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Long vowels are generally used at the end of open syllables

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Long vowels are generally used at the end of open syllables

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Syllables that end with a vowel will always say the long vowel sound (even if they are just a single vowel)

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Magic 'e', magic 'e'

Makes the short vowels looooong

Magic 'e', magic 'e'

This is the magic 'e' song.

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Letter <y> makes three sounds.

1.     Letter <y> only says its sound /y/ if it is at the beginning or middle of a word (beyond yellow yoghurt).

2.     Letter <y> makes the /ie/ sound at the end of short words (why, try, fly). In these words, letter <y> is acting like a vowel.

Letter <y> makes the /ee/ sound at the end of longer words (sorry, hairy, lady).

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Alternative Spellings for letter sound /f/ and sample words

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A: ai, ay a-e ay

E: ee, ea, e-e, ey

I: ie, i-e

O: oa, oe, o-e

U: ue, u-e

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For example we say 'Shy i, toughy y' as in words with an ai or oi sound at the end the i is too shy so it changes to a y. For example day or toy. The rule extends to the ee sound which usually becomes either y or ey.

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Worksheet for further practice of the /ie/ alternative spelling ‹igh›

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When a one-syllable word ends in f, l, or s, double the final f, l, or s (for example, sniff, fall, mess, buzz).

We call this the floss spelling rule because the word floss follows this rule and includes the letters f, l, and s to help us remember the rule. There are some exceptions to this rule (for example if, pal, has).

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The number of syllables in a word is defined by the number of vowel sounds within a word. This can also be thought of as the number of beats in a word, or the number of times your mouth opens and closes when saying the word.

1 syllable words:  maize, is, a, one, sound, word.

2 syllable words: wa-ter, of-ten, con-tains, dou-ble, walk-ing, be-cause

3 syllable words: Zam-bi-a, syl-lab-les,  hosp-it-al, con-son-ant

4 syllable words: cat-er-pil-lar

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Talking through the Capital Letter Formation

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Talking through the Capital Letter Formation

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Just like we recommend talking through letter formation for Lower Case letters, we recommend the same process for Capital Letters.

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So we are back with our next syllable type in our series The Reading & Spelling Rules That Nobody Taught You.

In this post, we are going to talk about the fourth syllable type we teach to our students...

The Open Syllable is the opposite of a Closed Syllable. Remember, a Closed Syllable is a syllable with one vowel that is closed in at the end with a consonant.

So, an Open Syllable is a syllable with one vowel that is left open or free at the end. Open vowels can say their name or long sound. (I like to say that since the vowel isn't closed in, it can get out and go for a looooong run and say it's looooong sound!)

Some Open Syllable words are: hi, no, she, he, we, and so. Can you hear the long sounds at the end of each word? Pretty simple, right? These syllables can also be found within words. For example, words like tiger have an open syllable at the front (ti). Even though the vowel is in the middle of the word, it can still say its long sound! Click here to learn more about how we cover the syllable division strategies that align with this.

If you are looking for games to help review open syllables, check out our Open Syllable Word War below!

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Open Syllables - the Reading & Spelling Rules that Nobody Taught You - Ascend Smarter Intervention

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The Open Syllable is the opposite of a Closed Syllable. In an open syllable, you have a vowel left alone at the end of the syllable. Join us to unravel the mystery of open syllables and Y's role as a vowel! Discover how open syllables work and why Y sometimes acts as a vowel.

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c, k  or ck spelling in one-syllable words

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c, k  or ck spelling in one-syllable words

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In 1-syllable words use the letter 'c' with the vowels a, o, u. Use the letter 'k' with the vowels i and e.

'c' is the most common spelling for /k/ at the beginning of words.

Use the consonant digraph 'ck' only at the end of 1-syllable words when the /k/ sound IMMEDIATELY follows a vowel.

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In a one syllable word <y> says /ie/.

In a two syllable word <y> says /ee/

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Further practice for long vowel sound /oa/'s alternative spellings ‹ow› and ‹o-e›

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The “Rabbit Rule” is a commonly taught spelling rule that addresses the double consonant in words like “rabbit” and “parrot.”

The middle consonant is usually doubled in words that meet three criteria:

1. The word has two syllables.
2. You hear a short vowel in the first syllable.
3. You hear one consonant sound between the first and second vowels.

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Syllable Division (6 types of syllables)

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Syllable Division (6 types of syllables)

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The difference between:

1. Open syllables (ending in vowel - long vowel sound)

2. Closed syllables (ending in consonant - short vowel sound)

3. Words that contain an 'r controlled vowel'

4. Words that contain a 'magic e'

5. Words that contain a 'vowel digraph' (Dipthong)

6. Words that end vowel +le

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How Open syllables relate to vowels saying their long name

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How Open syllables relate to vowels saying their long name

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Letter <y> makes three sounds.

1.     Letter <y> only says its sound /y/ if it is at the beginning or middle of a word (beyond yellow yoghurt).

2.     Letter <y> makes the /ie/ sound at the end of short words (why, try, fly). In these words, letter <y> is acting like a vowel.

Letter <y> makes the /ee/ sound at the end of longer words (sorry, hairy, lady).

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Explanation of when different /f/ spellings are used

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Explanation of when different /f/ spellings are used

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The /f/ sound is usually spelled with the letter f, or ff if after a short vowel - this is covered in Unit 4. In some words, the /f/ sound is spelled using the digraph ph. These are often words from the ancient Greek language. Many share the same root word.

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Spelling the /f/ sound with ph. This course teaches English spelling rules with interactive exercises and spelling tests, helping learners with problems such as dyslexia to improve their English spelling and helping others to learn English as a foreign language. Spellzone can be used to teach English spelling in schools, colleges, language schools and by individual students.

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Paint stones with the Capital letters for a fun and colourful resource that children can practice matching activities (letters with sounds or lower and uppercase letters).

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English words don't end in ‹i›, ‹u›, ‹v› or ‹j›

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English words don't end in ‹i›, ‹u›, ‹v› or ‹j›

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This rule explains and feeds into a number of other spelling rules.

Words don't usually end in ‹i› - shy ‹i› and toughy ‹y› (boy, day)

Words don't usually end in ‹u› - /ou/ is spelt ‹ow› at the end of a word (now, cow)

Words don't usually end in ‹v› - words end in ‹ve› instead, (have, give)

Words don't usually end in ‹j› - see soft ‹g› rules (edge, cage)

Also worth noting:

‹i› and ‹j› look similar - ‹u› and ‹v› look similar too

Foreign words (ski, taj), Proper nouns (People's names don't always follow spelling rules) and some Pronouns (you, I) are all exceptions.

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English Words do not end in i, u, v, or j