The Elementary Spelling Book, being an Improvement on the American Spelling Book · No. 132 · Part 8: Special sounds
99. G that stays hard before e, i and y: get, give
Goal: Your child knows that g is usually soft (like j) before e, i and y, but stays hard in the words of this table.
You'll need
- The book, open to this table
- A slate, small whiteboard, or paper and pencil
What's in the book
No. 132 is headed "Words in which g, before e, i and y, has its hard or close sound." Sentences on this page include "Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other." The list continues at the top of the next page (legged, twigged, noggin, target, bragging).
The lesson, step by step
Review
Read two words from No. 131.
The pattern
Before e, i and y, g often sounds like j (gem, giant, gym). But in many common words it stays hard, like the g in "go": get, give, girl, gift. This table lists them so they can be learned by heart.
Read the heading
Read the rule printed over the table with your child:
Words in which g, before e, i and y, has its hard or close sound.
Say it again in your own words, then try it on two words.
Read the table aloud
Read the table aloud. It ends at the top of the next page with words like these:
legged, twigged, noggin
target, bragging
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.
Read the sentences
Under the table are short reading lessons that use its words. Your child reads them aloud, pointing to each word. Help with any word not yet learned. Two of them:
Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other.
Dictation
Your child writes: legged, target, bragging, and three hard-g words from the table. Then you say "gem" and "get": which g is hard?