Home Early Learning Play School (HELPS) 6

Home Early Learning Play School (HELPS) 6 - Learn alternate sounds for each letter that has them. Learn short vs. long vowels. Diphthongs. Silent letters and homonyms. A Happy Elf Was Zoo-man Xander. Or A Jolly King Was Rocket-man Kyle. Phonics charts 6-13. Spy Code Rules 11 – 17, 50, 44 (review).

Spy Game – The Secret Codes:
                Spy Mission 6: Uncover the secret world of the letters with more than one sound. You (child) are the world-famous spy, Cody Breaker! Your sixth mission is to figure out which letters have more than one sound, and when. You will crack the code of long vowels vs. short vowels. The long vowel sounds say their own name [as in The ABC Song (tune of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)], ā, ē, ī, ō, ū, y ( ī ). The short vowels sounds don’t say their name, ă, ĕ, ĭ, ŏ, ŭ, y (ē). Note: the letter y has one consonant sound (yacht, yes, you) and two vowels sounds (fly, cycle, sky, why, or funny, pretty, nutty).

                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 6-13 in the appendix, along with the books, A Happy Elf Was Zoo-man Xander, or, A Jolly King Was Rocket-man Kyle, if desired. Available on www.amazon.com. Review The ABC Song (tune of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star), and listen carefully for the long vowel sounds, as well as the soft c and g sounds. (TGM discourages learning the alphabet song and letter names before learning basic phonics. See the Top Ten Myths of Reading in Chapter 2). Have mom or dad re-explain the difference between letter names and letter sounds, if needed.

                Look for the new, alternate sounds 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 below. Talk about the secret rules, below, of when to use which sounds, and find examples of each type.

Spy Tools:
                Spy Chief, use phonics chart found in the appendix, and suggested books, with your child. You can start introducing the corresponding words as you present each concept with the Spy Code Rules 11-17, 50, & 44 below, so that s/he understands how and when alternate sounds are used instead of the basic (first) sounds. 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).

·         Play a match-the-homonym card game with index cards. Write several of the homonyms from the charts on the cards and play the Match game (like Concentration). Place the  cards in rows and columns, face down. Pick two at a time and see if they are homonyms (sound the same, different spelling or meaning) of each other.

·         Play find-the-silent-letters in words from the charts. Have a point system and reward, if desired.

·         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. Be creative! Have joyous fun with it!

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 11: Two-vowel rule: when there are two vowels             in a word, usually the first vowel says its long sound            and the second vowel is silent. The silent vowel           makes the first vowel say its own name. Charts 10a-      10c, 12a-12b, 13a-13b.

Spy Code Rule 12: Long u rule: long u can say ū (cute) or ōō (tune, toon) or ŏŏ (good, book). Exceptions: ŭ (blood, flood). Charts 10a, 12c.

Spy Code Rule 13: The x rule:  x usually says ‘ks’ (but sometimes ‘z’).

Spy Code Rule 14: The s rule: s can say ‘s’ (usually at the beginning of a word) or ‘z’ (usually at the end of a             word).

            And vice-versa for the z rule: z can say ‘z’ (usually at the beginning of a word) or ‘s’ (usually at the end of     a word)

Spy Code Rule 15: The ea rule: ea usually says ‘ē’ (meat), but can say ‘ĕ’ (head) or ‘ā’ (great), too. Charts 11a-11c.

Spy Code Rule 16a: The ay rule: ay usually says long ‘ā’. Chart 12d.

Spy Code Rule 16b: The ey rule: ey usually says long ‘ē’ (key), but can also say long ‘ā’ (they). Chart 12d.

Spy Code Rule 17: The igh and ign rule: both igh and ign say long ‘ ī ’ (right, sign), with a silent g. Charts 13c-13f.

Spy Code Rule 50: Hard sound vs. soft sound rule: When the letter c is followed by the vowels a, o, or u, it usually says its hard (k) sound (can, cot, cup). When the letter c is followed by the vowels e, i, or y, it usually says its soft (s) sound (cent, cinnamon, cyst).

            Some words use both sounds (circus, cycle, bicycle).

            When the letter g is followed by the vowels a, o, or u, it usually says its hard (g) sound (gas, got, gum, guide, guest).

            When the letter g is followed by the vowels e, i, or y, it usually says its soft (j) sound (general, gel, ginseng, gypsy).

            The letter g has several exceptions, especially in small words (get, give).

            Note: The Alphabet Song uses the soft sounds for the names of c and g.

Spy Code Rule 44 review: Word usage rule: when a word changes from a noun (or adjective) to a verb, or vice-versa, its pronunciation and/or spelling may also change. Some may be homonyms. Examples:

·         The wind was too strong to wind the sail. (noun, verb)

·         He thought the present time was time to present the present. (adjective, verb, noun)

·         The bandage was wound around the wound. (verb, noun)

·         I did not object to the object. (verb, noun)

·         The insurance was invalid for the invalid. (adjective, noun)

·         The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert. (verb, noun, noun)

·         A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum. (noun, adjective)

·         How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend? (verb, adjective)

·         It’s not safe to live around a live wire. (verb, adjective)

By Sonal Panse http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/4-20-2005-68792.asp

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:
                Show your Spy (child), Cody Breaker, how to report what s/he has found by writing down the alternate-sound words that s/he has found so far. And/or practice a few from Charts 6-13 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. Use the Century Gothic font (lower-case) as your letter-shape guideline. For example, a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z, matching with a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z, is the easiest style to learn to write. Remember to print each letter in its left-to-right sequence, and in its proper bottom-to-top or top-to-bottom orientation, like cursive does, as explained in the Chapter 1 HELPS. Use lined paper.

                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 6-13.

Phonics Chart 6: Alternate Sounds (Long Vowels: ā, ī, ō, ū, except ĕ, soft c, soft g, soft x, & y as long vowel ī)

A Happy Elf Was Zoo-man Xander

ā     ācorn

b     bīke

c     cyclops

d     dog

ĕ     ĕlf

f     fīreman   

g     gīant

h     hĕlicopter

ī       īce cream

j      juggler

k     karate

l      līghthouse

m   monster

n     nĕst

ō     ōgre

p     pĕpperōni pizza

q     quiver

r     rōbot

s     snāil

t     tōtem

ū     ūkulele

v     volcānō

w    walrus

x     xylophōne

y     fly (ī)

z     zoo

Phonics Chart 7: Alternate Sounds for Letters – Set 1 (Long Vowels: ā, ī, ō, ū, except ĕ, soft c, soft g, soft x, & y as long vowel ī)

acorn bed     beg     bet      by        city      den     egg     end     fed      fez       fly        gel

get      giant   gnu     hem    hen     her      hex      ice      jet        keg     led      leg      let

men    met     my       net      opal    peg     pen     pep     pet      red      ref       rev      rex

set       ten      ukulele   vet  vex      wad    war     was     web    wed    wet     xylophone

yen     yes      yet      zen      go       ho-ho     no      so      yo-yo    cyclops        quail

Phonics Chart 8: Alternate Sounds for Letters – Set 2 (Long Vowels: ā, ī, ō, ū, except ĕ)

bell      deck   dell      egg     fell       jell       less      mess   neck   peck   sell       tell       well

yell      foe      quail

Alternate Sounds with Extra Silent Letters – Set 2 (Long Vowels: ā, ī, ō, ū, except ĕ)

been  dead  deaf   debt   guess  head  knell   

Phonics Chart 9: Capital Letters for Alternate Sounds (Long Vowels: Ā, Ī, Ō, Ū, except Ĕ, soft C, soft G, soft X, & Y as long vowel Ī)
A Jolly King Was Rocket-man Kyle

Ā     Ālien                   (with ācorn)

B     Bear                    (with bike)

C     Cent                   (with cyclops)

D     Dollar                  (with dog)

Ĕ     Ĕlephant                         (with ĕlf)

F     Fork                      (with fireman)

G     Gel tube            (with giant)

H     Hotel                   (with helicopter)

Ī       Īcicles                 (with īce cream)

J     Jar of Jam          (with juggler)

K     King Kyle             (with karate girl)

L     Ladder                (with lighthouse)

M    Moose                (with monster)

N     Net                      (with nest)

Ō     Ōpal                   (with ōgre)

P     Pop can                         (with pizza pepperoni)

Q     Quince              (with quiver)

R     Rocket                (with robot)

S     Sun rays              (with snail)

T     Tie [neck]            (with totem pole)

Ū     Ūniverse                         (with ūkulele)

V     Vase of Violets             (with volcano)

W    Windmill & Wind (with walrus)

X     Xylem                  (with xylophone)

Y     eYe                      (with fly)

Z     Zither                    (with zoo cage)

Phonics Chart 10a: Silent Letters - Changing Short Vowels to Long Ones with Silent “e”

Short Vowels	Long Vowels		Short Vowels	Long Vowels
băd	bāde		lŏp	lōpe
băn	bāne		măt	māte
bid	bīde		mill	mīle
bill	bīle		mŏd	mōde
bit	bīte		mŏp	mōpe
blĕd	blēēd		mŭtt	mūte
bŏn	bōne		năp	nāpe
căm	cāme		nŏd	nōde
căn	cāne		păst	pāste
căp	cāpe		păt	pāte
căr	cāre		pĕp	pēēp
cŏd	cōde		pill	pīle
cŏn	cōne		pin	pīne
cŏp	cōpe		plŭm	plūme
cŭb	cūbe		pŏp	pōpe
cŭd	cūed		răt	rāte
cŭt	cūte		rĕf	rēēf
dim	dīme		rid	rīde
din	dīne		rip	rīpe
dŏt	dōte		rŏb	rōbe
dŭd	dūde		rŭb	rūbe
dŭn	dūne		rŭn	rūne
făd	fāde		sir	sīre
făt	fāte		spit	spīte
fĕd	fēēd		tăm	tāme
fin	fīne		tăp	tāpe
găl	gāle		tĕn	tēēn
găp	gāpe		till	tīle
hăt	hāte		tin	tīne
hid	hīde		tŏt	tōte
hŏp	hōpe		tŭb	tūbe
kit	kīte		tŭn	tūne
lid	līed		wad	wāde
live	līve		war	wāre
lŏb	lōbe		wĕd	wēēd
Exception: bĕĕn
Note: an ending “v” always has a silent “e” after it, regardless.

Phonics Chart 10b: Silent Letters - Changing Short Vowels to Long Ones with Silent “e” and spelling change

Short Vowels	Long Vowels		Short Vowels	Long Vowels
băck	bāke		dĕad	dēēd
dŭck	dūke		gill	guīle
jŏck	jōke		guĕss	gēēse
lăck	lāke		ill	isle
lick	līke		lamb	lame
pick	pīke		limb	līme
pŏck	pōke		Special Cases*: “o” sounds like ŭ or ū with “ve” at end:
pŭck	pūke
quăck	quāke		love    (lŭv)
răck	rāke		dove  (dŭv)	dōve
săck	sāke		oven  (ŭven)	ōver
snăck	snāke		shove  (shūv)
tăck	tāke		shovel  (ūv)
wrĕck	rēēk		grōōve(grūv)	grōve
			move  (mūv)
			prove  (prūv)
			*Exceptions may belong in platypus category.

Phonics Chart 10c: Silent Letters - Changing Short Vowels to Long Ones with Silent “e” plus Homonyms

Short Vowels	Long Vowels	Homonyms	Homonyms
ăt	āte	eight
bar	bāre	beār	bĕrry, bury
băss	bāse	bāss
băt	bāte	bāit
băth	bāthe	“th” goes from soft to hard
bĕt	bēēt	bēat
dăm	dāme	dămn
did	dīed	dyed
far	fāre	fāir
fĕll	fēēl	fill	Short i + ll can sound like long e.
fill	fīle	fēēl
har	hāre	hāir
hĕll	hēēl	hēal	hill
hĕr	hēre	hēar
lăd	lāde	lāid
lid	līed
măd	māde	māid
măn	māne	māin
mar	māre	mārry	mĕrry
mĕt	mēte	mēēt	mēat
nŏt	nōte	knŏt
păl	pāle	pāil
păn	pāne	pāin
par	pāre	pāir	peār
pĕr	pēēr	piēr
pit	pīe	pī
pits	pīes
plăn	plāne	plāin
plăt	plāte	plāit
priss	prīes	prīze
quit	quīte	quīĕt
rĕd	rēēd	rēad
rill	rīle	rēal
rŏd	rōde	rōad
rŏt	rōte	wrōte
sin	sīne	sīgn
sit	sīte	sīght
still	stīle	style
tar	tāre	teār
văn	vāne	vāin	vein
whit	whīte	wit
will	wīle	whīle
win	wīne	whīne
wŏk	wōke	walk
writ	wrīte	rīte	rīght
pĕck	pēēk	pēak
stăck	stāke	steāk
tŏck	tōke	talk
Note: sometimes short “i” sounds like long “ē”
Note: sometimes short “ĕ” sounds like long “ā”

Phonics Chart 11a: Silent Letters – The letters “ea” can say the long ē sound

Short Vowels	Long Vowels	Homonyms	Homonyms
	“ea” as long ē
bĕd	bēad
bĕĕn	bēan
bĕst	bēast
bĕt	bēat	bēēt
dĕll	dēal	dale	dill
dĕn	dēan
hĕll	hēal	hēēl	hill
hĕr	hēar	hēre
lĕd	lēad	lĕad
lĕapt	lēaped	lĕpt
lĕst	lēast
mĕn	mēan	miēn
mĕt	mēat	mēēt	mēte
Nĕd	knēad	nēēd
nĕt	nēat
pĕck	pēak	pēēk
pĕt	pēat	Pēte
plĕd	plēad
rĕd	rēad	rēēd
	rēal	rill
sĕll	sēal	sale	sill
sĕt	sēat
stĕm	stēam
tĕar	tēar	tiēr
tĕll	tēal	till
wĕll	wēal	will
wĕn	wēan	when
wĕt	whēat	whet
wrĕst	wrēath

Phonics Chart 11b: Silent Letters – The letters “ea” can say the short ĕ sound

Short Vowels	Long Vowels	Homonyms	Homonyms
“ea” as short ĕ
brĕad	brēēd
brĕath
dĕad	dēēd
drĕad	drēam
hĕad	hēēd
lĕad	lēad	lĕd
mĕadow	mēad
rĕady	rēēdy
rĕad	rēad	rĕd	rēēd
stĕad	stēēd
stĕady
thrĕad
trĕad	trēēd

Phonics Chart 11c: Silent Letters – The letters “ea” can say the long ā sound

Short Vowels	Long Vowels	Homonyms	Homonyms
	“ea” as long ā
bar	beār	bāre	berry, bury
bric-a-brăc	breāk	brāke
get	greāt	grāte	greet
par	peār	pāir	pāre
stăck	steāk	stāke
tar	teār	tāre
Exceptions:
	heart	hart
	hearth

Phonics Chart 12a: Silent Letters – Changing Short Vowels to Long Ones with Silent “a” plus Homonyms

Short Vowels	Long Vowels	Homonyms
bŏught	bōat
cŏst	cōast
cŏt	cōat
dill	dīal	dēal
gŏt	gōat
loves*	lōaves
ŏught	ōat
rŏd	rōad	rōde
sŏck	sōak
sŏp	sōap

Phonics Chart 12b: Silent Letters – Changing Short Vowels to Long Ones with Silent “o”.

Short Vowels	Long Vowels
lint	līon
pĕbble	pēople
fĕnd	phoēnix

Phonics Chart 12c: Silent Letters – Changing Short Vowels to Long Ones with Silent “oo”, and a few Exceptions.

Short Vowels	Long Vowels		Short Vowels	Long Vowels
	bōō		gŏd	gŏŏd
bŭm	bōōm		hŏd	hŏŏd
bŭn	bōōn		stŭd	stŏŏd
bŭst	bōōst		what	wŏŏd
bŭt	bōōt
	bōōth
bŭts	bōōts		fŭn	fŏŏt
brŏad	brōōd		sŭn	sŏŏt
brŭsh	brōōm
clŏd	clūed		bŭck	bŏŏk
cŭll	cōōl		bŭck	brŏŏk
crŭd	crūde		clŭck	cŏŏk
cŭp	cōōp		crŭst	crŏŏk
cŭt	cōōt		hŭck	hŏŏk
spŭn	fōōd		lŭck	lŏŏk
gŭff	gōōf		rŭb	rŏŏk
gŭn	gōōn		shŭck	shŏŏk
Gŭs	gōōse		tŭck	tŏŏk
hŭt	hōōt
lŭsh	lōōse		blood	blūe
	mōō		flood	flūe
mŭd	mōōd
	mōōn
mŭss	mōōse
nŭn (none)	nōōn
pŭll	pōōl
pŭp	pōōp
rŭff (rough)	rōōf
rŭm	rōōm
rŭt	rōōt
	scōōt
(shoe)	shōō
shŭt	shōōt
sŭn	sōōn
	spōōk
spŭn	spōōn
(two, to)	tōō
	tōōl
tut	tōōt
	tōōth
	zōōm
	zōō

Phonics Chart 12d: Silent Letters – Changing Short Vowels to Long Ones with Silent y, and Homonyms.

Long Vowels	Long Vowels	Homonyms	Long Vowels
ay as long ā	ey as long ā		ey as long ē
bay	obey		chimney
day	survey		honey
Fay	they		honeybee
gray	grey		key
hay	hey		money
Jay			monkey
lay		lei	parsley
may			turkey
okay			valley
play			alley
pray	prey
ray
say
stay
stray
today
tray
way		weigh

Phonics Chart 13a: Silent Letters – Changing Short Vowels to Long Ones with Silent “i” plus Homonyms

Short Vowels	Long Vowels	Homonyms
ăm	āim
băn	bāin	bāne
băt	bāit
	gāin
	gāit	gāte
	lāin	lāne
măd	māid	māde
măn	māin	māne
păd	pāid
păl	pāil	pāle
păn	pāin	pāne
păr	pāir	pāre
plăn	plāin	plāne
plăt	plāit	plāte
răn	rāin	reign
văn	vāin	vein
sŭp	sūit
	wāit	weight

Phonics Chart 13b: Silent Letters – Changing Short Vowels to Long Ones with Silent “i” plus Homonyms & Exceptions

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

Phonics Chart 13c: Silent Letters – Changing Short Vowels to Long Ones with Silent “i” & “igh” & “ign” plus Homonyms

Short Vowels	Long Vowels	Homonyms
făn	Fein	fāin
fănned	feint	fāint
hănd	heinous
	lei	lāy
măn	mein (chow)	māin
scăn	skein
văn	vein	vāin
Dăn	deign	Dāne
ăt	eight	āte
	neigh	nāy
	neighbor
răn	reign	rāin
slăp	sleigh	slāy
wăă	weigh	wāy
wăp	weight	wāit
hit	heīght	hīgh
slit	sleīght	slīght

Phonics Chart 13d: Silent Letters – Changing Short Vowel i to Long i with Silent “gh” plus Homonyms

Short Vowels	Long Vowels	Homonyms
hip	hīgh	hī
nip	nīgh
sip	sīgh
thin	thīgh	thy
	“th” goes from soft to hard

Phonics Chart 13e: Silent Letters – Changing Short Vowel i to Long i with Silent “ght” plus Homonyms

Short Vowels	Long Vowels	Homonyms
Brit	brīght
fit	fīght
flit	flīght
frit	frīght
knit	knīght
lit	līght
mitt	mīght	mīte
nit	nīght
pit	plīght	polīte
writ	rīght	wrīte
sit	sīght	sīte
slit	slīght
tip	tīght

Phonics Chart 13f: Silent Letters – Changing Short Vowel i to Long i with Silent “gn” plus Homonyms

Short Vowels	Long Vowels	Homonyms
alit	alīgn	a-līne
sin	desīgn
sin	sīgn	sīne
Exception:	signature

http://thegodfreymethod.com/blog/home-early-learning-play-school-helps-6