Word Features and Generalizations
Lesson 2: Short Vowels (multisyllabic words)
At least one syllable of each of these words has a short vowel
sound that is represented by a, e, i, o, u.
Lesson 3: Complex Vowel Patterns
Sometimes two vowels together represent a vowel sound that is
neither long nor short. (au, aw, ou).
Lesson 4: Y as a Vowel
The letter y can stand for the sounds of long a, long e, long i, and
short i. (Examples: Wednesday, finality, motorcycle, and mysterious)
Lesson 5: Long Vowels (silent letter patterns – ea, ee, ai )
Sometimes vowel letters make a pattern in which one vowel
represents a long vowel sound and the other vowel is silent.
(Examples: beneath, teach, teen, between, remainder)
Lesson 22: Long Vowels (silent letter patterns – igh, ie, ow )
There are vowel patterns in which one vowel is long and one or
more letters are silent. (chief, snow, lighten)
Lesson 7: Double Consonants (before endings)
Double the final consonant letter of a short vowel or r-controlled
vowel word or final syllable before adding an ending that begins
with a vowel letter. (Examples: propped, referred, and admitted)
Lesson 27: Plural (words that end in y)
When a word ends in a consonant + y, the y is changed to i before
adding ending, as in colonies. (repeat, lighten)
Lesson 8: R-controlled Vowels
When “r” follows a vowel, it influences or controls the vowel
sound. (Examples: urgent, several, February, weather)
Lesson 9: Diphthongs
Two vowels next to each other can represent a two-part sound
that is neither long nor short. (Examples: shout, choice, clown, gouge,
voyage)
Lesson 12: Compound Words
A compound word is made by putting two word together to make a
new word that has its own meaning. (Examples: cheerleader, sweatshirt,
and billboard)
Lesson 14: Prefixes (be sure to teach the “not” meaning of prefixes)
The spelling of a prefix can change, depending on the word to
which it is attached to make the word easier to pronounce.
(Examples: illegal, illogical, irregular imperfect, inactive)
Lesson 16: Syllabication (Root vocabulary lesson)
Words can be divided into as many syllables as they have vowel
sounds. (Examples: por-ter, im-port, re-port)
Lesson 23: Homographs
Words that have the same spelling but differ in meaning and
pronunciation are called homographs; for example,
dove (duv and dov).
Lesson 24: Vowel and Consonant Digraphs
Two vowels or two consonants can come together to make a single
sound, as in brook. (oo, ou, sh, th, ch)
Lesson 26a: Endings (-tion)
The ending that sounds like “shun” has different spellings.
(emotion,
Lesson 26b: Endings (-sion)
The ending that sounds like “shun” has different spellings.
(tension,
transportation)
pension, incision)
Lesson 26c: Endings (-cian)The ending that sounds like “shun”
has different spellings. (musician, physician, electrician)
Lesson 29: Comparatives and Superlatives
Endings added to words help us compare different number of
objects; for example, busy, busier, busiest.
Lesson 6: Vowel Alterations
Words that are related in meaning have a similar spelling even
though the vowel sound may change. (Examples: agility/agile and
consolation/console)
Lesson 30: Greek and Latin Roots
Words that have a common root are related in meaning and
spelling. (scribe, describe, description)
Lesson 31: Greek and Latin Prefixes
Prefixes have the same meaning in all words, which helps predict
the spelling and meaning of a word.
Lesson 34: Greek and Latin Suffixes
Suffixes add meaning to words or roots. Their spelling and
meaning are constant, as in patriotism.
Lessons Extensions or
Suggested Vocabulary Lessons:
Lesson 10: Collective Nouns
Special phrases describe groups of animals. (Examples: bale of turtles,
charm of finches, litter of kittens, and troop of monkeys)
Lesson 11: Singular Possessives
The words have singular possessives. (Examples: dog’s paw, doctor’s bag)
Lesson 11: Plural Possessives
The words have plural possessives. (Examples: babies’ bottles, calves’ coats,
wives’ husbands)
Lesson 13: Hyphenated Compound Words
Many compound words are formed by two words or more words joined
together by a hyphen. (Examples: well-known, all-star, twenty-one)
Lesson 21A: Synonyms
Some words have similar meanings. (happy/joyous)
Lesson 21B: Antonyms
Some words have opposite meanings. (happy/sad)
Lesson 28: Eponyms (silent letter patterns)
An eponym is a person whose name is the source of the name of something.
For example, Rudolph Diesel is the eponym of diesel fuel.
Lesson 35: Homophones
Words that have the same sound but different spelling and different
meanings; for example, to, too, two, there, their and they’re.