[This section goes from sound to spelling as the writer does. Script for Word Attack goes from the letter to the sound as the reader does.

After the first challenge start each session by reviewing previous challenges until they are mastered.

Don't hesitate to make changes in the steps in the scripts that seem desirable for your learner.]

You have learned that there many "tricky" words that have a sound that could be spelled in two or more ways. You will now learn the "other" spellings you need to remember.

We have been calling mouth word sounds "mouthers." Now we will call them consonants /kon-suh-nunts/. We have been calling throat word sounds "throaters." Now we will call them vowels /vow-uhlz/.

Script for the First Line of a Challenge Say the first keyword, which has the most common spelling for the sound and the one you learned. Script for Each Line of a Challenge Say the next keyword with me and say the letters that spell the sound. Say the plus words with me as I point. Say and copy the keyword. Say and write the keyword on another sheet. [Read and point to the uncommon "other" spellings.] Script for Reviewing a Challenge Say the keywords as I point to them. Say and write the keywords as I dictate them.

CHALLENGE 1: Spellings for the /d-d-d/ sound.

dad
odd: + add

CHALLENGE 2: Spellings for the /f---/ sound.

fun
stuff: + cuff, scoff - Common at the end of a word.
phony + phonograph, photograph, telephone, physical
tough: + rough, enough, cough, laugh
half: + calf
Other: often, soften

CHALLENGE 3: Spellings for the /g-g-g/ sound.

gag
guess + guest, guilt, guide - The u separates the e in "guess" from the g so that it makes its hard sound. - "guar" words: guard and guarantee.
vague + intrigue, fatigue, dialogue, league, rogue
ghost + ghetto, ghastly, ghoul

CHALLENGE 4: Spellings for the /h---/ sound.

hot
who + whom, whose, whole, whoop - This spelling is only used in a few words when it is followed by o.

CHALLENGE 5: Spellings for the /j-j-j/ sound.

jam - Most common before a, o, u.
gem + gin, germ. Common before e, i, y. Some exceptions are give, gift, and get.
hinge + large, change, cringe. Common at end of a word.
badge + hedge, bridge, budge. The silent d keeps the vowel short, and the ending signal e tells the reader that the g has the soft /j/ sound.

CHALLENGE 6: Spellings for the /k-k-k/ sound.

kind - Most common before e, i as in kind and kept and after a vowel pair as in seek or open vowel as in bake.
cat - Most common before a, o, u and after a closed vowel in a longer word: magic, electric.
luck - Standard after a closed vowel in monosyllables.
chorus + chord, character, school, Christmas
Other: antique clique, plaque, physique, opaque, unique, technique

CHALLENGE 7: Spellings for the /m---/ sound.

mum
comb + crumb, climb, bomb, lamb, limb, numb
hymn + autumn, column, solemn, condemn
calm + palm, psalm

CHALLENGE 8: Spellings for the /n---/ sound.

nine
knee + know, knew, knife, knob, knot, knit
gnat + gnaw, gnash, gnarl, gnome, gnu

CHALLENGE 9: Spellings for the /r---/ sound.

rear wrist + write, wrong, wring, wrench, wrap, wreck, wrinkle
rhino + rhyme, rhythm, Rhine

CHALLENGE 10: Spellings for the /s---/ sound.

sis
mess + guess, fuss, moss - S is usually doubled at the end of a short word.
city + race, bicycle - C has the s sound before e, i, y.
science + scene, scent, scissors
sword + answer
listen + castle, wrestle, whistle
Other: psalm, pseudonym, psychology, and other "psych" words;

CHALLENGE 11: Spellings for the /t-t-t/ sound.

tot
looked - common for ed ending after f, k, p, ss, sh
Other: doubt, debt; ptomaine, ptarmigan

CHALLENGE 12: Spellings for the /v---/ sound.

van
have + give, love, live

CHALLENGE 13: Spellings for the /w-w-w/ sound.

wish
persuade + suede, suite (connected rooms), quit, quite.

CHALLENGE 14: Spellings for the /z---/ sound.

zoo
razz + fizz, fuzz, jazz - Z is usually doubled at end of a word.
dogs - "S" spells the /z---/ sound after b, d, g, l, m, n, r, w.

CHALLENGE 15: Spellings for the /ch-ch-ch/ sound.

church itch + ditch, witch, pitch, notch, hutch, batch, latch
capture + puncture, adventure
-ti-: question + action, attention

CHALLENGE 16: Spellings for the /sh---/ sound.

sh: shop, wish
nation + cautious, partial - common spelling
session + mission, passion
special + delicious
Other: machine, conscious, sugar, ocean

CHALLENGE 17: Spellings for the /zh---/ sound.

measure + leisure, exposure
-si-: vision + decision, version

CHALLENGE 18: Review spread over several days

I will say each keyword for each spelling of a sound, and you say and write it.

Back to Beginning

VOWEL SPELLINGS

Some vowel spellings are tricky, but if you read a lot and see them in print often, you will soon learn them.

You will now learn other spellings for closed vowel sounds:

Script for Next Challenges Look at the vowel spelling in red and say the keyword and the plus words along with me and notice the spelling of the sound in red. Say the keyword and plus words. Say and write the plus words as I dictate them.

CHALLENGE 1: Spellings for the closed /eh/ sound.

men + bread; many; again, said; friend

CHALLENGE 2: Spellings for the closed /ih/ sounds.

sin + hymn, myth, sympathy, bicycle; build; busy, business; women; been

CHALLENGE 3: Spellings for the closed /o/ sound.

rob + father, watch and some other "wa" words

CHALLENGE 4: Spellings for the closed /uh/ sound.

rub + son, some, oven; blood, flood; double, couple

Now you are going to learn other spellings for open vowel sounds:

Script for Each Line of a Challenge Say the keyword with me and say the letters that spell the sound. Say the plus words with me as I point. Say and copy the keyword. Say and write the keyword on another sheet. [Read and point to the uncommon "other" spellings.] Script for Reviewing a Challenge Say the keywords as I point to them. Say and write the keywords as I dictate them.

CHALLENGE 1: Spellings for the open /ay/ sound.

baby + lady, vacation - common spelling in open syllables
hate + game, made, cane
paid + afraid, aid - common before the end of a word
play + day, spray - common at the end of a word
they + obey, convey
weigh + eight, freight, neighbor
Other: vein; break

CHALLENGE 2: Spellings for the open /ee/ sound.

we + he, me, she - common in open syllables
Pete + complete
feet + gee, feel, need
heat + eat, meat, mean
honey + money, alley, valley - common at end
baby + lady, body, army - common at end
receive + other "ei after c" words; either, seize
believe + field, piece, thief and other "ief" words

CHALLENGE 3: Spellings for the open /ie/ sound.

hi + Friday - common in open syllables
hide + fine, rise, time
night + right, sight, high
sky + fry, try - common at end of words of one syllable beginning with a blend
tie + pie, die - common at end of words of one syllable after one consonant
Other: buy, guy; height

CHALLENGE 4: Spellings for the open /oh/ sound.

go + no, soda - common in open syllables
robe + mole, tone, rose
coat + loan, toad - common in the middle of a word
toe + foe, hoe, doe - common at the end of a word,
low + blow, known, bowl
Other: bureau; sew; shoulder, boulder; dough, though

CHALLENGE 5: Spellings for the open /yoo/ sound.

cute + compute
cue + argue, rescue, value - common at end
few + hew
Other: view

Here are still other vowel spellings:

CHALLENGE 1: Spellings for the strong /oo/ sound.

food + moon, fool, zoo
blue + clue, true, due - common at the end
new + knew, stew, threw- common at the end
group + soup, troupe, ghoul, youth
fruit + juice, suit, cruise
Other: do, move, to, who; truth, Ruth, flu; true; through

CHALLENGE 2: Spellings for the weak /oo/ sound.

cook + book, took, good
bull + full, pull, bush, cushion
could + would, should

CHALLENGE 3: Spellings for the /ou/ sound.

loud + out, slouch, found
cow + now, how, brow- common especially at the end of a word

CHALLENGE 4: Spellings for the /aw/ sound.

draw + jaw, raw, dawn - common especially at the end of a word
fault + haul, cause, Paul - common in the middle
daughter + caught, taught
ball + call, tall, bald - common in "l-controlled" words
Other: bought, brought; cost, lost, frost; broad

CHALLENGE 5: Spellings for the /oy/ sound.

boy + toy, joy, annoy - standard at end of word
boil + oil, coin, voice - standard in middle of word

CHALLENGE 6: Spellings for the /er/ sound.

her + herd, germ, jerk
bird + dirt, girl, first
burn + hurt, curl, lurch
learn + earth, earn, search
word + work, world, worth - The "w" controls the "or."

CHALLENGE 7: Spellings for the /air/ sound pattern.

hair + fair, stairs, chair
care + rare, share, dare
bear + wear, pear, tear (paper)
Other: where and there, millionaire

CHALLENGE 8: Spellings for the /ear/ sound.

fear + dear, hear, near, tear, year
here + mere, severe, sincere
deer (four legs) + sneer, beer, jeer, queer, sheer
Other: pier

CHALLENGE 9: Spellings for the /or/ sound pattern.

fork + cord, corn, force
tore + more, bore, shore
roar + oar, boar (pig), soar
door + floor
Other: mourn, war

REVIEW: [Keep reviewing the main and other keywords until they are mastered.]

Back to the Beginning