Four spelling patterns are used only at the end of a one syllable, short vowel word, directly after the short vowel. The patterns are FLOSS - doubling the final f,l,s, and z ; tch to spell /ch/; ck to spell /k/ and dge to spell /j/.
It is helpful for the student to use a memorable graphic that illustrates a story to help with remembering the four patterns and where they are used. Here is a sample that was presented by AOGPE Fellow Angie Wilkins back when Cindy was sitting in a hot church basement during the summer of 2005, getting trained at the Associate level. It works because it is memorable, but a different story and graphic could work equally well. Then again, this one is right here, ready to use.
Four sub-patterns occupy the four apartments of the one syllable, short vowel word endings apartment building, Picky Picky Mouse House, pictured below. The front wall of the apartment building has been removed so the residents can be added to the short vowels, who rent the entire left hand tower.
Students are first presented with the FLOSS rule, which tells us that when one syllable, short vowel words end with /f/, /l/, /s/, or /z/ right after the short vowel it is spelled with double letters. Some example words such as fizz, grass, tell, and staff anchor this novel idea. Give words for both reading and dictation so the student experiences both sides of the language coin. In their copy of Picky, Picky Mouse House, the student writes FLOSS in the attic apartment under the mouse. Underscore how picky the FLOSS rule is, only agreeing to live next to the short vowels in their tower of apartments.
Secondly, students learn that final /ch/ is spelled tch at the end of a one syllable, short vowel word, right after the short vowel. Sample words such as match, pitch, and clutch round out the lesson. Again, magnify the pickiness of tch, insisting that the neighbors be only short vowels. Students write tch in the apartment next to short vowels. This opens the door for the logical question, who lives in the apartment to the right of tch? The answer is ch, because ch is not picky and will live by consonants, as in the words munch and ranch, or vowel teams such as beach or coach. Students write ch in the apartment to the right of where they wrote in tch.
Providing practice in using tch or ch correctly at the end of one syllable words can be accomplished with a tee chart. Create two columns, and label the first one tch, the second one ch. Refresh the student’s mind about the rule, and have them lay their Picky Picky Mouse House nearby for reference. A mixed list such as itch, quench, patch, bench, snatch, blotch, scorch, sketch, reach, and stitch should be dictated to the child, and they consider whether the /ch/ is directly after a short vowel or not. Some students need to talk out their answer before writing it in the correct column. Others prefer to mentally consider and select the column. Give corrective feedback as needed, and be both liberal and specific with your praise when it is earned. Continue to create tee charts for occasional practice, since anything that is to be remembered must be regularly rehearsed.
Thirdly, teach that final /k/ is spelled ck when it comes at the end of a one syllable, short vowel word, right after the short vowel. Illustrative words duck, black, quick, and clock demonstrate this point. Revisit the annoying pickiness of ck, and direct the student to write ck in the apartment next to the short vowel tower, Demonstrate that k, perhaps followed by silent e, is used to spell final /k/ in most other cases. Example words might include bank, broke, look, and milk.
Employ the two column practice method once again, this time topping the first column with ck, the second with k. Dictation words might include rock, pink, lock, tank, trick, dusk, cheek, spark, smoke, and brick. Giving corrective feedback as well as earned praise as the student moves through this exercise. Additional practice with the two columns will cement this in the child’s mind.
The last renter of an apartment in Picky Picky Mouse House is the dge spelling of /j/ at the end of a one syllable, short vowel word, right after the short vowel. Some example words could be hedge, bridge, trudge, and dodge, After the student understands the example words, have them write dge in the last apartment next to the short vowels. Teach the student to use ge to spell /j/ at the end in other instances. The sample words age, range, gorge, and fringe illustrate this. Students should enter ge on their Picky Picky Mouse House sheet.
Another round of two column spelling practice will give the student an opportunity to rehearse the logic necessary to select the correct spelling of final /j/ in each instance. A practice list might include plunge, ridge, gage, strange, edge, wedge, judge, smudge, merge, and hinge. Dole out the corrective feedback along with earned praise and celebrate the full occupancy of PPMH along with greatly improved spelling on your student’s part.
Spelling is a logical, thinking subject. Students enjoy being able to logically determine which of the two possible spellings will be correct. Approaching spelling this way allows the student to know how to correctly spell all words of this pattern, not just the ones that have been memorized for a spelling test.
A PDF of Picky Picky Mouse House is the freebie for this month. Be sure to get one here.