1st Grade

C/K

When a word has an a, o, or u the /k/ sound is spelled with a letter c. When a word has an i or e the /k/ sound is spelled with a letter k.

Qu

The sound /kw/ is spelled with a qu.

Long Vowels/Open Syllables

An open syllable has one long vowel and is the last letter in the syllable as in me. A closed syllable has one short vowel and ends in a consonant as in pat.

Digraphs

A digraph consists of two letters that make one sound when speaking and reading.

• -ch as in chin
• -sh as in shoe
• -th voiced as in feather

Digraphs

A digraph consists of two letters that make one sound when speaking and reading.

• th/ unvoiced as in thumb
• wh as in whistle

1-1-1 Rule: ss, ll, ff, zz

If a word has one syllable, one short vowel, and ends with one consonant sound made by s, l, f, or z, double the final consonant.

Compound Words

Two words that make up one word.

Open & Closed Syllables

A closed syllable has one short vowel closed in by a consonant. An open syllable has a long vowel that does not have a consonant after it.

Two-Consonant Beginning Blends

A blend consists of two or more consonants that blend together when speaking and reading.

• R Blends

Two-Consonant Beginning Blends

A blend consists of two or more consonants that blend together when speaking and reading.

• L Blends
• S Blends
• W Blends

Ending Blends

A blend consists of two or more consonants that blend together when speaking and reading.

• T Blends

Ending Blends

A blend consists of two or more consonants that blend together when speaking and reading.

• L Blends
• Remaining Ending Blends (two and three consonant blends)

Y as a Vowel (cry)

The letter y can be like a chameleon and change its sound. The letter y usually makes the long /i/ sound at the end of a one syllable word.

-ng/-nk Units

The letters -ng and -nk always come at the end of words, following the vowels a, i, o, and u, but not e.

1-1-1 Rule: -ck

If a word has one syllable, one short vowel, and ends with one consonant sound that says /k/, spell /k/ with -ck.

1-1-1- Rule: -tch

If a word has one syllable, one short vowel, and ends with one consonant sound that says /ch/, spell / ch/ with -tch.

1-1-1 Rule: -dge

If a word has one syllable, one short vowel, and ends with one consonant sound that says /j/, spell /j/ with -dge.

Magic E

A Magic E is when the “e” jumps over one consonant to make the vowel “say its name” (make the long vowel sound).

Y as a Vowel (baby)

The letter y can be like a chameleon and change its sound. The letter y usually makes the long /e/ sound at the end of a two syllable word.

Soft c and g (Gentle Cindy)

C says /k/ next to a, o, and u.
C says /s/ (soft c) next to e, i, and y.

G says /g/ next to a, o, and u.
G says /j/ (soft g) next to e, i, and y.

Suffix -ed: /id/, /d/, /t/

The suffix -ed makes three sounds:

• /id/ - folded
• /d/ - soared
• /t/ - crashed

Plural Suffixes: -s /s/ or /z/ and -es /iz/

Suffix -s:

• /s/ - after an unvoiced sound (cats)
• /z/ - after a voiced sound (dogs)

Suffix -es:

• /iz/ - after a word that ends with /ch/, /j/, /s/, /sh/, /z/, or the letter x.

Vowel Teams ea/ee

A vowel team is two, three or four letters that work together to pronounce a vowel sound. The letters ea and ee make the long /e/ sound.

Vowel Teams ai/ay

A vowel team is two, three or four letters that work together to pronounce a vowel sound. The letters ai and ay make the long /a/ sound.

Vowel Teams oa/oe

A vowel team is two, three or four letters that work together to pronounce a vowel sound. The letters oa and oe make the long /o/ sound.

Suffix -ing

The suffix -ing means the action of a verb, such as playing, or a noun, such as bedding.

Contractions with am, is, are, has, not

Contractions are words that use an apostrophe to put two words together. When the words are combined, the apostrophe takes the place of a letter or letters.