Post 8: Short Vowel Spelling Patterns

When teaching students about short vowels and closed syllables, it is important to include lessons on related spelling patterns. There are several patterns that are easy for students to learn, and can help their overall spelling.

‘ck’ Pattern

• in a one-syllable word, use ‘ck’ to represent the /k/ sound after a single short vowel, final to a base
• e.g., stick, rock, stack
• note: the /k/ sound needs to come immediately after the vowel, so do not use ‘ck’ if there is another sound in between the vowel and the /k/ sound e.g., silk, ask, blink

“Rainbows and Ladders” Game BoardDownload

“Rainbows and Ladders” game cardsDownload

“ck” Pattern Wheel GameboardDownload

Online Bingo Game -“ck” practice – myfreebingocards.com

Wordwall Game – “ck” or “ke”

Wordwall Game – “ck” crossword puzzle

Wordwall Game – “ck” balloon pop

B.O.M.P. Pattern (Buzz Off Miss Pill)

• double the <z>, <f>, <s> and <l> in a single syllable word after a single short vowel, final to the base
• e.g., class, staff, will
• note: the phrase “Buzz Off Miss Pill” can help students remember because each word contains one of the end letters to double (<z>, <f>, <s>, and <l>)
• common exceptions: if, has, this, his, yes, bus

Space Race GameboardDownload

Space Race Game Board Cards for B.O.M.P.Download

B.O.M.P. Pattern Wheel Game BoardDownload

B.O.M.P. Online Bingo – myfreebingocards.com

B.O.M.P. Word Search – Word Wall

B.O.M.P. True or False – Word Wall

‘tch’ Pattern

• in a one-syllable word, use ‘tch’ to represent the /ch/ sound after a single short vowel
• e.g., itch, catch, fetch
• note: the /ch/ sound needs to come immediately after the vowel, so do not use ‘tch’ if there is another sound between the vowel and the /ch/ sound e.g., bench, lunch, inch
• common exceptions: exceptions can be remembered with “WORM Sandwich”, which stands for the exception words “which, rich, much, such and sandwich”

Go Fish -tchDownload

-tch Pattern Game BoardDownload

-dge Bingo – myfreebingocards.com

Word Wall Game – “ch” or “-tch”

Word Wall Game – “-tch” Concentration

‘dge’ Pattern

• in a one-syllable word, use ‘dge’ to represent the /j/ sound after a single short vowel
• e.g., edge, ridge, fudge
• note: the /j/ sound needs to come immediately after the vowel, so do not use ‘dge’ if there is another sound between the vowel and the /j/ sound e.g., hinge, bulge

Go Fish -dgeDownload

Word Wall Game – Crossword Puzzle -dge

Word Wall Game – Concentration -dge

Doubling Pattern (also knows as the 1-1-1 pattern)

Double the final consonant when you add a suffix beginning with a vowel to:

• a 1 syllable word
• with 1 short vowel
• followed by only 1 consonant
• e.g., run + ing = running, stop + ed = stopped

Students need a lot of practice with this one. One great way to practice is through games, so I’ve attached a game below. Enjoy!

Doubling Game BoardDownload

Word Cards for Doubling GameDownload