107. The ng sound, and n that sounds like ng: singing, anger, angle

The lesson, step by step

1. The pattern

   Two kinds. In "singer" and "hanger", ng is one simple sound. In "anger", "angle" and "finger", you hear the ng sound and then a hard g: ang-ger. The book marks the n in those words to show it is said like ng.

2. Read the table aloud

   Read the table aloud together, a column at a time. You say a word, your child says it back while pointing to it. Then your child reads a column alone. Some of the words:

   among, hanger, singing, strung

   bang, song, bringing, hang

   anger, angry, angle, dangle, jingle

3. Spell aloud by syllables

   Spell each word a syllable at a time, the way Webster's pupils did: spell the first syllable and say it, spell the next and say it, then say the whole word.

   Says, i, n, g, sing; i, n, g, ing; singing.

   Saya, n, an; g, e, r, ger; anger.

   Do a column this way while looking, then cover it and spell a few from memory.

4. Sort by ear

   Saysinger, finger, hanger, anger, bringing, jingle. Your child says "simple" or "with a g" for each.

5. Dictation

   Say each word, use it in a short sentence of your own, and say it again. Your child writes it. Try these: among, singing, song, anger, angle, jingle.

   Check together against the book. Any word that came out wrong goes on a card for tomorrow.

6. Review

   Finish with the cards from earlier days: your child reads and spells each one. Put a card away after three right days in a row.