It is a good thing if we
can keep spelling up to reading. I tell pupils they read with their ears, and
even more, they spell with their ears. Below
are five columns, one for each vowel. Say a simple 3-letter word, (e.g. dot, jug, lips, mug, tap, gun, zip,
van, fan, hat, six) to the pupil and ask him to listen for the
vowel in the middle. Which is the middle vowel? He can then find the correct
column and try to spell that word. You can use words from the bingo, the
s/ladders dice game, the Pairs pack, any words that have 3 letters/3 sounds,
and not words like fur, 3 letters, 2 sounds, or was where the WA does not make
the sound in wax. Where possible let the learner do his own checking.
The aim is plenty of practice so that the response to a 3‑letter word becomes automatic and fast, but NOT from flash‑card work. The way into a word, the first time, is by sounding out, not word‑shape, ‑ reading, not recognition.
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