Home Early Learning Play School (HELPS) 8

Home Early Learning Play School (HELPS) 8 - Finding the Secret Codes for more diphthongs (vowel blends), consonant blends, homonyms, and exceptions. (A Handbook for Reading, blue). Spy Rules 26 – 35 (except 34 & 39 which are in Chapter 7). Phonics Charts 26-35 & 13b.

                Why all these charts, you ask? Because organizing and categorizing help children remember words easier and make associations between spellings, pronunciations, and meanings!

Spy Game – The Secret Codes:
                Spy Mission 8: Uncover the secret world of new letter blends which change the sounds. You (child) are the world-famous spy, Cody Breaker! Your eighth mission is to figure out which new letter blends have more than one sound, and when. You will crack the code of strange vowel sounds like ‘war’ and ‘wor.’ Many of these blended sounds are neither long nor short, so the mystery is yours to solve!

                You can decipher this puzzle by figuring out the new Spy Code Rules. Find words around you that follow each rule.  Great job. Spy out some more!

                Use the Phonics charts 26-35, 13b & 17b, in the appendix, along with the books, if desired. Have mom or dad explain the examples on the Phonics Charts, if needed.

                Have a scavenger hunt for the new blends in the signs, books, and the world around you. Report to the Spy Chief regularly about what you have found. Your next Spy assignment is to practice the alternate sounds often. On your paper, write words from the phonics charts in the appendix. Talk about the secret rules, below, of when to use which sounds, and find examples of each type. You’re the right Spy for the job. You can do it!

Spy Tools:
                Spy Chief, use phonics chart found in the appendix, with your child. You can start introducing the corresponding words as you present each concept with the Spy Code Rules 26-35. This will help your Spy know when alternate sounds are used for the new blends. A couple of the charts are review from previous chapters, but fit well in this group also. Note how interesting it is that adding ‘w’ to ‘ar’ and ‘or’ often changes the vowel sound!

                You might not want to do all of them in one sitting. Have your little Spy search for new examples in books, signs, etc. Practice. Let your child practice matching alternate sounds to words and draw pictures to illustrate them, especially for the differences in homonyms (which spelling goes with which meaning).

·         Have a scavenger hunt to find as many words as possible that have the consonant blends in Chart 26, below. Set a goal or see who can find the most. Do the same for all the ‘er (ir, ur)’ sounds in Chart 27.

·         Play find-the-silent-letters in words from the charts. Have a point system and reward, if desired. See if you can spot words that have homonyms (not listed, here).

·         Play find-the-rhyming words with words from the charts. Ask, what else rhymes with this word?

·         Use index cards for each of these, if desired.

·         Have a friendly spelling test after each Spy Rule & Chart review, orally and/or written. Be creative! Have joyous fun with it!

·         Spy Chief, try this spelling game with your little Spy to strengthen his/her memory:

o   Spell ‘rŭff’ – rough.         The sandpaper was rough.

o   Spell ‘thrū’ – through.    We drove through the tunnel.

o   Spell ‘thō’ – though.       Though I love pizza, no thanks.

o   Spell ‘therō’ – thorough.    Be thorough when cleaning.

o   Spell ‘tŭff’ – tough.         This spelling test is tough.

o   Spell ‘trŏff’ – trough.      Horses drink from a trough.

o   Spell ‘thou’ – thou.         Thou art the Lord.

o   Spell ‘cŏff’ – cough.        He had a bad cough.

o   Spell ‘bow’ – bough.       A tree bough is fun to climb.

o   Spell ‘cŏt’ – caught.         She caught the ball.

o   See how adding or removing a consonant(s) changes the vowel sound? Fun puzzle! See Spelling Rule 25, and Phonics Chart 20b, in Chapter 7.

o   Or group together all “ough” words with the same vowel sounds and memorize one set at a time.

Sounds like:
ŭff	tough	rough	enough	slough
ō	though	dough	borough	thorough
ow	thou	bough	sough	drought	south	gouge
ŏff	trough	cough
ŏtt	thought	bought	fought	wrought	brought	sought	ought
ŏtt	taught	caught	slaughter	naughty	haughty	aught	naught
ăff		laugh	laughter	draught	(draft)
oo	through	youth	soup	throughout
ā	gauge

The Spy Code Rules: (just practice one or two at a time, and search for examples in the charts and in words around you.)

Spy Code Rule 26: Consonant rule: two or more consonants can come together in a word to blend two or more sounds. See Chart 17b in Chapter 4.

Spy Code Rule 27: The ur rule: all three-  er, ir, and ur say ‘ūr’ (fur).

Spy Code Rule 28: The or rule: or usually says ‘ōr’ (for), but after w it says ‘ūr’ (word).

Spy Code Rule 29: The all rule: all usually says ‘ŏl’ (ball).

Spy Code Rule 30: The ar rule: ar usually says ‘är’ (car) like the name of the letter r, but after w it says ‘ōr’ (ward).

Spy Code Rule 31: The wa rule: when a comes after w, it can say ‘ā’ (wane), ‘ă’ (wax), ‘ō’ (war), ‘ŏ’ (want), or ‘ŭ’ (was).

Spy Code Rule 32: The a- rule: when a comes in front of a two-syllable word, it usually says ‘ŭ’ (alone).

Spy Code Rule 33: The ie rule (silent i for long e rule): usually put i before e (relieve, field, friend), except after c (receive, receipt), unless it says ‘ā’ (neighbor, weigh). Exceptions: stein, society, etc. See Chart 13b from Chapter 6.

Spy Code Rule 35: dge (and ge) say the soft g sound at the end of a word. gue in a word says the hard g sound.

Spy Code Book:
                The Spy Code Book is the charts found below in the appendix. The Spy Chief must follow it for optimum mission success.

Spy Reporting:
                It is time to learn cursive handwriting. Remember to write each letter in its left-to-right sequence, and in its proper bottom-to-top or top-to-bottom orientation, following a standard cursive practice workbook. Use lined paper. 

                Show your Spy (child), Cody Breaker, how to report what s/he has found by writing down the alternate sounds that s/he has found so far. And/or practice a few from Charts 26-35 in the appendix. To truly understand the code, s/he must master writing the code him/herself. Using the computer keyboard is not enough. Writing by hand strengthens the mind and ability to remember things, as well as eye-hand coordination. Practice two or three words from the charts for each rule, per session, or more if the child desires.

                Help your little Spy enjoy making and looking for the alternate sounds in words. Keep It Simple for Success (KISS your child). Reward his/her efforts regularly; a hug, a pat, a bit of praise, a treat, a privilege. Encouragement goes a long way. Keep it happy!

APPENDix

HELPS – Action plans – Spy Code charts

Phonics Charts 26-35, 13b & 17b.

Phonics Chart 26 (17b): Consonant blends ~ found at beginnings and/or ends of words. Most can be found in middles of words, too. Review from Chapter 4.

Consonant Blends &
Blend:	Word-location:	Examples:
ck	end	back, luck
ght	end	right, ought
ks	end	ranks, forks
lb	end, middle	bulb, album
lc	end, middle	talc, falcon
ld	end	gold, bald
lf	end	elf, shelf
lk	end	milk, bulk
lm	end	calm, film
lp	end	scalp, pulp
ls	end	fills, boils
lt	end	colt, fault
mb	end	comb, lamb
mn	end	column, hymn
nd	end	sand, kind
nt	end	bent, pant
rb	end	curb, suburb
rc	end	arc
rd	end	yard, bird
rf	end	surf, turf
rg	end	iceberg, burg
rk	end	cork, park
rl	end	curl, snarl
rm	end	worm, farm
rn	end	horn, yarn
rp	end	harp, burp
rs	end	cars, hers
rt	end	fort, part
ts	end	bats, hits
bl	start	blend, black
br	start	broom, brave
cl	start	close, clever
cr	start	crop, crumb
dr	start	drip, dram
dw	start	dwell, dwarf
fl	start	flop, flame
fr	start	fruit, fresh
gl	start	glad, glory
gr	start	grow, great
kl	start	klutz, Klondike
kr	start	krylon, krill
pl	start	place, plot
pr	start	proud, prince
rh	start	rhyme, rhythm
sc	start	scat, scare
sl	start	slip, slack
sn	start	snack, snore
sp	start	spine, sport
squ	start	squeal, squeeze
str	start	strap, strong
sv	start	svelte, Svengali
sw	start	swell, swift
tr	start	truth, trip
tw	start	twelve, twins
wh	start	whale, which
wr	start	wrong, write
ch	start/end	chat, such
gh	start/end	ghost, tough
ly	start/end	lyrics, truly
ph	start/end	phone, graph
sh	start/end	short, mash
sk	start/end	skill, risk
sm	start/end	smile, chasm
st	start/end	stop, most
th	start/end	thin, with
sr	start	sro, Sri Lanka
tch	end	match, notch
spl	start	splash, split

Phonics Chart 27: The ur rule: all three - er, ir, and ur - say ‘ūr’ (fur).

er	except.’s	ir	ur	ur
berg	earth	bird	burr	purl
certain	learn	birth	blurb	purple
clerk	pearl	birthday	burger	purse
derf	search	chirp	burka	slurp
fern	yearn	dirt	burl	surf
germ		fir	burn	surge
her	journal	firm	burp	turn
herb		first	burst
jerk		gird	churn
kernel		girl	curb
mermaid		girth	curd
nerve		mirth	curfew
per		shirk	curl
perk		shirt	curse
serve		sir	curt
stern		skirt	curve
term		stir	fur
terse		swirl	furl
verb		third	gurgle
verse		thirst	hurl
		virtue	hurt
			jury
			nurse
			purge

Phonics Chart 28: The or rule: or usually says ‘ōr’ (for), but after w it says ‘ūr’ (word).

ōr	ōr	ōr	ōr	er, ir, ur
bōrder	fōrth	nōrthern	spōrt	word
bōrn	hōrn	pōrk	stōre	work
cōrk	hōrse	pōrt	stōrm	world
cōrn	lōre	scōrcher	tōre	worm
cōrner	mōre	scōre	tōrn	worse
doōr		poōr	vōrtex	worth
fōr	mōrning	scōrn	wōre	< except
fōrk	nōr	snōrt	wōrn	< except
fōrk	nōr	sōre	yōre
fōrt	nōrth	sōrt

Phonics Chart 29: The all rule: all usually says ‘ŏl’ (ball). Otherwise, ‘all’ follows the double-consonant/short-vowel (Spy Code 39) rule.

ŏl		ăl		ŭl
äll		ălley		allow
bäll		ălly
cäll		băllet
fäll		căllous
gäll		dălly
häll		găllows
mäll		hăllow
ställ		săllow
täll		shăll
wäll		tăllow
wällow	älready	vălley

Phonics Chart 30: The ar rule: ar usually says ‘är’ (car) like the name of the letter r, but after w it says ‘ōr’ (ward).

är	är	är	ōr
bär	jär	stärt	war
bärk	lärd	tär	ward
bärn	lärk	tärnish	warn
cär	märk	tärt	warning
cärd	märt	värnish	warp
därt	pärk	wärm	< except
fär	pärt	yärn	wart
färm	spärk		quart
gärnish	stär		quartz
härm	stärk

Phonics Chart 31: The wa rule: when ‘a’ comes after ‘w’, it can say ‘ā’ (wane), ‘ă’ (wax), ‘ō’ (war), ‘ŏ’ (want), or ‘ŭ’ (was). 

Phonics Chart 32: The a- rule: when ‘a’ comes in front of a two-syllable word, it usually says ‘ŭ’ (alone).

ŭ	ŭ	ŭ	ŭ
abed	ahoy	arose	accord
ablaze	ajar	around	affix
aboard	alike	asleep	allow
about	alive	aver	annoy
above	alone	avoid	apparel
afraid	along	avow	arrest
again	aloud	awake	assist
aghast	amass	aware	assort
ago	amount	awash	assume
agree	anoint	away	attain
ahem	apart	awoke	attempt
			attract

Phonics Chart 33 (13b): Silent Letters – Changing Short Vowels to Long Ones with Silent “i” plus Homonyms & Exceptions. Chapter 6 review.

Silent i for long ē rule: i before e, except after c*; unless it says ā, as in neighbor & weigh. (Except German stein, etc.)
Examples:	beliēve	*decēive
	reliēve	*recēive
	cĕll	*cēiling
sĕptic	accĕpt	*recēipt

Short ĕ Vowels	Long ē Vowels	Homonyms
mĕn	miēn	mēan
lĕns	liēns	lēans
chĕf	chiēf
thĕft	thiēf
pĕr	piēr	pēēr
prĕss	priēst
tĕrm	tiēr	tēar
Long ī Vowels	Long ē Vowels	Homonyms
nīce	niēce	knēēs
spīce	piēce	pēace
prīze	priēst
Short Vowels	Long Vowels	Homonyms
fĕll	fiēld	filled	Long e + l can sound like short i + ll.
shĕll	shiēld	shilled
yĕll	yiēld

Phonics Chart 35: dge (and ge) say the soft g sound at the end of a word. gue in a word says the hard g sound.

Soft g	Soft g	Hard g	Hard g
abridge	hedge	ague	plague
acknowledge	hedgehog	analogue	prologue
badge	hodge	argūe	rogue
badger	podge	baguette	segué
bridge	judge	beleaguer	segue
budge	knowledge	brogue	synagogue
budget	ledge	catalogue	tongue
cartridge	lodge	colleague	travelogue
codger	midge	daguerre-otype	vague
cudgel	midget	demagogue	vogue
curmudgeon	nudge	dialogue	Note: several  -logue words are now spelled without the ue at the end, such as:
didgeridoo	partridge	epilogue
dislodge	pledge	fatigue
dodge	porridge	guernsey
dredge	pudgy	guerrilla
drudge	ridge	guess
edge	sedge	guest
fidget	sledge	harangue
fledge	sludge	intrigue	analog
fledgling	smidgen	league	catalog
fridge	stodgy	meringue	dialog
fudge	trudge	monologue	epilog
gadget	wedge	morgue	monolog
grudge	widget	pedagogue	prolog

Mottos of The Godfrey Method

1.       Keep It Simple for Success (KISS your child) with The Godfrey Method

2.       Top Ten Myths of Reading

3.       Dress Your Child’s Mind for Success

4.       Early Reading the Right Way – The Godfrey Method

5.       Reading is Hearing with Your Eyes
  (Phonics, phonics, phonics!)

6.       The Two Most Crucial Things Kids Need – Parent Time and Reading Skills
  (Give quality parent time and excellent reading skills together with The Godfrey Method.)

7.       To Fix Public Education, Change What We’re Teaching the Teachers to Teach.
  (Removing faulty teaching methods must start in our universities (or at home).
  Second, we must change what methods are legislated into mandatory state curricula.)

8.       Nurture Your Child’s Nature and Notions
  (Intelligence is one-part nature, one-part nurture, and one-part inner-motivation.)

9.       “No Child Left Behind” has become All Children Left Behind
  (Each term, curricula are readjusted (dumbed-down) to the slowest children.)

10.   It Doesn’t Matter How the Child Makes You Feel; It Only Matters How You Make the Child Feel
  (Remember, you’re the adult.)

11.   Geeks and Nerds Run the World
  (Think Bill Gates & Alan Greenspan, doctors, engineers, scientists, and inventors.
  Proud to be a geek!)

12.   Brains Always Beat Muscles
  (Like pirates always beat ninjas (ask a gamer…))

13.   Reverse Darwinism - Not Passing on Your Genes; Decline of the Fittest
  (When intelligent people choose NOT to have children and snuff out their genetic line.
  Centuries of gene survival now end with them. Dumbing-down of the world...)

14.   Dyslexia is Induced – It’s the Disease You Get from Sight-Reading

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