The Elementary Spelling Book, being an Improvement on the American Spelling Book · No. 126 · Part 7: Long words and common endings
92. Short words with final consonants: twelve, shelf, self, cash
Goal: Your child reads and spells one-syllable words ending in -lve, -rve, -lf and -sh.
You'll need
- The book, open to this table
- A slate, small whiteboard, or paper and pencil
What's in the book
The top of the page finishes No. 125. No. 126 is a list of short words: delve, twelve, nerve, curve, elf, shelf, self, pelf, ash, cash, dash, gash, and more. Sentences follow on the next page: "When the nerves are affected the hands shake." "Turf is a clod of earth held together by the roots of grass."
The lesson, step by step
The pattern
A rest from long words. These are one syllable each. Note the endings: -lve and -rve (an e is written after v, because English words do not end in v), -lf, and -sh.
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:
delve, twelve, nerve, curve
elf, shelf, self, pelf
ash, cash, dash, gash
Spell aloud
Now the old way: your child looks at a word, then spells it aloud and says it.
Sayt, w, e, l, v, e, twelve.
Go down a column like this. Then cover the column, say a word, and have your child spell it aloud without looking.
No v at the end
Ask your child to think of other words ending in a v sound: have, give, love, live. All end in -ve. That is the rule this table shows.
Read the sentences
The sentences are on the next page:
When the nerves are affected the hands shake.
Turf is a clod of earth held together by the roots of grass.
Dictation
Say each word, use it in a short sentence of your own, and say it again. Your child writes it. Try these: twelve, nerve, curve, shelf, self, cash, dash.
Check together against the book. Any word that came out wrong goes on a card for tomorrow.