Spelling Rules

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33 spelling rules for Grades 1–2, taught one at a time. Each rule has its own rule page, then practice, so children learn why a word is spelled the way it is.

Children stop guessing at spellings once they know the rule behind them. This pack covers the spelling patterns children need once they can read long vowels. It is Science of Reading aligned and follows the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence, so each rule builds on sounds your child already knows.

What you get

• 82 printable pages in 4 units
• 33 rules, each with a clear rule page and example words
• Practice for every rule: fill in the letters, word sorts, "Which is spelled right?", color by rule and cut-and-sort picture cards
• A review at the end of every unit: Read the Words, Listen and Spell, and a Read It! story with questions
• Parent and teacher guide with a simple 5-day routine and Listen and Spell word lists
• Spelling Rules Tracker to check off each rule as it is mastered
• Full answer key, labeled by page

Every rule included

Unit 1: Consonant Spellings

• Beginning /k/: c or k (cat, kite)
• Ending /k/: k, ck or ke (milk, duck, bake)
• FLOSS rule: double f, l, s and z after a short vowel (cliff, bell, dress, buzz)
• q is always followed by u (queen, quick)
• Silent letters: kn, wr and mb (knee, write, lamb)
• Ending /ch/: ch or tch (bench, match)
• Ending /j/: ge or dge (cage, badge)
• Gentle Cindy rule: soft c and g before e, i and y (city, gem)
• Spellings of /sh/: sh and ch, plus a Grade 3 challenge with ti, ci, si and ssi (ship, chef, mention)

Unit 2: Vowel Spellings

• Long a: ai or ay (rain, play)
• Long e: ee, ea, y or ey (tree, team, happy, key)
• Long i: i_e, igh, y or ie (kite, night, fly, pie)
• Long o: oa, ow or oe (boat, snow, toe)
• Long /oo/: oo, ew, ue or u_e (moon, new, blue, tube)
• Ending sounds of y: long i or long e (fly, funny)
• English words do not end in i, j, u or v (have, bridge, blue)
• The 5 jobs of silent e (cape, have, blue, face, little)
• /er/: er, ir or ur (her, bird, turn)
• /or/: or or ore (fork, store)
• au or aw (sauce, paw)
• ou or ow (house, cow)
• oi or oy (coin, toy)

Unit 3: Adding Endings

• Plurals: s or es (cats, boxes)
• Plurals: -ies and -ves (puppies, leaves)
• Three sounds of -s: /s/, /z/ and /iz/ (cups, dogs, wishes)
• Three sounds of -ed: /t/, /d/ and /id/ (jumped, yelled, rested)
• Doubling rule, 1-1-1 (hop, hopping)
• Drop the e (make, making)
• Change y to i (cry, cried)
• all becomes al (always, almost)

Unit 4: Contractions, Homophones and Homographs

• Contractions (can't, I'm, won't)
• Homophones (there, their, they're)
• Homographs (bat the animal and bat for a ball)

Who it is for

Grades 1 and 2, with Unit 4 best for Grade 2 and up. Start once your child reads long vowels with confidence. Great for homeschool, classrooms, small groups, tutoring and summer practice.

How to use it

Teach one rule a week: read the rule page together on Day 1, practice on Day 2, read the words on Day 3, spell on Day 4 and review with the Read It! story on Day 5. The guide walks you through each step.

Format

• Instant digital download (PDF)
• US Letter size, 8.5 x 11 in
• Print at home as many times as you need for your own children or classroom

This pack is also included in the Phonics Loom.