and friends, research projects, shopping for one's household, and other forms of composition—should receive special attention and be permanently impressed on the memory.
7.These exercises will be found to be interesting and instructive, as well as varied and progressive. If they are practiced faithfully, they will give your child an unusual and correct command of the language, both in speaking and in writing. It will put your child in possession of a vocabulary that will enable intelligent reading, writing, and reasoning.
SUGGESTIONS
Before a child starts writing, there is some preliminary work of knowing the alphabet, the shapes of the letters and the sounds of each letter. This can be done easily day by day before the child even talks. The method will be described later.
The introductory words are arranged in columns according to sound. This is a help to spelling and to writing, as it is desirable to change the letters as gradually as possible. This way, the path to the brain will be a deep path so it will be easier to remember.
Spelling Lessons
Lesson 1
God did ad
cod hid glad
nod lid dad
rod rid sad
Lesson 2
at an den
cat can hen
fat fan pen
hat ran men
Lesson 3
bin cot but
pin dot cut
sin hot hut
tin not nut
Lesson 4
bun Sunday big
fun may dig
nun pay fig
sun pray twig
Lesson 5
job bell nip
knob fell rip
sob tell sip
wobble well tip
Lesson 6
bug gum date
hug hum gate
mug sum hate
tug thumb late
Lesson 7
dine note drum
fine remote hum
line vote plum
pine wrote sum
Lesson 8
bent deep fade
cent keep made
lent sleep trade
sent weep wade
Lesson 9
came bind brim
lame mind prim
same rind swim
tame wind trim
Lesson 10
hand deck boot
land neck root
sand peck toot
stand wreck undershoot
Lesson 11
bore brush deal
core crush meal
sore gush real
tore hush seal
Lesson 12
bleed cart brave
creed dart crave
deed part slave
need start wave
Lesson 13
ice bloom child
rice broom Godchild
slice groom mild
spice zoom wild
Lesson 14
air book birth
chair cook dirty
hair hook shirt
pair look squirt
Lesson 15
chain clear Christ
drain fear Christmas
grain hear Christian
rain near choir
Lesson 16
chew boy eight
flew destroy neighbor
pew joy reign
threw soy sleigh
Lesson 17
catch knock bow
match knight know
patch knee snowflake
scratch knew tow
Spelling List
| Words with the “short a” sound spelled with “a”
ad / am / an / and / apple / as / at / avenue / azure / angelic / |
| Words with the “short a” sound spelled with “alf”
calf / half / |
| Words with the “long A” sound spelled with “a”
a / apron / Abel / acorn / April / Asia / Angel / |
| Words with the “long A” sound spelled with “ai”
wait / waiter / waitress / |
| Words with the “long A” sound spelled with “ay”
pray / say / may / away / gray / grayish / sway / way / lay / mayonnaise / bay / ray / fray / tray / bayonet / pay / stray / stay / hay / slay / crayfish / mayfly / bray / clay / clayish / day / daylight / dray / fay / Fay / flay / gay / play / quay / ray / Ray / splay / spray / airplay / airway / all-day / allay / archway / array / assay / astray / belay / beltway / betray / birthday / Bombay / breezeway / Broadway / byplay / byway / Cape / May / causeway / chambray / crawlway / crossway / daresay / decay / defray / delay / dismay / display / doorway / downplay / driveway / essay / fairway / floodway / flyway / folkway / footway / foray / forestay / four-way / gangway / gateway / greenway / guideway / halfway / hallway / hatchway / headway / hearsay / heyday / highway / hooray / horseplay / inlay / keyway / leeway // mainstay / mislay / misplay / noonday / outlay / outstay / parkway / parlay / partway / pathway / payday / portray / prepay / raceway / railway / relay / repay / replay / roadway / role-play / runway / screenplay / seaway / slipway / someday / someway / speedway / spillway / stairway / stingray / straightaway / subway / swordplay / three-way / two-way / thruway / tideway / today / tramway / unlay / unsay / walkway / waylay / weekday / wordplay / workday / x-ray / X ray / breakaway / cableway / caraway / carriageway / castaway / chardonnay / cutaway / day-to-day / disarray / entranceway / entryway / everyday / expressway / flyaway / foldaway / Georgian Bay / getaway / giveaway / hideaway / holiday / interplay / layaway / motorway / overlay / overplay / overstay / Paraguay / passageway / play-by-play / present-day / right-of-way // runaway / stowaway / take-away / taxiway / tearaway / throwaway / Thunder Bay / underlay / underpay / underplay / underway / walkaway / waterway / workaday / Whitsunday / out-of-the-way / Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday / Saturday / Sunday / Mayday / brayer / layer / payer / player / prayer / sayer / sprayer / stayer / strayer / ballplayer / betrayer / bilayer / bricklayer / decayer / delayer / essayer / gainsayer / horseplayer / inlayer / minelayer / portrayer / ratepayer / taxpayer / tracklayer / holidayer / days / mays / crossways / endways / floodways / gainsays / sideways / weekdays / anyways / holidays / nowadays / maying / playing / saying / bricklaying / long-playing / taxpaying / payment / co-payment / prepayment / underlayment / underpayment / |
| Words with the “long A” sound spelled with “ey”
obey / bey / fey / grey / hey / prey / disobey / convey / reconvey / whey / |
| Words with the “long A” sound spelled with “eigh”
eight / eighteen / eighty / weigh / weight / weighty / aweigh / overweight / underweight / lightweight / welterweight / height / heighten / heightened / sleigh / sleight / inveigh / inveigher / neigh / neighbor / neighborhood / freight / freighter / airfreight / |
| Words with the “long A” sound spelled with “ei”
veil / unveil / unveiling / unveiled / neighbor / reins / vein / Pompeii / Marseilles / |
| Words with the “ah” sound spelled with “a”
father / chalk / talk / walk / balk / |
| Words with the “air” sound spelled with “eir”
coheir / heir / their / weir / |
| Words with the “b” sound spelled with “b”
baby / back / backward / bad / bag / bake / baking / balance / ball / banana / band / bare / bargain / basic / basically / basin / be / bear / beautiful / beauty / became / because / become / bed / been / before / beg / began / begin / beginning / begun / behavior / behind / believe / belong / belongs / beneath / beneficial / benefit / beside / best / better / between / beyond / bicycle / big / bill / bird / biscuits / black / block / blow / blows / blue / board / boat / body / bog / bone / book / born / both / bottle / bottom / bough / bought / boundaries / boundary / bouquet / bow / bowl / box / boy / brace / bracelet / brave / bread / break / breakfast / breath / breathe / breeze / bridge / brilliant / bring / broke / broken / brother / brought / brown / bruise / bruised / bug / build / built / burn / business / busy / but / butcher / button / buy / by / |
| Words with the “k” sound spelled with “c”
cab / cabbage / caddy / calculate / calculation / calender / calf / call / calm / calves / came / camp / campaign / cam / camera / can / cast / cat / |
| Words with the “s” sound spelled with “c”
celery / cent / center / bicycle / cycle |
| Words with the “sh” sound spelled with “c”
ocean / oceanside / |
| Words with the “d” sound spelled with “d”
dig / dog / dug / do / done / digger / digest /
|
| Words with the “t” sound spelled with “d”
licked / picked / pricked / tricked / reached / preached / joked / poked / wrecked / |
| Words with the “short e” sound spelled with “e”
ebb / Ed / egg / edge / emery / enter / epicurian / establish / every / |
| Words with the “long E” sound spelled with “e”
be / he / me / we / |
| Words with the “long E” sound spelled with “ee”
bee / fee / free / lee / see / tee / wee / freedom / street / feet / meet / speech / |
| Words with the “long E” sound spelled with “ie”
niece / lief / brief / belief / grief / chief / thief / debrief / achievement / handkerchief / neckerchief / disbelief / unbelief / briefly / liege / siege / besiege / field / fielder / infielder / outfielder / shield / shielder / wield / wielder / yield / yielder / airfield / backfield / coalfield / cornfield / grain field / midfield / minefield / outfield / snowfield / Springfield / subfield / upfield / windshield / battlefield / broken-field / chesterfield / color-field / track-and-field / niece / piece / codpiece / crosspiece / eyepiece / grandniece / hairpiece / headpiece / mouthpiece / one-piece / showpiece / sidepiece / timepiece / two-piece / workpiece / altarpiece / centerpiece / mantelpiece / masterpiece / Marie / Sault Sainte Marie / Rosemarie / piecemeal / glockenspiel / shriek / lingerie / harried / married / varied / barrier / carrier / farrier / harrier / varier / quarrier / sorrier / |
| Words with the “long E” sound spelled with “ea”
each / eagle / Easter / easy / eat / eave / peach / preach / reach / leach / teach / |
| Words with the “long E” sound spelled with “ei”
Neil / sheik / conceit / self-conceit / seize / ceiling / perceive / conceive / deceive / misconceive / preconceive / receive / undeceive / |
| Words with the “long E” sound spelled with “ey”
key / keystone / keyed / valley / |
| Words with the f sound spelled with “f”
fast / friendly / facts / fun / friend / friends / family / Father / feather / if / off / scoff / |
| Words with the “v” sound spelled with “f”
of / hereof / thereof / unheard of / well-thought-of / |
| Words with the hard sound of “g” spelled with “g”
gift / girl / gab / got / gill / gabardine / |
| Words with the soft sound of “j” spelled with “g”
giraffe / gelatin / generous / general / |
| Words with the of “h” sound spelled with “h”
habit / had / half / behalf / half-and-half / |
| Words with the of “short i” sound spelled with “i”
if / igloo / illustrious / is / it / |
| Words with the of “long I” sound spelled with “i”
icycle / ibis / itinerary / silent / |
| Words with the of “long I” sound spelled with “y”
my / thy / sky / fly / fry / try / spy / by / cry / dry / ply / shy / sly / spry / why / wry / ally / apply / awry / aye-aye / blow-dry / blue-sky / bone-dry / botfly / comply / decry / deep-fry / deep-sky / defy / deny / drip-dry / espy / firefly / flyby / freeze-dry / gadfly / greenfly / hereby / horsefly / housefly / imply / July / nearby / outcry / pigsty / rely / reply / re-try / rough-dry / shoofly / small-fry / stand by / stir-fry / supply / swing-by / test-fly / thereby / two-ply / whereby / amplify / beautify / butterfly / calcify / certify / clarify / classify / codify / crucify / cut-and-dry / dandify / deify / dignify / edify / falsify / edify / glorify / gratify / justify / liquefy / lullaby / magnify / modify / mortify / multiply / multi-ply / mystify / notify / nullify / occupy / overfly / pacify / passerby / petrify / prettify / prophesy / purify / qualify / quantify / ramify / ratify / rectify / resupply / sanctify / satisfy / signify / simplify / specify / stratify / stultify / stupefy / terrify / testify / typify / unify / verify / vitrify / vivify / acidify / decertify / declassify / demystify / detoxify / disqualify / dissatisfy / diversify / electrify / exemplify / humidify / identify / indemnify / intensify / objectify / personify / preoccupy / reunify / revivify / rigidify / solemnify / solidify / / dehumidify / oversimplify / |
| Words with the “long I” sound spelled with “igh”
Almighty / almighty / might / mighty / mightily / mightiness / almightiness / benighted / bight / blight / blighted / bright / Dwight / fight / flight / flighty / flightiness / fright / knight / light / alight / might / night / all-night / plight / right / all right / aright / sigh / sight / slight / sight / sighted / sightseeing / slightness / tight / wight / wright / affright / airtight / alight / birthright / bullfight / cockfight / daylight / delight / dogfight / downright / eyebright / eyesight / oversight / ultralight / yesternight / flighty / mighty / nightie / righteous / blighter / fighter / lighter / lamplighter / prizefighter / states righter / fighting / lighting / bullfighting / daylighting / prizefighting / flightless / lightless / lightness / clear-sighted / far-sighted / fore-sighted / longsighted / nearsighted / sharp-sighted / shortsighted / high / highness / thigh / ultrahigh / skylight / high / highland / highlander / highway / superhighway / brighten / frighten / lighten / tighten / enlighten / brightener / lightener / lightning / tightening / belt-tightening / frightful / rightful / delightful / foresightedness / insightful / brightly / knightly / lightly / nightly / sightly / slightly / sprightly / tightly / forthrightly / unsightly / uprightly / brights / knights / lights / nights / rights / sights / sightseeing / sightseer / tights / footlights / houselights / weeknights / |
| Words with the “j” sound spelled with “j”
jump / just / July / June / January / journey / journal / judge / judgment / just / justice / jeep / |
| Words with the “k” sound spelled with “k”
kind / kitchen / kid / |
| Words with the “l” sound spelled with “l”
lab / lad / lady / laid / lake / land / language / large / lass / last / late / latitude / latter / laugh / laughter / laughing / law / lawyer / lay / lead / leader / leadership / league / learn / learning / least / leather / leave / led / ledge / left / leisure / lemon / lemonade / length / leopard / less / lesson / let / letter / letters / lettering / level / liberty / library / license / lie / lieutenant / life / light / lightning / like / likeness / lilies / lily / Lincoln / line / linen / lining / liquid / list / listen / listened / listening / literally / literacy rate / literary / literate / literature / little / live / lively / living / local / locate / located / location / lone / long / longitude / longitudinal / look / looking / loose / lose / loss / lost / lot / love / low / lying / |
| Words with the “m” sound spelled with “m”
man / men / mine / mackerel / machine / machinery / made / magazine / magnificent / mail / main / maintenance / major / majority / make / male / manner / manufacture / manufacturing / many / March / march / marine / marriage / marry / mass / massive / material / mathematical / mathematics / matter / may / May / maybe / mayor / me / mean / meant / measure / meat / medal / medicine / Mediterranean / meet / member / memorable / memorial / memorize / memory / men / mentally . mention / mere / mental / mentally / mentality / mere / mess / message / messenger / metal / method / might / mile / military / militia / million / millionaire / mind / mine / minerals / minor / minority / minute / mirror / miscellaneous / mischief / mischievous / Miss / miss / mistaken / Mister / mixture / model / modern / modernize / moist / moisture / moment / Monday / money / monkey / month / monthly / moon / more / morning / mortgage / mosquito / most / mother / motion / mountain / mouse / mouth / move / Mr. / Mrs. / much / municipal / muscle / muscular / music / musician / must / my / myself / mysterious / mystery / |
| Words with the “n” sound spelled with “n”
nail / nailed / nailer / nailing / nails / name / narrow / nation / national / natural / naturalist / naturally / nature / naughty / navy / near / nearby / nearly / necessary / necessity / need / needle / negate / negative / neighbor / neither / nephew / neutral / never / new / news / newspaper / next / nice / nickel / niece / night / nine / nineteen / ninety / no / nobody / noise / noiseless / none / nonsense / noon / nor / north / North America / northern / not / note / nothing / notice / noticed / November / now / number / numeral / numerical / numerous / |
| Words with the “n” sound spelled with “kn”
knee / knew / knife / knock / know / knowledge / known / |
| Words with the “short o” sound spelled with “o”
object / objection / observation / observatory / observe / obtain / occupy / October / off / offer / office / officer / official / often / on / operate / operation / operational / operator / opportune / opportunity / opposite / opposition / |
| Words with the “short u” sound spelled with “o”
of / dove / love / above / glove / shove / foxglove / hereof / kid-glove / thereof / truelove / whereof / turtledove / unheard of / well-thought-of / hereinabove / |
| Words with the “short o” sound spelled with “ough”
ought / bought / brought / fought / sought / thought / wrought / besought / forethought / store-bought / aforethought / afterthought / overbought/ overwrought / |
| Words with the “short o” sound spelled with “augh”
aught / caught / naught / taught / distraught / self-taught / |
| Words with the “short o” sound spelled with “au”
aeronautic / aeronautical / aquanaut / argonaut / astronaut / cosmonaut / juggernaut |
| Words with the “long o“ sound spelled with “o”
occasion / occasionally / ocean / o'clock / odor / old / omit / only / open / opinion / opinionated / over / fro / go / ho / Jo / lo / no / O / oh / so / ago / echo / hello / outgo / audio / cameo / gecko / cheerio / curio / domino / dynamo / embryo / Eskimo / Idaho / Mexico / oleo / New Mexico / Tokyo / undergo / radio / scenario / bravo / forgo / patio / nuncio / ratio / rodeo / stereo / tangelo / oregano / portfolio / archipelago / impresario / Jericho / |
| Words with the “long o“ sound spelled with “ough”
dough / sourdough / thorough / although |
| Words with the “long o“ sound spelled with “ow”
blow / bow / crow / flow / glow / grow / know / low / mow / row / sow / shew / show / slow / snow / sow / stow / / trow / aglow / airflow / below / bellows / bestow / cockcrow / cornrow / crossbow / elbow / escrow / fencerow / foreknow / hedgerow / inflow / mud flow / regrow / scarecrow / self-sow / window / windrow / counterflow / afterglow / overflow / overgrow / overthrow / undertow / |
| Words with the “p” sound spelled with “p”
pack / package / Pacific Ocean / page / paid / paint / pair / palace / paper / paragraph / parallel / pare / parents / parliament / part / particle / particular / party / pass / passengers / past / patience / patient / pause / pay / peace / peach / pear / peculiar / pen / pencil / penny / people / perceive / perceived / percent / percentage / perfect / perform / performance / perhaps / period / permanent / permission / perpendicular / persevere / persist / persistence / person / personal / personality / phone / phrase / physical / physically / physician / pianist / piano / pianos / pick / pickle / pickles / picnic / pie / piece / pigeon / pitch / pitcher / place / plain / plan / plane / planet / plant / planted / play / pleasant / please / pleasure / plentiful / plenty / pneumonia / pocket / poem / poet / poetic / poetry / point / pole / police / political / pool / poor / popular / population / porcelain / position / positive / post / potato / potatoes / pound / power / powerful / practical / practice / prairie / praise / precipice / precipitous / prefer / preference / preliminary / prepare / prepared / presence / present / presents / preside / president / press / pressure / pretty / prevent / previous / price / primarily / primary / prime / primitive / principal / principle / print / prison / prisoner / private / privilege / probable / probably / problems / proceed / process / produce / product / production / productive / profession / professional / proficiency / proficient / program / progress / project / projection / projector / promise / prompt / proper / properly / property / protect / protection / protective / prove / provide / provision / public / publication / publish / pull / purchase / purchased / purpose / push / put / |
| Words with the “kw” sound spelled with “qu”
qualities / quality / quantities / quantity / quarrel / quart / quarter / quartet / queen / quest / question / quiet / quit / quite / |
| Words with the “k” sound spelled with “qu”
mosquito / torque / marquee / Marquette / marquis cut / bouquet / croquet / parquet / pique / piqued / unique / antique / qntiquity / |
| Words with the “k” sound spelled with “q”
Iraq / qwerty keyboard / |
| Words with the “r” sound spelled with “r”
race / radio / railroad / rain / rainfall / raise / ran / rapid / rate / rather / reach / read / ready / real / realize / really / reason / receipt / receive / recent / recess / recipe / recognition / recognize / recommend / recommended / recommending / records / recover / red / refer / reference / reflected / refuse / regard / region / regular / rehearsal / rehearse / reign / relate / relation / relationship / relative / release / relief / relieve / religion / remain / remained / remaining / remainder / remember / removal / remove / removable / removed / rendezvous / repair / repeated / repeats / repetition / reply / report / represent / reproached / request / required / research / resemblance / resemble / resign / resist / resistance / resource / resourceful / resourcefulness / resources / respect / respectful / respectfully / response / responsible / rest / restaurant / restrain / result / retreating / return / reveal / revere / reverence / Reverend / reverent / rhapsody / rhinoceros / rhubarb / rhyme / rhythmic / rich / ride / rides / right / ring / rinse / rinsed / river / road / rode / room / rope / rough / round / routes / royal / rule / run / running / |
| Words with the “r” sound spelled with “wr”
wreath / wreck / wrestle / wrestling / writ / write / writer / writing / written / wrong / wrote / |
| Words with the “s” sound spelled with “s”
sacrifice / safety / said / sail / sailor / salary / sale / salmon / same / sang / satellites / satisfaction / satisfactory / satisfied / satisfy / Saturday / saucer / saw / say / says / scale / scarcely / scheme / school / sea / search / searched / season / second / secrecy / secret / secretary / section / sections / secure / see / seem / seen / seize / seized / select / selection / self / senate / senator / senatorial / send / sense / sensible / sent / sentence / separate / September / sequence / series / serious / serve / service / session / set / setting / seven / several / severe / sew / sick / side / siege / sight / sign / similar / similarities / similarity / simple / simplicity / simplified / simplify / since / sincere / sincerely / sing / sir / sister / sit / sits / situation / six / size / sleep / sleeve / sleigh / slide / slightly / slip / slipped / small / smaller / smallest / smooth / sneeze / so / soap / social / society / soft / solar / sold / soldier / solemn / solution / some / something / sometimes / son / song / soon / sorry / source / south / South America / southern / souvenir / sovereign / sow / space / speak / special / species / specific / specifically / specified / speech / spell / spend / spent / spirit / spirit / spiritual / spring / square / stairs / stamp / stand / standard / stands / start / state / statement / station / stationary / stationery / stay / steadily / steady / steak / steal / steam / still / stole / stomach / stone / stood / stop / stopping / store / story / straight / strange / stream / streaming / street / strength / strong / struck / structural / structure / study / style / subject / submarine / substance / substantial / subtract / succeed / success / successful / such / sudden / suffer / sufficient/ sufficiently / sugar / suggest / suit / sum / summary / summer / summon / sun / Sunday / sung / superintendent / supper / supply / support / suppose / sure / surface / surgeon / surprise / sweeping / sweeps / sword / syllable / syllables / system / |
| Words with the “s” sound spelled with “sc”
science / scientific / scientists / scene / scenery / scissors / |
| Words with the “z” sound spelled with “s”
says / scissors / sections / series / shelves / sings / sleeves / sneezes / sometimes / stands / suppose / pose / repose / surprise / rise / tries / wise / buys / sighs / cries / lies / fries / miser / wiser / syllables / wisdom / |
| Words with the “t” sound spelled with “t”
table / tailor / tail / tails / take / tales/ talk / talks / tan / taught / tax / teach / teacher / tear / technical / techniques / technology / teeth / telephone / telescope / television / tel / temper / temperature / ten / tenth / term / terminal / terrible / territorial / territory / testimony / than / thank / thankful / thankfulness / that / the / theater / their / them / themselves / then / theory / there / therefore / these / they / thief / thing / think / third / thirteen / this / thoroughly / those / though / thought / thousand / thread / three / threw / throat / through / throughout / throw / thumb / thunder / Thursday / thus / ticket / tie / time / tin / tiny / tire / tissue / to / today / toe / together / told / tomato / tomatoes / tomorrow / ton / tongue / tonight / too / took / tooth / top / tortoise / total / touch / tough / toward / towel / town / track / traffic / train / tranquil / tranquility / travel / treachery / treasure / tree / tremendous / trial / triangle / tried / trip / tripped / tripping / trophy / trouble / troubling / true / truly / trust / truth / try / turn / twelve / twenty / twice / twin / two / tying / type / typical / |
| Words with the “short u” sound spelled with “u”
umbrella / unable / uncle / under / understand / unfortunate / unless / until / up / upon / us / unusual / |
| Words with the “long u” sound spelled with “u”
union / unique / unit / unite / United States / universal / universe / university / usual / usually / unusual / |
| Words with the “v” sound spelled with “v”
vacation / vacuum / vague / vaguely / valley / valuable / value / variety / various / vary / vegetable / vehicle / vein / vertical / very / vessel / vicinity / victim / victorious / victory / view / violence / violent / visit / visitor / voice / voices / volume / volunteer / vote / voyage / |
| Words with the “w” sound spelled with “w”
wagon / waist / wait / waiting / walk . walk / want / war / warm / was / wash / waste / watch / water / water / way / we / weak / weapon / wear / weary / weather / Wednesday / week / weigh / weight / welfare / well / went / were / west / western / wife / will / wind / window / winter / wire / wisdom / wise / wisdom / wise / wish / with / within / without / witness / woman / women / wonder / wonderful / word / word / words / wore / work / world / worm / worn / worth / would / |
| Words with the “r” sound spelled with “wr”
wreath / wreck / wrestle / wrestling / writ / write / writer / writing / written / wrong / wrote / |
| Words with the “wh” sound spelled with “wh”
what / wheat / when / whether / which / while / whisper / whistle / whistling / white / why / |
| Words with the “h” sound spelled with “wh”
who / whole / wholesome / whom / whose / |
| Words with the “ks” sound spelled with “x”
box / fox / fix / toxins / next / mix / mixture / ox / |
| Words with the “z” sound spelled with “x”
xylophone / |
| Words with the “y” sound spelled with “y”
yacht / yak / yard / yarn / year / yellow / yes / yesterday / yet / you / young / your / |
| Words with the “z” sound spelled with “z”
zero / zip / zipper / zoo / zebra / zeal / magazine / organize / |
| Words with the “zh” sound spelled with “z”
azure / azurite / |
| Words with the “s” sound spelled with “z”
quartz / quartzite /
|
| Words ending with “oose”
caboose / goose / loose / moose Spelling Lessons in English 2(Excerpts taken from a public domain book and adapted to current times.) LANGUAGE, in its more limited sense, is the expression of ideas by articulate sounds. In a more general sense, the word denotes all sounds by which animals express their feelings, in such a way as to be understood by their own species. Articulate sounds are those which are formed by the human voice, in pronouncing letters, syllables and words, and constitute the spoken language, which is addressed to the ear. Letters are the marks of sounds, and the first elements of written language, which is presented to the eye. In a perfect language, every simple sound would be expressed by a distmct character; and no character would have more than one sound. But languages are not thus perfect; and the English Language, in particular, is, in these respects, extremely irregular. The letters used in writing, when arranged in a certain customary order, compose what is called an Alphabet. The English Alphabet consists of twenty six letters, or single characters; and because of this, certain simple sounds are represented by two or three letters united. The letters or single characters are, a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, o, p, q, r, s, t, u, v, w, x, y, z. The compound characters representing distinct sounds are, ch, sh, th. There is also a distinct sound expressed by ng, as in long; and another by s or z, as in fusion and azure, which sound might be represented by zh. Letters are of two kinds, vowels and consonants. A vowel is a simple articulate sound, formed without the help of another letter, by opening the mouth in a par- ticular manner, and begun and completed with the same position of the organs ; as a, e, o. The letters which represent these sounds are six ; a, e, i, o, u, and sometomes y. But each one of these characters is used to express two or more sounds. The following are the vowel sounds in the English Language of a, as in late, ask, ball, hat, what. of e, in meet, met. of i, in find, pit. of o, in note, not, move. of u, in truth, but, bush. of y, in sky, pity. The vowels have a long and a short sound. A consonant is a letter which has no sound, or an im- perfect one, without the help of a vowel. The conso- nants which are entirely silent, interrupt the voice by closing the organs; as b, d, g hard, k, p, t, which are called mute; as in eb, ed, eg, ek, ep, and et. The consonants which do not entirely interrupt all sound by closing the organs, are f, l, m, n, r, s, v, and z, which are called half vowels or semi-vowels. To these may be added the sounds of sh, th, zh, and ng, in esh, eth, ezh, and ing, which our language has no single characters to express. A dipthong is the union of two simple sounds uttered in one breath or articulation. The two sounds do not strictiy form one; for there are two different positions of the organs, and two distinct sounds; but the transition from one to the other is so rapid, that the distinction is scarcely perceived, and the sound is therefore considered as compound. Dipthongal sounds are sometimes represented by two letters, as in voice, joy. A tripthong is a union of three vowels in a syllable; but it may be questioned whether in any English word, we pronounce three vowels in a single articulation. In the word adieu, the three vowels are not distinctly sounded. B has but one sound, as in bite. C is always sounded like k or s
At the end of words it is always hard like k, as in public.
D has only one sound, as in dress and bold. F has its o\vn proper sound, as in life and fever, except in of where it has the sound of v. G before a, o, and w has always its hard sound, as in
Before e, i, and y it has the same hard sound in some words, and in others, the sound of j. But these varieties are incapable of being reduced to any general rule, and are to be learned only by practice, observation, and a dictionary, in which the sounds are designated. H can hardly be said to have any sound, but it denotes an aspiration or impulse of breath, which modifies the sound of the following vowel, as in hail and heaven. I is a vowel, as in fit; or a consonant as in bullion. J is the mark of a compound sound,or union of sounds, which may be represented by dzh, or the soft g, as in jelly. K has but one sound, as in king ; and before n is always silent, as in know. L has but one sound, as in lame. It is silent before k as in walk. M has but one sound, as in man ; and is never silent. N has but one sound, as in not, and is silent after m– as in hymn. P has one uniform sound, as in pit, Q has the power of k, and is always followed by u, as in question. R has one sound only, as in barrel. S has the sound of c, as in so; of z as in rose and when followed by z preceding a vowel, the syllable has the sound of sh, as in mission; or zh, as in osier. T has its proper sound, as in turn at the beginning of words and end of syllables. In all terminations in tion and tial, ti, have the sound of sh, as in nation and nuptial; except when preceded by s or x, in which cases they have the sound of t as in question and mixture. U has the properties of a consonant and vowel, in union and unanimity. V has uniformly one sound, as in voice, live, and is never silent. W has the power of a vowel, as in snow and cow; or a consonant, as in well and will. X has the sound of ks as in wax; or of gz, as in exist, and in other words, when followed by an accented syllable beginning with a vowel. In the beginnkig of Greek names, it has the sound of z, as in Xerxes and Xenophon. Y is a vowel, as in vanity; a dipthong, as in joy; or a consonant, as in young and yarn. Z has its own sound usually, as in zeal and freeze. It has a zh sound in azure. Ch can have the sound of tsh in words of English origin, such as chip. In some words of French origin, they may have the sound of sh, as in machine and chef. In some words of Greek origin, ch can sounc like k, as in Christ and chorus. Gh can have the sound of f, as in laugh. Gh can be silent as in light. Ph can have the sound of f, as in Philosophy and telephone; except in Stephen, where the sound is that of v. Ng has a nasal sound, as in sing; but when e follows g, the latter takes the sound of j, as in range. In the words, longer, stronger, and younger, the sound of the g is doubled, and the last syllable is sounded as if written long-ger. Sh has only one sound as in shell; but its use is often supplied by ti, ci, and ce, before a vowel, as in motion, gracious, and cetaceous. Th has two sounds, aspirate and vocal--aspirate as in think and bath--vocal, as in those, that, and bathe. Sc before a, o, u, and r, are pronounced like sk, as in sclae, scoff, sculpture, scribble: before e, i, y, like soft c, or s, as in scene, science, and scythian. Thus pronounced,
Formation of Words and SentencesLetters form syllables; syllables form words, and words form sentences, which compose a discourse. A syllable is a letter or a union of letters, which can be uttered at one impulse of voice. A word of one syllable is called a monosyllable,
An Easy Standard of Pronunciation Table 1Lesson 1ba be bi bo bu by
Lesson 2
Lesson 3
Lesson 4
Lesson 5
Lesson 6
Lesson 7
Lesson 8
Lesson 9
Lesson 10
Lesson 11
Lesson 12
Words of One Syllable Table 2"ab" Word Ladder / Short "a" soundcab
crab
dab
drab
flab
gab
grab
jab
lab
nab
tab
blab
"eb" Word Ladder / Short "e" soundbleb Deb neb web Zeb cobweb spiderweb "ib" Word Ladder / Short "i" soundbib crib drib fib glib nib jib rib squib "ob" Word Ladderbob
"ub" Word Ladderchub
"ad" Word Ladderad
"ed" Word LadderEd
"id" Word Ladderbid
"od" Word Laddercod
"ud" Word Ladderbud cud dud mud suds "ag" Word Ladderbag
"eg" Word Ladderleg Meg peg
"ig" Word Ladderbig
"og" Word Ladderbog
"ug" Word Ladderbug
"am" Word Ladder / Short "a" soundam bam cam flam ham jam Pam pram ram Sam sham slam tam tram "em" Word Ladder / Short "e" soundgem hem "im" Word Ladder / Short "i" soundbrim
"om" Word Ladder / Short "o" soundDom Mom Tom "om" Word Ladder / Short "u" soundfrom "um" Word Ladder / Short "u" soundbum drum gum hum mum plum sum "an" Word Ladderan
"en" Word LadderBen
"in" Word Ladderin bin din fin grin hin kin Min pin sin spin tin "on" Word Ladderon Don Ron won ton or wonton "on" Word Ladder that sounds like "un"son ton won "un" Word Ladderbun fun nun run sun stun "ap" Word Laddercap
"ip" Word Ladderblip flip hip lip nip rip sip tip whip zip "op" Word Ladder / Short "o" soundfop
"up" Word Ladder / Short "u" soundup cup pup "at" Word Ladderat bat cat fat flat gnat hat lat mat pat rat sat tat that vat "et" Word Ladderbet
"it" Word Ladderbit
"ot" Word Laddercot
"ut" Word Laddercut
"abe" Word Ladder / Long "A" sound / Silent "e"Abe babe Gabe "ibe" Word Ladder / Long "I" sound / Silent "e"bribe "obe" Word Ladder / Long "O" sound / Silent "e"lobe robe strobe "ube" Word Ladder / Long "U" sound / Silent "e"lube tube "ace" Word Ladder / Long "A" sound / Silent "e"brace
"ice" Word Ladder / Long "I" sound / Silent "e"ice
"act" Word Ladder / Short "a" soundact fact pact tract "ade" Word Ladder / Long "A" sound / Silent "e"bade
"ide" Word Ladder / Long "I" sound / Silent "e"bide
"ode" Word Ladder / Long "O" sound / Silent "e"ode bode code mode node rode strode implode explode abode corrode "afe" Word Ladder / Long "A" sound / Silent "e"chafe safe "ife" Word Ladder / Long "I" sound / Silent "e"fife knife strife "age" Word Ladder / Long "A" sound / Silent "e"age
"ake" Word Ladder / Long "A" sound / Silent "e"bake
"ike" Word Ladder / Long "I" sound / Silent "e"bike dike hike like Mike pike strike "oke" Word Ladder / Long "O" sound / Silent "e"broke poke smoke spoke stoke "uke" Word Ladder / Long "U" sound / Silent "e"duke fluke
"ald" Word Ladder / "ah" soundbald scald "eld" Word Ladder / Short "e" soundheld meld weld "ild" Word Ladder / Short "i" soundgild "ild" Word Ladder / Long "I" soundmild wild "old" Word Ladder / Long "O" soundold
"ale" Word Ladderale
"ile" Word Laddermile Nile pile tile while "ole" Word Ladderhole mole pole sole stole "ule" Word Laddermule rule "alf" Word Ladder / Silent "l"calf half "e + lf" Word Ladder / Short "e"self shelf "o + lf" Word Ladder / Short "o"golf "o + lf" Word Ladder / Short "oo"wolf "all" Word Ladder / "ah" + "l"all
"ell" Word Ladder / Short "e" soundell fell Nell sell shell swell tell well "ill" Word Ladderill
"oll" Word Ladder / Short "o" sounddoll loll "oll" Word Ladder / Long "O" soundboll (cotton) poll stroll toll "ull" Word Ladder / Short "u" soundcull dull gull hull lull mull "ull" Word Ladder / "u" sound as in putfull pull "alt" Word Ladderhalt malt salt "elt" Word Ladderbelt
"ilt" Word Laddergilt
"olt" Word Ladder / Long "O" soundbolt colt holt molt "ame" Word Ladder / Long "A" sound / Silent "e"blame came dame fame flame frame game name same tame "ime" Word Ladder / Long "I" sound / Silent "e"chime dime lime mime prime rime slime time "ome" Word Ladder / Long "O" sound / Silent "e"dome home "ome" Word Ladder / short "u" sound / Silent "e"come some someone somebody something sometime "amp" Word Ladder / Short "a" soundamp
"imp" Word Ladder / Short "i" soundblimp chimp "ump" Word Ladder / Short "u" soundbump
"and" Word Ladderand
"end" Word Ladderend
"ind" Word Ladder / Long "I" soundbind
"ond" Word Ladder / Short "o" soundbond frond pond
"ane" Word Ladder / Long "A" sound / Silent "e"cane crane dane lane mane pane sane vane "ine" Word Ladder / Long "I" sound / Silent "e"brine
"one" Word Ladder / Long "O" sound / Silent "e"bone cone hone phone lone prone tone zone "one" Word Ladder / "wo" --Short "o" sound / Silent "e"one "one" Word Ladder / Short "u" sound / Silent "e"done none "one" Word Ladder / Short "o" sound / Silent "e"gone bygone "une" Word Ladder / "oo" sound / Silent "e"dune tune "ank" Word Ladderblank drank flank frank prank sank yank "ink" Word Ladderink blink drink mink pink rink sink "onk" Word Ladder / Short "o" soundconk honk "onk" Word Ladder / Short "u" soundmonk "unk" Word Ladder / Short "u" sounddrunk flunk skunk
"ant" Word Ladderant chant pant rant slant "ent" Word Ladderbent
"int" Word Ladder / Short "i" soundhint lint mint quint stint "int" Word Ladder / Long "I" soundpint "unt" Word Ladder / Short "u" soundbunt blunt hunt punt runt shunt stunt "ape" Word Ladder / Long "A" sound / Silent "e"ape
"ipe" Word Ladder / Long "I" sound / Silent "e"pipe
"ope" Word Ladder / Long "O" sound / Silent "e"cope pope rope slope
"apt" Word Ladder / Short "a" soundapt adapt "are" Word Ladder / Sounds like "air"bare
"ire" Word Ladder / Long "I" sounddire
"ore" Word Ladder / "or" sound / Silent "e"bore core fore more pore sore store tore implore "ure" Word Ladder / "yer" sound / Silent "e"cure pure "ure" Word Ladder / "er" sound / Silent "e"lure sure "ase" Word Ladder / Long "A" sound / silent "e"case chase vase "ise" Word Ladder / Long "I" sound / silent "e""ose" Word Ladder / Long "O" with "z" sound/ silent "e"chose hose nose pose prose rose primrose "ash" Word Ladder / Short "a" + "sh" soundash bash clash crash dash hash lash mash rash sash trash "esh" Word Ladder / Short "e" + "sh" soundflesh mesh "ish" Word Ladder / Short "i" + "sh" sounddish fish "osh" Word Ladder / Short "o" + "sh" soundJosh posh "ush" Word Ladder / Short "u" + "sh" soundblush brush crush flush gush hush lush mush plush rush shush slush thrush onrush bulrush hairbrush nailbrush paintbrush sagebrush toothbrush underbrush
"ask" Word Ladder / Short "a" + "sk" soundask bask cask flask mask task damask unmask "esk" Word Ladder / Short "e" + "sk" sounddesk "isk" Word Ladder / Short "i" + "sk" soundbrisk disk risk whisk "osk" Word Ladder / Short "o" + "sk" soundbosk kiosk "ess" Word Ladder / Short "e" soundbless dress guess less mess press stress Tess "iss" Word Ladder / Short "i" soundbliss miss "oss" Word Ladder / Short "o" soundboss loss moss toss "uss" Word Ladder / Short "u" soundfuss muss truss "ast" Word Ladder / Short "a" soundfast hast last mast past vast "est" Word Ladder / Short "e" soundbest
"ist" Word Ladder / Short "i" soundgist list mist wrist "ost" Word Ladder / Short "o" soundcost dost frost lost "ost" Word Ladder / Long "O" soundhost most post "ust" Word Ladder / Short "u" soundbust dust gust must rust
"ate" Word Ladder / Long "A" sound / silent "e"ate
"ite" Word Ladder / Long "I" sound / Silent "e"bite cite kite mite rite site "ote" Word Ladder / Long "O" sound / Silent "e"dote
"ute" Word Ladder / Long "oo" sound / Silent "e"flute mute "ave" Word Ladder / Long "A" sound / Silent "e"brave
"ave" Word Ladder / Short "a" sound / Silent "e"have "ive" Word Ladder / Long "I" sound / Silent "e"drive
"ove" Word Ladder / Long "O" sound / Silent "e"cove grove stove "ove" Word Ladder / Short "o" sound / Silent "e"dove love shove "ove" Word Ladder / "oo" sound / Silent "e"move remove "aze" Word Ladder / Long "A" sound / Silent "e"daze haze maze raze
"oze" Word Ladder / Long "O" sound / Silent "e"doze froze "eed" Word Ladder / Long "E" soundbleed breed feed heed need reed seed speed steed teed tweed weed "eet" Word Ladder / Long "E" soundbeet fleet greet meet sheet street "ence" Word Ladder / Short "e" sound / Silent "e"fence hence pence "ince" Word Ladder / Short "i" sound / Silent "e"mince
"once" Word Ladder / "w" + Short "u" sound / Silent "e"once "ounce" Word Ladder / Silent "e"announce bounce denounce enounce flounce frounce jounce mispronounce ounce pounce preannounce pronounce renounce "ense" Word Ladder / Short "e" sound / Silent "e"sense tense intense condense defense dense dispense expense extense immense incense intense frankincense license offense pretense recompense recondense relicense suspense "inse" Word Ladder / Short "i" sound / Silent "e"rinse "ead" Word Ladder / Short "e" + "d" sound / Silent "a"ahead arrowhead bedspread bedstead bread bulkhead copperhead cornbread dead dread farmstead figurehead flatbread flathead gingerbread head homestead instead lead misread outspread overhead read reread spread thread thunderhead tread unread widespread "ead" Word Ladder / Long "E" + "d" sound / Silent "a"bead knead lead mislead misread plead read reread "oad" Word Ladder / Long "O" + "d" sound / Silent "a"armload backload byroad carload cartload caseload crossroad download highroad load payload railroad road toad truckload unload upload workload Spell"ing, n. Defn: the act of one who spells; formation of words by letters; Orthography. Spelling Spell"ing, a. Defn: of or pertaining to spelling. Spelling bee, a spelling match. [u.s.] -- spelling book, a book with exercises for teaching children To spell; a speller. -- spelling match, a contest of skill in spelling words, between two Or more persons. |
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