What the Teacher Needs to Know about Feature I: Complex Consonant Patterns

(Description – pp. 135 - 138, Word Lists – pp. 218-220, 202-203)

Complex consonant patterns include: • triple-letter blends • spelling variations of final /k/, /ch/ and /j/ • hard and soft c and g • silent consonants The different aspects of this feature do not need to be taught sequentially. They should be chosen and taught to address the needs of your students. Triple-Letter Blends There are two kinds of triple-letter blends: 1. those in which each consonant sounds is heard – str, scr 2. those in which there is a blending of a digraph and a consonant – thr, shr Final /k/ Sound Spellings for the final /k/ sound are often confused by the speller working at this stage: • In one-syllable words, the ck spelling is used with short vowel words except when the

final /k/ sound is preceded by another consonant (milk, bank, perk) when the ending is just k.

• Most long vowel words end with ke; however, long e words often end with just k. • Words with abstract vowels (shook, stalk) end in just k. • Start sorting by vowel sound, then subdivide the sound columns by pattern. • Once they realize when each ending should be used, students can sort by sound and

pattern simultaneously. Final tch and dge • Most short vowel words that end with /ch/ are spelled with tch; exceptions are much,

such, and which • Long vowels, abstract vowels, and consonants l, n, and r signal the use of ch • Final dge and ge follow the same principles • Start sorting by vowel sound, then move on to the influence of a consonant preceding

the final /ch/ Hard and Soft c and g • Soft sounds of c and g occur when they are followed by e, i, or y • Hard sounds result when a, o, or u follow the consonants • Exceptions: get, give • This is a critical concept not only for the Within Word stage but also later stages. It is

helpful in both spelling and reading.

Silent Consonants Silent letters can be addressed as a separate issue or they may be included in the appropriate vowel pattern sorts. The key is that students understand they need to be particularly attentive to the spelling of the words with the silent letters. Many of these words have homophones that will also be addressed – knead, write.

Feature I Sort 1a

key quart squad

square squeal quilt

kite quick keep

keen quote quit

squirm king squash

key quart squad square squeal quilt kite quick keep keen quote quit squirm king squash

Feature I Sort 1a k qu squ key quart squad kite quilt square keep quick squeal keen quit squirm king quote squash Transfer Words: keel, quiz, queen, squid, squeeze

Feature I Sort 2a

scab scram shed

shrank scratch shot

shriek scum scalp

screech shrink shelf

scribe shrug scrub

scab scram shed shrank scratch shot shriek scum scalp screech shrink shelf scribe shrug scrub

Feature I Sort 2a sc scr sh shr scab scram shed shrank scum scratch shot shriek scalp screech shelf shrink scribe shrug scrub Transfer Words: scan, scrap, ship, shred

Feature I Sort 3a

span splash sprain

squad spit splint

spray squash squawk

spank splurge sprig

squeeze sprite squire

span splash sprain squad spit splint spray squash squawk spank splurge sprig squeeze sprite squire

Feature I Sort 3a

sp spl spr squ span splash sprain squad spit splint spray squash spank splurge sprig squawk sprite squeeze squire Transfer Words: sped, splay, sprang, squirm

Feature I Sort 4a

stem straight than

thrash three thank

strand stamp straw

think thrift throat

stream throne stress

stem straight than thrash three thank strand stamp straw think thrift throat stream throne stress

Feature I Sort 4a

st str th thr stem straight than thrash stamp strand thank three straw think thrift stream throat stress throne Transfer Words: step, strain, that, thread

Feature I Sort 5a

back bake broke

brick chick cluck

duke speak hike

jack like rake

deck fleck shake

?

back bake broke brick chick cluck duke speak hike jack like rake deck fleck shake

Feature I Sort 5a

ck ke ? back bake speak brick broke chick duke cluck hike deck like fleck rake jack shake Transfer Words: black, buck, bike, cake

Feature I Sort 6a

lock stake beak

ask blink strike

dark shark neck

leak sneak quick

book nook steak

lock stake beak ask blink strike dark shark neck leak sneak quick book nook steak

Feature I Sort 6a

ck ke k lock stake beak neck strike leak quick sneak steak book hook ask blink dark shark Transfer Words: luck, stroke, bank, chalk

Feature I Sort 7a

beach batch catch

ditch couch pouch

bench hitch crunch

match pitch bunch

stitch lunch munch

beach batch catch ditch couch pouch bench hitch crunch match pitch bunch stitch lunch munch

Feature I Sort 7a

ch tch beach batch couch catch pouch ditch bench hitch bunch match crunch pitch lunch stitch munch Transfer Words: march, perch, hutch, scratch

Feature I Sort 8a

coach church witch

switch sketch wrench

starch much peach

ranch patch latch

pinch reach march

?

coach church witch switch sketch wrench starch much peach ranch patch latch pinch reach march

Feature I Sort 8a

VVch Cch tch ? coach church witch much peach wrench switch reach starch sketch ranch patch pinch latch march Transfer Words: beach, punch, pitch

Feature I Sort 9a

badge age change

large urge huge

edge hedge ledge

wedge sage merge

singe fringe budge

badge age change large urge huge edge hedge ledge wedge sage merge singe fringe budge

Feature I Sort 9a

dge Vge Cge badge age change edge huge large hedge sage urge ledge merge wedge singe budge fringe Transfer Words: bridge, cage, charge

Feature I Sort 10a

bounce cent say

dance rice fence

slice cite glance

trace soak lace

once surf place

bounce cent say dance rice fence slice cite glance trace soak lace once surf place

Feature I Sort 10a

c (followed by a, o, u) c (followed by e, i, y) s bounce cent say dance cite soak fence surf glance lace once place rice slice trace Transfer Words: chance, dice, cell, sing

Feature I Sort 11a

game germ jar

get gun change

gem gym jet

ridge gag gong

cage rage just

game germ jar get gun change gem gym jet ridge gag gong cage rage just

Feature I Sort 11a

g(followed by a, o, u) g(followed by e, i, y) j game germ jar get change jet gun gem just gag gym gong ridge cage rage Transfer Words: gap, stage, juunk

Feature I Sort 12a

gnarl knack bomb

wrap wreck crumb

knee gnaw knew

limb wring wrist

tomb knit knot

gnarl knack bomb wrap wreck crumb knee gnaw knew limb wring wrist tomb knit knot

Feature I Sort 12a

gn kn mb wr gnarl knack bomb wrap gnaw knee crumb wreck knew limb wring knit tomb wrist knot Transfer Words: gnash, kneel, climb, wrong