The Elementary Spelling Book, being an Improvement on the American Spelling Book · No. 148 · Part 10: Words alike and irregular spellings
119. Same spelling, different word; same sound, different spelling
Goal: Your child knows that some words are spelled alike but said differently, and that some are said alike but spelled differently.
You'll need
- The book, open to this table
- A slate, small whiteboard, or paper and pencil
What's in the book
Two lists. "Words spelled alike, but pronounced differently": August, the eighth month, and august, grand; mow (rhymes with cow), a pile of hay, and mow, to cut with a scythe; bow; read and read; bass. Then "Words pronounced alike, but spelled differently" begins: ail and ale, altar and alter, air and heir, ant and aunt, all and awl.
The lesson, step by step
The idea
SaySome words look the same but are said differently and mean different things. Others sound the same but are spelled differently. The spelling tells the reader which word you mean.
Spelled alike
Read the first list together. The book gives the meaning of each word. Some of them:
August, the eighth month.
Mow, a pile of hay.
Say both ways of reading each pair: "I read it yesterday (red). I will read it now (reed)."
Said alike
Now the second list. Each pair sounds the same:
ail, ale
altar, alter
air, heir
all, awl
Your child reads the meaning of each word aloud.
Spell aloud
You give the meaning, your child spells the right word: "the air we breathe" (a-i-r), "a tool for making holes" (a-w-l), "a small insect" (a-n-t).
Dictation
Say a short sentence with one of these words; your child writes only that word: "The bow of the ship." "Tie a bow." "I can see the air." "He is the heir."
Wrap up
Your child thinks of a pair of their own: two, too; see, sea; know, no.