The Elementary Spelling Book, being an Improvement on the American Spelling Book · Ei and ie · Part 11: Rules for spelling, numbers and marks
138. Ei and ie with the sound of long e: receive, believe
Goal: Your child spells common words with ei and ie that say long e.
You'll need
- The book, open to this table
- A slate, small whiteboard, or paper and pencil
What's in the book
A short essay, "Ei and ie with the sound of e long", explains that these letters are easy to confuse, and the author has "arranged the principal words of these classes in two distinct tables": words in which e stands before i (ceil, receive, ceiling, either, receipt, conceit) and words in which i stands before e (achieve, grieve, liege, retrieve, grievance).
The lesson, step by step
The problem
Read the opening of the essay:
The letters ei and ie occur in several words with the same sound, that of long e
SayBoth say long e, so we have to know which way each word goes.
Two tables
Look at the two lists. Some words:
ceiling, receive, receipt, conceit
achieve, grieve, retrieve, grievance
Point out that most of the ei words have a c before them: ceiling, receive, conceit.
The rhyme
Teach the old rhyme: "i before e, except after c." It fits most of these words. (It is not in this book, but it helps.)
Spell aloud
Your child spells by syllables: re-ceive, ceil-ing, a-chieve, re-trieve, griev-ance.
Dictation
Dictate: receive, ceiling, receipt, achieve, grieve, believe.
Wrap up
Your child sorts six words into the two tables without looking.