Start working gradually on these instant words when you finish with the "Onsets, Rimes, and Endings" in Spelling Script 1: Onsets, Rimes, and Endings. Go at a comfortable pace for the learner.
Print the exercises so that you can put marks by problem words. Review the problem words at the beginning of each until they are mastered.]
To spell a word is to write or say its letters. You started spelling words that were "friendly" to spell. You just wrote the sounds you heard. You made a "sound spelling." Write the word "bat." It's "sound spelling" is /bat/. The real spelling is also "bat."
The spelling of some words is "tricky." Write /meet/ as in "Meet my friend." [Check the spelling.] Now write /meet/ as in "My dog eats meat." [Check the spelling.] You have learned that the throater sound /ee/ is spelled "ee" in many words and "ea" many other words, so the spelling of the words is tricky. Many word sounds are spelled in two or more ways. You must see and write these words enough times to remember the way each word is spelled. ["Tricky" words are marked below with an asterisk.]
The spelling of some words is "goofy." I'll write the word "one" as in "one cookie." Do you hear a /w/ sound in /wun/? But there is no "w" in the written word. Do you agree that the spelling of "one" is "goofy?" ["Goofy" words are marked below with a pound sign.]
Now, you are going to learn to write and read "instant" words. We call these words "instant words" because we must be able to read them or spell them instantly or very quickly. There aren't many of them, but we see them so often we can't spend time trying to figure them out. Some instant words are friendly, some are tricky, but many are goofy. We can't write the sounds of goofy words. We need to read them and practice writing them so much that we have a clear picture of them in our head.
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GROUP 1:
the* /thuh/ hen --- the** /thee/ egg --- a*** /uh/ hen --- an egg
* We say /thuh/ because the next word, "hen," starts with a mouther.
** We say /thee/ because the next word, "egg," starts with a throater.
to# /too/ school* /skool/ --- you** /yoo/ and me --- do# /doo/ it --- go in --- so on
that one# /wun/--- this* /thiss/ one --- these books --- those books --- with them
* /s--/ at the end of a word is usually written "ss."
GROUP 2:
I am --- you are# /ar/--- he is* /iz/ --- she is --- we have** /hav/ --- he has /haz/
* "s" usually spells /z--/ at the end of a word.
** "Have" ends with an "e" because no English word can end with a "v."
I was* /wuz/ --- you were# /wer/ --- we had --- she will be --- not him
* The "w" usually changes the sound of the following "a."
my book* --- his book --- her book --- your book --- our books --- their boots**
* Compare "boots" with "books."
GROUP 3:
one# /wun/ of## /uv/ these --- none# of that --- all gone* --- a bone
## Compare "none," "gone," and "bone."
yes or no --- on it --- by it --- this or that --- not now
then what# /whut/ --- more than one --- go when --- which one --- for this
GROUP 4:
over there# /thair/ --- now where --- not here## /hear/
other* /uth-er/ books --- her mother* --- his brother* --- another* sister
if so --- she said# /sed/ --- I say --- come## /kum/ home --- some## water
GROUP 5:
get up --- go out --- about now --- have been## /bin/ there
## / Some people say /been/, but Americans say /bin/.
would# /wood/ go --- could# go --- should# go
many* /men-ee/ men --- any men --- its color# --- it's red
GROUP 6:
into the box --- I see --- all of those --- how tall --- as big
this way --- we may --- one day --- they can
from* /frum/ here --- who* /hoo/ is --- to whom*--- whose* book
GROUP 7:
one dog --- two# /too/ cats --- three fish --- four# /for/ birds --- for me
first grade --- second* /sek-nd/ grade --- third grade --- fourth# /forth/ grade
I did --- got one --- one person --- two people# /peep-uhl/--- only# /own-lee/ us
GROUP 8:
new toy --- my own --- I know* --- she knew --- get down
* "kn" is another spelling of the /n/ sound.
made it--- make one --- take two cookies --- too little* /lit-uhl/ --- too large*
* The ending "e" tells us to soften the "g."
one word --- like it --- more food --- call home --- even one
GROUP 9:
give some --- gave none --- very good --- every* /ev-ree/ time
one part --- work hard --- back to work --- our place*
* The ending "e" tells us to open the "a" and to soften the "c."
most girls --- because* /bi-cauz/ of it --- just one --- must go
*"se" is an another way of selling the /z--/ sound.
GROUP 10:
both boys --- this thing --- think hard --- thank you
through* /throo/ the door* /dor/ --- just a thought* /thaut/ --- even though* /thow/
enough* /ih-nuf/ time --- he went--- she came --- same day --- help her
GROUP 11:
write often* /off-un/ --- right hand --- much more --- such as
want* /waunt/ more --- too small --- tell her --- not well --- why now
put* /poot (as in book)/ it here --- it does* /duz/ --- who goes --- also came
GROUP 12:
after dark --- before morning --- not again* /uh-gen/--- off and on --- take away
Some people say /uh-gain/, but Americans say /uh-gen/.
below it --- between them --- behind it --- near it --- under it
never try --- stand still --- find it --- this kind --- learn* /lern/ it
GROUP 13:
last time --- we saw --- a few more --- come along --- next one
open the door --- left hand --- while ago --- something else
they might* /miet/ --- night and day --- seem to --- begin soon
* "i-g-h" is a common spelling for the /eye/ sound.
GROUP 14:
different* /dif-er-unt/ house --- move it --- always try --- how high
ask for the ax --- more than ever --- never mind
all around --- lost and found --- ate it --- whole thing
GROUP 15:
less often* /auf-uhn/ --- until then --- once* more --- each one* --- Mr. & Mrs.
during dinner --- before lunch --- since when --- piece* /peess/ of cake
use it --- don't lose it --- it's loose --- go fast --- it's true
GROUP 16:
better or best --- shall be --- great# /grate/ day --- for or against* /uh-genst/
being there --- but then --- this guy --- buy this one --- by the tree
of course# /corss/--- either way --- neither way ---how far --- full glass
GROUP 17:
don't laugh# /laff/ --- more light --- long or short --- might be nothing* /nuh-thing/ more --- go play --- read some more
stop here --- not today --- who told* /tohld/ --- old man
upon a star --- walk* /wauk/ faster --- last year