94. Wh, and silent w: whale, when

The lesson, step by step

1. Review

   Say "thin" and "this" with a hand on the throat. Which buzzes?

2. The pattern

   Two things about w. In words spelled wh, the book says the h is breathed first: "hwale" for whale, "hwen" for when. And in some words the w is not heard at all.

3. Read the heading

   Read the rule printed over the table with your child:

   In the following words, h is pronounced before w

   thus whale is pronounced hwale; when, hwen.

   Say it again in your own words, then try it on two words.

4. Read the table aloud

   Read the table aloud a column at a time. You read a word, your child repeats it, pointing. Then your child reads a column alone.

5. Spell aloud by syllables

   Your child spells each word a syllable at a time, saying each syllable, then the whole word. Do one column looking, then cover it and spell a few from memory.

6. Feel the breath

   Your child holds a hand in front of the mouth and says "when", breathing the h first. A puff of air means the h is there. Many people today say "wen"; the book teaches the older, careful way.

7. Dictation

   Choose six words from the table. Say each, use it in a short sentence, and say it again. Your child writes it. Check together against the book.

8. Wrap up

   Read the second list, "In the following words w is silent", and let your child cross out the silent w in the air with a finger.