Weekly Lists
Week 22
Irregular middle long vowel sounds
The most reliable spelling of the middle long vowel sound in a syllable is vowel-consonant-
silent e (as in cake) also known as the "magic E" or a single vowel in an open syllable (as in cra ter).
Other spellings are often a vowel team, but the spelling is less reliable so the words must be memorized.
-ai, -ea, -oa, -igh /long i/, -ui /oo/
Note: The list is not shortened this week since this pattern is one that must be memorized.
1. explain
2. faithful
3. remainder
4. seasonings
5. teachers
6. leave
7. oatmeal
8. coax
9. seacoast
10. slight
11. lightbulb
12. sighed
13. suitcase
14. fruit
Challenge Words:
squeamish
container
frightened
Learned Words:
straight
really
piece
Week 21
The CHANGING Pattern for Suffixes
A base word or root word is a simple English word.
A suffix is a letter or letters added to the end of a base/root word to change the word's form and
use in a sentence. The spelling of a suffix never changes.
When the suffix begins with a consonant, it is labeled as a consonant suffix. When a suffix begins
with a vowel, it is labeled as a vowel suffix. Knowing this helps us reliably spell the new word when
adding a suffix.
-ful is a consonant suffix which means "full of" or "the quantity needed to fill"
-ness is a consonant suffix which means "the quality of" or "the condition of".
-ed is a vowel suffix which means "happened in the past".
-er is a vowel suffix which means "one who", "that which" or "more than".
-est is a vowel suffix which means "the most".
-es is a vowel suffix which means "more than one".
When a word ends in consonant-vowel y, you must change the y to i before you add ANY suffix
that doesn't start with i.
1. silliest
2. funnier
3. stories
4. happiest
5. tinier
6. pansies
7. babies
8. entries
9. cried
10. pennies
Challenge Words:
carried
loneliness
bountiful
Learned Words:
countries
dirtiest
hurried
Week 20
Making words PLURAL
The simplest way to form a plural is to add consonant suffix -s, but some base/root words end in sounds that make it impossible to just add -s.
These sounds often resemble (s) and are called sibilant sounds. They are sometimes called the "hissing sounds". We add vowel suffix...
-es to these words which makes them easier to say.
-es is a vowel suffix which means "more than one".
-s is a consonant suffix which means "more than one".
Another way to look at when to add -es...
after words that end in -s, -ss, -ch, -sh, -x
1. classes
2. splashes
3. episodes
4. canines
5. sparkles
6. splotches
7. sketches
8. branches
9. toothbrushes
10. scratches
Challenge Words:
playgrounds
landslides
mismatches
Learned Words:
mountains
sure
certain
List 19
Spellings for /ch/ and /j/
ch-, -tch
j-, -dge, -ge
When you hear /ch/ in initial position of a syllable, it is spelled digraph ch.
When you hear /ch/ in final position AFTER A SHORT VOWEL, /ch/ is reliably spelled -tch.
After ANY other sound, final /ch/ is reliably spelled -ch.
When you hear /j/ in initial position, it is spelled j-.
When you hear /j/ in final position after a short vowel, /j/ is reliably spelled -dge.
After ANY other sound, final /j/ is spelled -ge.
Final /j/ is never spelled -j!
1. rampage -violent or daredevil behavior
2. grudge - anger held long past the time of the problem
3. scorch - to burn on the surface
4. crunched - crushed or chewed with a crackling sound
5. twitching - sudden jerking
6. stretching - making longer or reaching out
7. smudge - blurry streak or indistinct spot
8. huge - very big in size
9. restitch - sew again
10. unlatched - unlocked
Challenge Words:
engagement- appointment or plan
challenge- something that tests your skill or ability
lounging - relaxing leisurely and taking it easy
Learned Words:
splurge - to spend an unusually large amount of money
church - a building where people go to worship
strangely - in a way that is unusual or surprising
List 18
Irregular Patterns for /er/ - Bossy R
When you hear the sound /er/ in a word, it is reliably spelled combination -er.
ALL other spelling patterns for /er/ -ar, -or, -ir, -ur are unreliable and those words must be
memorized.
Note: This list is not shortened this week since this is a pattern which must be memorized.
1. stir - move a spoon through liquid
2. shirt - clothing for the upper body
3. dollar - standard unit of money in U.S.
4. femur - large leg bone between the hip and knee
5. doctor - a person who practices medicine
6. author - the creator of a written work
7. stellar - highest quality or outstanding
8. curve - a bent line with no sharp angles
9. savor - to take particular pleasure or delight in
10. whirlpool - a powerful jet of or circular current of water
11. Saturday - the day between Friday and Sunday
12. thirsty - needing or wanting water
13. birthday - the date on which a person is born
14. further - additionally, more or to a greater extent
Challenge Words:
recurring - happening over and over again
surprising - something sudden and unexpected
furnished - supplied with or decorated
Learned Words:
earth - the third planet from the sun
sugar - a sweet natural substance added to food
sure - certain, without a doubt
List 17
Prefixes re-, pre-, and mis-
A prefix is a letter or letters added to the beginning of a base/root word to change the word's form and use in a sentence.
re- is a prefix which means "again" or "away".
pre- is a prefix which means "before".
mis- is a prefix which means "bad" or "wrong".
Many prefixes JUST ADD to the beginning of the base/root word.
1. rebound
2. recap
3. refund
4. miscue
5. mistrust
6. misspell
7.misprint
8. pretest
9. prefix
10. prescribe
Challenge Words:
misunderstand
misbehave
prepared
Learned Words:
rebuild
return
misread
List 16
Prefixes un- and dis-
A prefix is a letter or letters added to the beginning of a base/root word to change the word's form and use in a sentence.
dis- is a prefix which means "apart" or "away".
un- is a prefix which means "not" or "opposite".
Many prefixes JUST ADD to the beginning of the base/root word.
1. disable
2. discard
3. dismiss
4. dislocate
5. dismount
6. unplug
7. unbuckle
8. untidy
9. untrue
10. unzip
11. unrest
Challenge Words:
unlikely
disorderly
Learned Words:
unsaid
disturb
undone
List 15
The DROPPING Pattern for Suffixes
A base word or root word is a simple English word.
A suffix is a letter or letters added to the end of a base/root word to change the word's form and use
in a sentence.
The spelling of a suffix never changes.
When the suffix begins with a consonant, it is labeled as a consonant suffix.
When a suffix begins with a vowel, it is labeled as a vowel suffix.
Knowing this helps us reliably spell the new word when adding a suffix.
-y is a vowel suffix which means "marked by", "having" or "with".
-ing is a vowel suffix which means "happening right now".
-ed is a vowel suffix which means "happened in the past".
-er is a vowel suffix which means "one who", "that which" or "more than".
-est is a vowel suffix which means "the most".
When adding a vowel suffix to a base/root word that ends in silent e, DROP the e and
attach the suffix.
1. shining
2. blamed
3. cuter
4. nibbling
5. cutest
6. peddled
7. server
8. closest
9. flaky
10. slimy
Challenge Words:
escaping
competed
exploding
Learned Words:
received
also
anything
Week 14
Final stable syllable -le
When you hear an unaccented final syllable ending with a consonant sound and then (l), that syllable is reliably spelled consonant-l-e. This is called a final stable syllable.
When you hear a short vowel sound before the final stable syllable, you double the medial
consonant.
When you hear final (k)(l) after a short vowel sound, (k) will be spelled ck because k never
doubles.
When you hear final (s)(l) after a short vowel sound, (s) will be spelled st because the words
used to be pronounced with the (t) sound in them! (s) is spelled ss in only a few words.
1. puzzle
2.nibble
3.hustle
4.struggle
5. whistles
6. wrestle
7.freckles
8. sniffle
9. crackle
10.topple
Challenge Words:
tussle
hassle
apostle
Learned Words:
trouble
double
beautiful
Week 13 .
JUST ADD and DOUBLING Pattern for Suffixes
A base word or root word is a simple English word.
A suffix is a letter or letters added to the end of a base/root word to change the word's form and use in
a sentence.
When the suffix begins with a consonant, it is labeled as a consonant suffix. When a suffix begins with
a vowel, it is labeled as a vowel suffix. Knowing this helps us reliably spell the new word when adding
a suffix.
-ing is a vowel suffix which means "happening right now".
-ed is a vowel suffix which means "happened in the past".
-er is a vowel suffix which means "one who", "that which", or "more than".
-est is a vowel suffix which means "the most".
When adding a vowel suffix to a base/root word containing a vowel team or ending in two
consonants, JUST ADD the suffix.
When adding a vowel suffix to a base/root word ending in one vowel-one consonant and is
accented, you must DOUBLE the final consonant and attach the suffix.
Week 13
1. dimmed
2. skipped
3. lifted
4. rubbing
5. maddest
6. nodded
7.cooler
8. bigger
9. pointed
10.counting
Challenge Words:
expanded
opening
beginning
Learned Words:
though
goes
does
Week 12
Unaccented a -
Sounds like short u
1. amount
2. alike
3. around
4. about
5. abrupt
6. adopt
7. along
8. apart
9. adore
10.awake
Challenge Words:
umbrella
across
Oklahoma
Learned Words:
above
another
again
Week 11
Open Syllables
Open syllable = long vowel sound made with one vowel
1. hibernate
2. meter
3. apron
4. stipend
5. human
6. unit
7. clover
8. icon
9. siren
10.cubic
Challenge Words:
educate
horizon
superb
Learned Words:
island
ocean
people
Week 10
Suffixes
A base word / root word
is a simple English word.
A suffix is added to the end of a
base/root word to change
the word's form and meaning
-ly = "like, how, when"
-ment = "the act of" or
"the state or condition of"
-ness = "the quality of" or "the condition of"
-less = "without"
-ful = "full of" or "the quantity needed to fill"
1. costly
2. blankly
3. basement
4. blissful
5. rudely
6. fondness
7. shyly
8. spotless
9. shipment
10. hopeless
Challenge Words:
thankfulness
requirement
entirely
Learned Words:
always
greatness
many
Week 9
Final long vowel sound
ā)= digraph ay
(ē)= digraph ee or vowel y
(ī)= vowel y
(ō)= digraph ow
(ū)= digraph ue
1. shallow
2. window
3. firefly
4. display
5. rescue
6. supply
7. three
8. agree
9. away
10. party
Challenge Words:
committee
scarecrow
continue
Learned Words:
money
value
know
Week 8
Double Consonant
Accented and Unaccented Syllables - The vowel sound in an unaccented syllable, especially the final syllable, can be spelled -o instead of -u.
1. seldom
2. common
3. lesson
4. bottom
5. ballot
6. canyon
7. gallop
8. cotton
9. blossom
10. kingdom
Challenge Words:
boredom
freedom
consonant
Learned Words:
welcome
city
Monday
Week 7
Double Consonant
1. rabbit
2. happen
3. sudden
4. attic
5. hammer
6. better
7. fossil
8. butter
9. puppy
10. gossip
Challenge Words:
bracket
bucket
different
Learned Words:
pretty
listen
dozen
Week 6
Bossy R
-er, -ar, -or
1. rather
2. hermit
3. garment
4. farther
5. swerve
6. carve
7. forbid
8. border
9. power
10. market
Challenge Words:
persistent
expertise
answer
Learned Words:
father
mother
third
Week 5:
VCCV WORDS:
Syllable Division VC / CV
When you hear /k/:
-after a short vowel in a two
or more syllable word
it is usually -c
absent
hectic
splendid
index
tablet
trumpet
metric
picnic
frantic
public
Challenge Words:
majestic
electric
athletic
Learned Words:
often
other
brother
Week 4
Diphthongs
two vowel sounds that blend into one
When you hear /oy/:
-oi … first or middle syllable
-oy … final position
When you hear /ow/:
-ou … first or middle syllable
-ow … final position
-ow … before final -n or -l
hoist
poison
ploy
oyster
convoy
mound
sour
chow
plow
scowl
Challenge words:
countdown
royal
appoint
Learned words:
should
outcome
thousand
Week 3:
Reliable spellings of /ch/ and compound words:
When you hear /ch/:
-tch … after a short vowel
-ch… after a consonant
after two vowels
beginning of a word
lunchroom
matchstick
backpack
checkbook
backbone
landscape
footprint
landmark
bathtub
windswept
Challenge Words:
grandchildren
butterscotch
basketball
Learned Words:
anybody
someone
sometimes
Week 2:
Reliable spellings of /k/:
kick
stock
slick
scalp
clang
craft
crane
drink
creep
stink
Challenge Words:
confuse
confiscate
capsule
Learned Words:
some
school
cent
Week 1:
Closed Syllables and Silent -e Syllables:
chose
smile
handshake
stampede
concrete
strike
costume
thrive
athlete
share
Challenge Words:
complete
timberline
envelope
Learned Words:
come
city
are