Spelling Patterns

One way to look at spelling patterns is to examine the way simple words and syllables are put
together. Here we include the consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) pattern in which the vowel often
has a short, 0r terse, sound; the consonant-vowel-consonant-silent e (CVCe) pattern in which the
vowel usually has a long, or lax, sound; and the consonant-vowel-vowel-consonant (CWC) pattern
in which the vowel combination may have either one or two sounds.
Phonograms are spelling patterns that represent the sounds of rimes (last pafts of words). They are
sometimes called word families, You will not need to teach children the technical word phonogram,
although you may want to use pattern or word part, A phonogram is the same as a rime, or vowelbearing part of a word or syllable. We have included a large list of phonograms that will be useful
to children in reading or writing, but you will not need to teach every phonogram separately. Once
children understand that there are patterns and learn how to look for patterns, they will quickly
discover more for themselves.
Knowing spelling patterns helps children notice and use larger parts of words, thus making word
solving faster and more efficient. Patterns are also helpful to children in writing words because they
will quickly write down the patterns rather than laboriously work with individual sounds and letters.
Finally, knowing to look for patterns and remembering them help children make the connections
between words that make word solving easier. ln column one we list a wide range of phonograms.
The thifi-seven most common phonograms are marked with an asterisk.
Spelling Patterns
Pr**e9p$c*
Ssp8*xx*x€$s*r
GRADE 2
*€ trr*xmR&8*
GRADE 3
kn0ut to h*lp you,t*ad a wstd.
you hnaw ta hslp you wdte a wsrd",f
,a
a(
htr putting a lstter or letter clustar'bcfore
rvith aVC pattern: -ab, -ap-, - q -aw*, -ay*,
-ed, -eg, -em, -en, -ib, -ip., -ix, -ob, -od,
CT
a
s
the'u,sd part cr pattern.
you know to help yourread a word"
knnw to help you rilrit€ a $rsrd. l,
Recognizing and using more difficult phonograms
GRADES 6-8
GRADE 5
{pa$ y*u
Recognizing and using simple phonograms with
aVC pattern (easiest): -ad, -ag, -an., -am, -at.,
-ed, -en, -et, -ig, -in-, -it-, -09, -0p., -0t, -ut
GRADE 4
,,
letkr or leftr,cluster belsre ltg wsd part cr pathra.'!
-ow (blow), -ow (cow), -ug', -um, -un
at the and,l?re saund ol tltc lruwel is u*ually
Recognizing and using phonograms that end
with double letters ffCC): -all-, -ell., -ilf, oll, -uff
.'.r".-e-
Recognizing and using phonograms with
dg1iffi#
double vowels 1\tVC): -eed, -eek, -eel, -een, -eem,
-eep, -eq -eet, -ood, -ook, -oo[ -00m, -00n
--'!;:,---
-s-!- -.:-
N
i1ffif$iffit$wed hy o conss-nanf
ry@ llle;$qt.gme
8$Hsil
ahrrt It
(long sound).
l0i:Stl8l-&s$nds. D
_.:.ijj;: -.:,i5.
:.
"
ji:-:,j:
sifsnt e. Ths lwel sound is usually th* nnme
in rode, uin cutd."
Recognizing and using phonograms with a
a
vowel-consonant-silent e (VCe) patternr
-ade, -ace, -age, -ake*, -ale*, -ame", -ane,
-ape, -ate*, -ice-, -ide-, -ike, -ile, -ime, -ine*,
-ite, -ive, -obe, oke-, -ope, -ore
GRADE 2
.
lndicates most c0mmon phonograms.
02004 by lrefe C. Fountas and
Gay Su
Plfnell ftom
W1rd Study Less?ns
GRADE 3
GRADE 4
GRADE 5
GRADES 6-8
"
i,silt
Spelling Patterns, continued
Frkr*ip**
frxfiillr;*a'fiurn r*i ?sslpii;iii
jrt,
3
GRADE 4
mid lats sady $id
GRADE 2
GRADE
rq,.ifi.,,Iat€
11
l
ei]l
''(i
t,
ll
6{
GFIDES 6-E
:,..r.trld,,:' :late
$6me w$rds'}ia$s p€ttertrs that end with co*srnant slusters
lmask, rungfl.n
- and, - ank., -ant, -ard, -aft, -ark, -arn, _ash.,
-ask, -ath, -eck, -elt, -elp, -end -ent, _esh,
-est, -ick", igh,
9,r
i{
Recognizing and using phonograms with ending
consonant clusters ffCC): ack*, -act, _alk; _ amp,
GRADE 5
|319:r, ..e*$tr'
ift, ing., -ink.,
-ish, -ock-,
-old, -ong, uck., -ump., -ung, -unk-, -ush
Recognizing and using phonograms with vowel
combinations ('lVC): -aid, -all., -ain. -air, _ait,
-ay., -aw, -ea, -ead -eak, -eam, -ean, -eap,
6€
*'
ssftB wsrds$sve twx,,**wels t*ga&er {vower csmbifieti0n$}" The vewci
snund
!s *s*eily tlrex*m* ct3!t*$rxt v*W*llfclne pi, ri*U:.';;--
-ear, -eat., -oad, -oak
.!r:
.:i:
.tl
.r)1
*
Recognizing and using phonogram patterns
with a shorl vowei sound in single-syllable words:
-at, -an, -an, -ad, -ag, -ap, -ack, -ed, -ell, -en,
-et, -end, -ent, -est; -it, in, -ill, -id, -ig, -ing,
**mr$ w*rrtx.:qxva
{xas*,
$s*{
e,*he* v*$ei p&ttern. y*u ean hear the sllert v*wsi ss*iid
gle$; r,64,
f63f*r,.
lp,
uf,
ick, ish, -op, -ot, -ock, -ug, -un, -ut, -up,
-ub,
-unp, -unk, -us(s), -ust, -uck
Recognizing and using phonogram patterns with
a long vowel sound in single-syllable wordst
-ake, -ane, -ate, -ave, -ade, -ace, -age, -ale, _ain,
.,;
rS'
'.1
i
;?,
6'
!onr*
$*rds,l!avs *
,iq v$w**ipi n,,yqn*ffiar
gres*, pie, *gq1,,fe${{..,.il..r,
:.,s,
,
1,
th* lang wowc! sound [me*e,
,'r,,: i:rt:;ir t:,:i.r,:,:
-ane, -ay; -e, -ee, -ea, -ey, -eep, -een, _eet, ,eal,
-ead, -eam; -ew, -ie, -igh, ight, -ike, -ide, _ime, _yme,
-ine, -ice, -ile, -ite ire, -y, -0, -0e, -0w, -lat, _lad,
-ole, -old, -oak, -ose, -one; -ule, -use, -uge, -ute
Recognizing and using phonogram patterns with
vowels and r in single-syllabl e words: -ar, _ark,
-ah -are, -arn, -aft, -ear, -eaft, ^er, -ear, -erd,
-earn, -eard, -ird, ir, -or, -ore, -ard, _00r, _lur,
d' $oEne
words have a vowel
6d
patbm with one or two vswels and r, rt
when vowrls are with r in wmds. you usraily brcna thgiso{{,I& ith r
[nurse, f*rd1.
,
-jrn, -ur, -urse, -urn
with
Fecognizing and uslng phonogram patterns
{6
$$Ens words haue patternq liiili,Hplqls ttrgt mare rre
sound a$ in $Ery.
the iawl sound (as in saraz) in sinsle-svllable words: c{
$evnral pattern; rfhtill.c#;d}410q.fttt.sauia{,|igy1r,',pqw-1,ognr,
eosfl.
-all. -aw. -alk, -aught, -ought.-lst; -lng
Recognizing and using phonogram patterns with
the /u/ sound (asin moon) in single-syllable
llwl
66
56
Recognizing and using phonogram patterns
with
some words have patterns witlr vowels that make the /oo/ sound
as in n00n.r,
$euerat patteins cf reiters can strnd ror ihe rong lul sound
iuit ioiili.'',
ltane,
wordsr -oq -00n, -une; -eW -ue; -oot, -uit; -ool.
-ule; -oon, -oup
,:
66
have patterns with vowels thal make the 6a/sffig**n
: the lootsound (as in book) in singte-syllable words: 6. Severalwords
pattein*;it-tilld,iil;tend;{or, ilie,sgplt.{..[feo,& cprrld];i:i,i,
Sume
i,. tt,iri:,r, .:f ;:i
-0w; -lwn; -ound; -ow, -owd; -out, _outh,
-)ur, -)use
baak.e,
:l
-ook. -ood. -ould; -ull. ush
Recognizing and using phonogram patterns with
the /ow/ sound (as in cow) in single-syllable worcls
,,
*
,i.'
i:,:,.t
61
s&me urcrsls fiave
56
seuerat patterns of retters can stand ror the
s,rilti{, i:,,lnlit 1,., Itt€
GFADE 2
paltern$@
rtdt ttid
GRAOE 3
sou,sls
lats
,
t ],l
i
t,, ,l]rli,r
;:.
,i r|],,1t , ,
'.r,r;,.
til*ilm
*ts,/oM ,*na as in c*w.r,
sound wtain, irowi,iiiiiiurnl."
safly nid
GRADE 4
late
,efirly.. ,,i
GRAOE 5
GRADES 6-8
Spelling Patterns, continued
PrincipBe
ffixpfi *xm€$*cx
GRADE
:a:ognizing and using phonogram patterns with
:e oy/ sound in single-syllable
-:,,
words:
2
*S trrHmc*p$e
GRAOE 3
GRADE 4
GRAD€ 5
GRADES 6-8
tr Soms wrdsrhave,
56
Scvaral pattsruB ol'lett€r$
-oil, -oin, -oice, -oise
:e::rgnizing and using more difficult
33
:nr1logram patterns in single-syllable words
aa
',',lC, WCe,
aa
-.1
VCCe, VCCC, WCCC)r
Soms wods.have gart$
You can, lind, patkrns tparb.)
You can use the pattern you
-aise, -ance, -anch, -arge, -aste, -atch,
--a:h, -ealtlt, -east, -eath, eave, -edge, -eech,
{o
---ze, -ench, -ight-, -itch, -ooth, -ouch,
-:1.d. -udge, -unch, -aight, -eight,
g
*a
-rcerstanding that some words have double
:;:rsonants in the pattern: coffee, address,
e
;L:rcss, accident, mattress, occasion
't
It
G
'd*":ing and using a frequently appearing syllable '5 You see tt"H*$ftttmffiffifrffi1lrrtlle words.
66 you
aes,r'a{i*lffiffiu{ffi,$ff9,iffi#ords and it sounds like the ain alane,n
:-:m in multisyllable words: ta/
{
!!
\*r'ring and using frequently appearing
t
:a::ms in multisyllable words: -en
a
a
:-
*:
-:e-regin; re-repeat; -or
"
atone
-:
enter;
(s
You,seesomeFathrnn
4 You can lookrfnr th*
other; -ar - paftner; -at - batter; 6' You can lhink abnut
oitten; -in-winter; -is(s) - whisper; -un-sunny;
ago; -er
-
-
syllable
-
-
tlie
border; -a-bacon;
- - candy; -ey - nonkey; -ble - trouble; -i - pilot;
--'- burden; -um - humble; -ic(k) - chicken;
:: - better; -im - simple
that " Ynu see short uowel
most t3 Lnuking forthc pat&nr
& Thlnldng {bo{tthE
-ab - absent; -ad - address;
'r:::.ing and using short vowel patterns
,rrear in multisyllable words
-i.rent)r
(other than
nagnet; -age - garbage; -ang - anger;
"; -:- hamner; -an - handle; -ant - gigantic;
-: - happen; -ent - center; - -el(l) - yellow;
:: - pepper; -es - estimate; -ev - seven;
-,: - middle; ig - figure; -ilT - familiar;
--c - hobby or robot; -oc(k) - )ctober; -od - body;
-:, - follow; -on - complete; -on - honest;
-:c - opportuniU; -0t - blttlm; -ub - rubber;
-,,:4 - luclE; -ud - puddle; -uf - muffin;
--'j - ugly; -up - puppy; -um - humble;
--s - customer; -ut - butter; -uz - puzle
GRADE 2
3.-:o/
by lrene C. Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell
fton
Word Study Lessons
GFADE 3
GRADE 4
GRADE 5
GRADES 6-8
Spelling Patterns, continued
Fr$m**p*m
GRADE 5
Noticing and using long vowel patterns that
appear in multisyllable words. -e beginning;
4
s
- decide;
-ire - survive;
-ize - realize; -ade - lemonade; -aid - braided;
-ail - railroad; -ale - female; -ain - painter;
-ate - crater; -ope - antelope; -one - telephone;
-oke - spoken; -u - tut1r; lure - future
GRADES 6-8
aa
a4
reasln; -ide
entirely: -ise - revise: -ive
agree; -ea
-ee
s, Y&$ 8&n
$se many vowel
Noticing and using other vowel patterns that
-al
for the pattern you
Looking
(easier):
always;
words
multisyllable
appear in
'd
-au author; -aw - awfully; -ea
weather;
-
-
-i
-
sillier
Noticing and using other vowel patterns that
appear in multisyllable words (harder):
-i-e - police; lion attention; -sion tension;
-
-
-
-y
reply; -oi
-
noisy; -oy
plwer; -00
{, Yo* nan sss marl$ {owsl
tr Loaking lor the p*ttern
You
-
enjoy; -ou
bllster; -lve
-
about;
- tuna; -ook - looking; -oot - football;
-ood - woodpile; -ul(l) - grateful
-0w
remlve;
-u
GRADE 3
i
02004
@
b\/ lrene C. Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell
frcm
Ward Study Lessons