Home Early Learning Play School (HELPS) 7

Home Early Learning Play School (HELPS) 7 - Finding the Secret Codes, new spelling rules, new vowel blends, more diphthongs, new silent letters, more homonyms, and a few exceptions. Phonics Charts 19-22, 34, & 39. Spy Rules 18-25, 34, and 39.

                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 7: Uncover the secret world of new letter blends which change the sounds. You (child) are the world-famous spy, Cody Breaker! Your seventh 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 ‘ou’ and ‘oi.’ Many of these blended vowel 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 18-22, 34, & 39 in the appendix, along with the books, if desired. Have mom or dad explain the examples on the Phonics Charts, 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 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 18-25, 34, & 39. Review the word usage of Rule 44 and Chart 14 from Chapter 6. This will help your Spy know when alternate sounds are used for the new vowel 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.

·         Have a friendly spelling test after each Spy Rule & Chart review, orally and/or written. 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 18: The kn and gn rule: at the beginning of a word, both kn and gn usually say ‘n’ (knee, gnat), with a silent k or g.

Spy Code Rule 19a: The vowel + ng rule: usually ang says long ‘āng’ (sang), ing says long ‘ēng’ (king), ong says short ‘ŏng’ (long), and ung says short ‘ŭng’ (hung).

Spy Code Rule 19b: The vowel + nk rule: usually ank says long ‘ānk’ (sank), ink says long ‘ēnk’ (kink), onk says short ‘ŏnk’ (honk), and unk says short ‘ŭnk’ (hunk).

Spy Code Rule 20: The ou and ow rule: both ou and ow usually say ‘ou’ (cow, ouch); and sometimes long ‘ō’ (snow), or short ŭ (touch, cousin).
Note: several words from other languages use ao for ‘ou’ (ciao).

Spy Code Rule 21: The oi and oy rule: both oi and oy usually say ‘oi’ (coin).

Spy Code Rule 22: The oo rule: oo can say the long ū sound as ‘ōō’ (zoo), ‘ŏŏ’ (look); or the short ‘ŭ’ sound ‘oo’ (blood). See Chapter 6 Appendix, Chart 12c. Also, ew rule: ew can say the long ū sound as ‘ōō’ (new).

Spy Code Rule 23: The alk rule: alk usually says ‘ŏck’ (talk).

Spy Code Rule 24: The au rule: au usually says ‘ŏ’ (audio). In many languages, ‘a’ says ‘ŏ’ (taco). See augh as ‘ŏ’ on Chart 20b.

Spy Code Rule 25: Strange patterns of ‘ough’ and ‘augh’ words. Adding gh to ou and au changes the vowel sounds in several ways. See Chart 20b.

Spy Code Rule 34: The long ō rule in short words: usually a long ō has a silent letter with it (boast, roast, toast, wrote), but in some short words, ō stands alone (ghost, host, most, post). Otherwise, it is the short ŏ sound (cost, lost, frost).

Spy Code Rule 39: Double consonant rule: doubling a consonant in the middle of a long word usually changes the long vowel to a short one (dīner to dĭnner, sūper to sŭpper).

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. See chart in Chapter 6 HELPS.

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 vowel sounds that s/he has found so far. And/or practice a few from Charts 18-39 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 18a-23, 34, & 39.

Phonics Chart 18a: The gn rule: gn usually says ‘n’ at the beginning of a word, with a silent g.

The gn Rule:
Homonyms	gn Words	Definition
	gnärl	– a hard lump, knot, or swelling on a tree trunk or branch
	gnăsh	– to clench, grind, or grate the teeth
	gnăt	– a small, biting fly
	gnäw	– to chew, bite, or nibble
Nome	gnōme	– an elf, sprite, leprechaun, troll, or goblin
new, knew	gnū	– a large, ox-like antelope of Africa
	lasägna	– an Italian meal

Phonics Chart 18b: The kn rule: kn usually says ‘n’ at the beginning of a word, with a silent k.

The kn Rule:
Homonyms	kn Words	Definition
năg	knăg	– a wooden peg
năp	knăp	– to chip flakes off stone with a chisel
nēēd	knēad	– to fold, stretch, squeeze, & press on dough, clay, muscles
	knēēd	– to have hit somebody with an uplifted knee
nēē	knēē	– the middle joint of a leg
Nēal	knēēl	– to rest on, or get down on, knees
new, gnū	knew	– the past tense of know
	knickers	– underclothing
	knīfe	– a blade for cutting
night	knīght	– a medieval soldier, high rank
nit	knit	– to interweave together
	knŏb	– a handle or protrusion
	knŏck	– to rap, bang, or thump
not, naught	knŏt	– strings tied together in a loop
no	knōw	– to understand, be aware of
	Knŏx	– a last name
	knurl	– a small hard knob, especially for gripping; like gnarl
	Knūt	– a Scandinavian first name

Phonics Chart 19a: The vowel + ng rule: ‘āng’, ‘ing’ (ēng), ‘ŏng’, & ‘ŭng’.

Vowel Change:
ă sound	ā with ng		i sound	ē with ng
băn	bāng		brig	bring
clăn	clāng		Clint	cling
găg	gāng		din	ding
hăg	hāng		flip	fling
păn	pāng		kin	king
răn	rāng		pin	ping
săg	sāng		rig	ring
tăn	tāng		sin	sing
yăm	yāng		slip	sling
			stint	sting
			strip	string
			swig	swing
			thin	thing
			win	wing
				wring
No Vowel Change:
ŏ sound	ŏ with ng		ŭ sound	ŭ with ng
bŏnd	belŏng		clŭb	clŭng
gŏne	gŏng		flŭb	flŭng
cŏn	Kŏng		hŭg	hŭng
lŏg	lŏng		lŭg	lŭng
pŏnd	pŏng		rŭn, rŭg	rŭng
sŏd	sŏng		slŭg	slŭng
strŏp	strŏng		stŭn	strŭng
rŏd	wrŏng		stŭn	stŭng
			sŭn	sŭng
				swŭng
			tŭn	tongue
				wrŭng

Phonics Chart 19b: The vowel + nk rule: ‘ānk’, ‘ink’ (ēnk), ‘ŏnk’, & ‘ŭnk’.

Vowel Change:
ă sound	ā with nk		i sound	ē with nk
bănd	bānk		in	ink
blănd	blānk		bin	blink
clăn	clānk		brim	brink
crăm	crānk		chin	clink
Dăn	dānk		din	drink
drăm	drānk		fin	fink
hănd	hānk		kin	kink
lănd	lānk		lint	link
plăn	plānk		mint	mink
prăm	prānk		pin	pink
răn	rānk		rim	rink
sănd	sānk		shin	shrink
shăm	shrānk		sin	sink
spăn	spānk		slim	slink
stănd	stānk		stint	stink
tăn	tānk		thin	think
thăn	thānk		tin	tink
yăm	yānk		win	wink
No Vowel Change:
ŏ sound	ŏ with nk		ŭ sound	ŭ with nk
bŏn	bŏnk		bŭn	bŭnk
cŏn	cŏnk		chŭck	chŭnk
hŏck	hŏnk		clŭck	clŭnk
tŏn	tŏnk		dŭn	dŭnk
zŏt	zŏnk		flŭb	flŭnk
			fŭn	fŭnk
			gŭn	gŭnk
			hŭnt	hŭnk
			jŭg	jŭnk
			mŭck	monk
			plŭck	plŭnk
			pŭck	pŭnk
			shrŭg	shrŭnk
			slŭg	slŭnk
			spŭd	spŭnk
			stŭn	stŭnk
			sŭn	sŭnk
			trŭck	trŭnk

Phonics Chart 20a: The ou and ow rule: both ou and ow usually say ‘ou’ (cow, ouch); and sometimes long ‘ō’ (snow), or short ŭ (touch).

Vowel blends of ow and ou:
‘ō’ snow	‘ow’ how		‘ŭ’ touch	‘ou’ ouch
blōw	bow		coŭntry	bound
bōw	brow		coŭsin	bout
crōw	brown		doŭble	couch
flōw	clown		Doŭg	ground
glōw	cow		generoŭs	hound
grōw	crown		marveloŭs	mouth
grōwn	down		nervoŭs	ouch
lōw	how		toŭch	out
mōw	now		troŭble	proud
rōw	town		yoŭng	scout
shōw	wow		yoŭngster	shout
snōw	bowery		calloŭs	south
	chowder			sprout
	flower		brother	thou
	powder		mother	gouge
	power
	shower

Phonics Chart 20b: Strange patterns of ‘ough’ and ‘augh’ words: ŏtt, ō, ow, ōō, ŏff, ŭff, & ăff sounds.

Vowel blends with ‘ough’ and ‘augh’
ŏtt	ŏtt	ăff	ō	ow
bŏught	äught	drăught	borōugh	bough
brŏught	cäught	^(drăft)^	dōugh	drought
fŏught	däughter	lăugh	thorōugh	sough
ŏught	fräught	lăughter	thōugh	thou
sŏught	häughty		sōul
thŏught	näught	ŏff
wrŏught	näughty	cŏugh
	släughter
	täught	ŭff		ōō
		enoŭgh		ghoūl
		roŭgh		soūp
		sloŭgh		throūgh
		toŭgh		yoū, yoūth

  

Phonics Chart 21: The oi and oy rule: both oi and oy usually say ‘oi’ (coin, annoy).

Vowel blends with ‘oi’ and ‘oy’
oi	oi	oi	oy	oy
boil	joint	point	ahoy	boy
broil	loin	poise	annoy	joy
coil	moist	soil		oyster
coin	noise	spoil		soy
foil	oil	toil		toy

Phonics Chart 22 (review of Chart 12c): The oo rule from Chapter 6. Also, ew rule: ew can say the long ū sound as ‘ōō’ (new).

ŭ (or ŏ) to:	ōō	Homonyms	ŭ (or ŏ) to:	ŏŏ
bŭn, bŏn	bōō		bŭck	bŏŏk
bŭm, bŏmb	bōōm		bŭck	brŏŏk
bŭn, bŏn	bōōn		cŏck	cŏŏk
bŭst, bŏss	bōōst		crŭd	crŏŏk
bŭt	bōōt		fŭn	fŏŏt
bŭts	bōōts		Gŏd	gŏŏd
brŏad	brōōd		hŭt, hŏd	hŏŏd
brŭsh	brōōm		hŭck, hŏck	hŏŏk
clŏd	clued		lŭck, lŏck	lŏŏk
cŭll	cōōl		rŭb, rŏck	rŏŏk
cŭp, cŏp	cōōp		shŭck, shŏck	shŏŏk
cŭt, cŏt	cōōt		sŭn, sŏt	sŏŏt
fŭn, fŏnd	fōōd		stŭd, sŏd	stŏŏd
gŭff, gŏlf	gōōf		tŭck, tŏck	tŏŏk
gŭn, gŏne	gōōn		wŏk	wŏŏd
Gŭs	gōōse
hŭt, hŏt	hōōt		except>	could
lŏss	lōōse	lose		should
lŏt	lōōt			would
mŏp	mōō
clŭck	kōōk
mŭd, mŏd	mōōd		ō as oo	ŭ as oo
mŭst	mōōn		floor	blood
mŭss, mŏss	mōōse			flood
nŭn, nŏn	nōōn	none
pŭll	pōōl			ew as ōō
pŭp, pŏp	pōōp			brew
rŭff	rōōf	roŭgh		crew
rŭm	rōōm			drew
rŭt, rŏt	rōōt			few
Scŏtt	scōōt			grew
shŏp	shōō	shoe		hew
shŭt, shŏt	shōōt			jewel
slŏp	slōōp			knew
sŭn	sōōn	son		new
pŭck, Spŏck	spōōk			pew
spŭn	spōōn			sew
stŏp	stōōp			sewer
tŭt, tŏt	tōō	two, to		stew
tŏp	tōōl			strew
tŭt, tŏt	tōōt			threw
tŭt, tŏt	tōōth			view
zŏmbie	zōōm			renew
zŏt	zōō

Phonics Chart 23: When ‘a’ says ‘ŏ’: au, al, alk, & ä.
See ‘augh’ as ‘ŏ’ on Chart 20b.

When ‘a’ says ‘ŏ’
‘au’ as ŏ	‘au’ as ŏ	‘al’ as ŏ	‘alk’ as ŏ:
			w/silent L	Homonyms
äutumn	täut	älmond	bälk
cäuldron	träuma	älms	cäulk	cŏck
cäuse	väult	bäld	chälk	chŏck
cläuse		bälm	Sälk	sŏck
fäult		cälm	sălmon

fäun

<(satyr)

pälm

stälk

stŏck

gāuge

psälm

tälk

tŏck

häute

scäld

wälk

wŏk

jäunt

läunch

‘a’ as ‘ŏ’

‘ol’ as ō:

läundry

such as

w/silent L

Homonyms

mäul

brätwurst

yōlk

yōke

näutical

cantäta

fōlks

fōcus

päunch

enchiläda

Pōlk

päuse

fäther

pläusible

täco

Shäuna

Shäna

See ‘augh’ as ‘ŏ’ on Chart 20b

Phonics Chart 34: The long ō rule in a few short words

The long ō rule in short words
ō & silent a	ō alone		ŏ otherwise
bōast	ghōst		cŏst
cōast	hōst		lŏst
rōast	mōst		frŏst
tōast	pōst

  

Phonics Chart 39: Double consonant rule: changing a long vowel to a short one

How consonant twins, in the middle, change the vowel
Long Vowel	Short Vowel		Long Vowel	Short Vowel
āiding	ădding		bāgel	băggy
bāring	bärring		bāne	bănner
bēgin	bĕgging		bāse	băss
bēating	bĕtting		bōne	bŏnnet
bīter	bitter		cāne	cănning
bōny	bŏnny		chēēr	chĕrry
cūter	cŭtter		cōpe	cŏpper
dīner	dinner		dāze	dăzzle
dīaper	dipper		dīme	dimmer
fīler	filler		dōle	dŏllar
flūter	flŭtter		glōbe	glŏbbed
grīping	gripping		hōle	hŏller
hōping	hŏpping		hōly	hŏlly
lōbed	lŏbbed		hūman	hŭmming
lōbe	lŏbby		kīte	kitty
māting	mătting		lāden	lădder
mōping	mŏpping		māne	mănner
mūsing	mŭssing		mēre	mĕrry
pīning	pinning		mīle	miller
pūt	pŭtty		mīser	missing
rāting	rătting		mīte	mitten
rōbing	rŏbbing		mūte	mŭtter
sāving	săvvy		nāpe	năpping
sēating	sĕtting		nōde	nŏdded
sīzing	sizzling		pāne	pănning
slōping	slŏpping		pēēp	pĕpper
sōaping	sŏpping		pōpe	pŏpping
spīter	spitter		rāte	răttle
stāring	stärring		rēēd	rĕdder
stēaming	stĕmming		rīpe	ripple
sūper	sŭpper		rōbe	rŏbber
tāping	tăpping		sīte	sitter
tāring	tärring		sīze	sizzle
tīger	Tigger		slōpe	slŏppy
vāle	vălley		spīne	spinner
wēēding	wĕdding		stēēp	stĕpping
wīring	whirring		tāpe	tăpper
whīning	winning		wīne	winner

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