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 sound 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 onto 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 1c king queen square keep quit squeal squint quick keen kit quart squeeze kite quiz squat king quit keen kite queen squeal kit quiz square squint quart squat keep quick squeeze Feature I Sort 1c k king keep keen kit kite qu queen quit quick quart quiz squ square squeal squint squeeze squat Transfer Words: keel, kept, quirk, quack, squirt, squash Feature I Sort 2c scat scrape shop shrewd scamp scream shaft shrimp screw shrub scroll scab scrunch ship shrank scat scamp screw scrunch scrape scream shrub ship shop shaft scroll shrank shrewd shrimp scab Feature I Sort 2c sc scat scamp scab scr scrape scream screw scroll scrunch sh shop shaft ship Transfer Words: scalp, scratch, shed, shrink shr shrewd shrimp shrub shrank Feature I Sort 3c spin splice sprawl square spun splotch spree squaw squeal sprint squint squirt sprung split spent spin spun squeal sprung splice splotch sprint split sprawl spree squint spent square squaw squirt Feature I Sort 3c sp spin spun spent spl splice splotch split spr sprawl spree sprint sprung Transfer Words: span, splash, sprain, squad squ square squaw squeal squint squirt Feature I Sort 4c stop strait them threat sting strap streak thing threw thrive thump strength strict throne throw stop sting threw strict strait strap thrive throne them streak thump throw threat thing strength Feature I Sort 4c st stop sting str strait strap streak strength strict th them thing thump Transfer Words: stem, strand, thank, throat thr threat threw thrive throne throw Feature I Sort 5c block brake choke check clock flake lake poke duck flock quake lack lick spoke speak ? block clock duck lick brake flake flock spoke choke lake quake speak check poke lack Feature I Sort 5c ck block check clock duck flock lack lick ke brake choke flake lake poke quake spoke ? speak Transfer Words: back, brick, rake, shake Feature I Sort 6c mock wake cheek blank oak seek pick week cook stalk wreck junk spark yoke clerk mock oak cook spark wake seek stalk yoke cheek pick wreck clerk blank week junk Feature I Sort 6c ck mock pick wreck ke wake yoke k cheek oak seek week cook stalk blank junk spark clerk Transfer Words: lock, strike, blink, shark Feature I Sort 7c coach crutch botch poach teach branch hatch latch cinch patch launch sketch mulch witch pinch coach teach cinch mulch crutch branch patch witch botch hatch launch pinch poach latch sketch Feature I Sort 7c ch coach poach teach branch cinch launch mulch pinch tch botch crutch hatch latch patch sketch witch Transfer Words: beach, bench, hitch, match Feature I Sort 8c couch torch snatch thatch scratch scrunch scorch pouch porch perch much batch hutch lunch teach ? couch scratch porch hutch torch scrunch perch lunch snatch scorch much teach thatch pouch batch Feature I Sort 8c VVch couch pouch teach Cch torch scrunch scorch porch perch lunch tch thatch snatch scratch batch hutch Transfer Words: coach, church, sketch ? much Feature I Sort 9c dodge rage bulge verge surge plunge gauge fudge judge siege nudge pledge cringe hinge trudge dodge surge judge cringe rage plunge siege hinge bulge gauge nudge trudge verge fudge pledge Feature I Sort 9c dge dodge fudge judge nudge pledge trudge Vge rage gauge siege Cge bulge verge surge plunge hinge cringe Transfer Words: badge, huge, change Feature I Sort 10c choice cinch song face force juice cyst nice niece race since some spice voice safe choice force niece spice cinch juice race voice song cyst since safe face nice some Feature I Sort 10c c (followed by a, o, u) choice face force juice nice niece race since spice voice c (followed by e, i, y) cinch cyst Transfer Words: bounce, dance, cent, soak s song some safe Feature I Sort 11c gas gee jail gel germ judge gum gift joke large goal gash page stooge jolt gas germ joke page gee judge large stooge jail gum goal jolt gel gift gash Feature I Sort 11c g(followed by a, o, u) gas gum gift goal gash g(followed by e, i, y) gee gel germ judge large page stooge Transfer Words: game, ridge, jar j jail joke jolt Feature I Sort 12c gnat knead comb wreath wrench wrote lamb knelt knight knock gnu thumb limb wry known gnat wrench knight limb knead wrote knock wry comb lamb gnu known wreath knelt thumb Feature I Sort 12c gn gnat gnu kn knead knelt knight knock known mb comb lamb thumb limb Transfer Words: gnarl, knee, bomb, wreck wr wreath wrench wrote wry