The Elementary Spelling Book, being an Improvement on the American Spelling Book · No. 148 · Part 10: Words alike and irregular spellings
118. Words nearly alike: accept, except; affect, effect
Goal: Your child can tell apart pairs of words that sound nearly, but not exactly, alike.
You'll need
- The book, open to this table
- A slate, small whiteboard, or paper and pencil
What's in the book
No. 148, "Words nearly, but not exactly, alike in pronunciation", begins at the foot of the page with pairs such as accept and except, allowed and aloud, affect and effect, errand and errant, accede.
The lesson, step by step
The pattern
These pairs sound almost the same, so they are easy to mix up in writing. Say each pair slowly and listen for the difference: ac-CEPT, ex-CEPT.
Read the table aloud
Read the pairs aloud, side by side. You say one word of a pair, your child says the other:
accept, except
allowed, aloud
affect, effect
errand, errant
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.
Saya, c, ac; c, e, p, t, cept; accept.
Saye, x, ex; c, e, p, t, cept; except.
Do a column this way while looking, then cover it and spell a few from memory.
Use them in sentences
Make a sentence for each word of a pair: "I accept the gift." "Everyone came except Tom." "The teacher read aloud." "We are allowed to play."
Dictation
Say each word, use it in a short sentence of your own, and say it again. Your child writes it. Try these: accept, except, aloud, allowed, errand.
Check together against the book. Any word that came out wrong goes on a card for tomorrow.
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.