Introduction to spelling generalisations slide outlines

1. Introduction to spelling generalisations 

Extract from a Literacy Hub professional learning webinar. 

2. Steps to spelling accuracy 

[Image: Steps to spelling accuracy infographic shows three levels of equations. On the first line, letter plus sound equals letter–sound correspondences. A line connects letter–sound correspondences to the next equation. Letter–sound correspondences plus segmenting equals word-level spelling. A line connects segmenting to the next equation. Word-level spelling plus spelling generalisations equals spelling accuracy. Spelling accuracy has a tick. In this slide, ‘Spelling generalisations’ is circled.] 

3. Spelling generalisations 

Spelling generalisations are included in instruction for one of three main reasons: 

  • to explain how the position of a sound influences the letter pattern made to use it 
  • to explain how adjacent letters influence the sound a letter or letter pattern represents 
  • to introduce multiple sounds for one letter pattern.

4. Spelling generalisations 

Spelling generalisation to explain how the position of a sound influences the letter pattern used to make it: 

Spelling pattern: ‘Sail away’; ai, ay 

Generalisations for use:  

  • ai is used to make the long ‘a’ sound in the middle and sometimes at the beginning of a word. 
  • ay is used to make the long ‘a’ sound at the end of a word. 

5. Spelling generalisations 

Spelling generalisation to explain how adjacent letters influence the sound a letter or letter pattern represents: 

Spelling pattern: ‘Floss rule’; ff, ll, ss, zz 

Generalisations for use:  

  • When a one-syllable word ends in f, l, s or z, after a short vowel, the final consonant is doubled. 

Spelling pattern: ‘Gentle Cindy’; soft g /j/ and soft c /s/ sound 

Generalisations for use: 

  • g and c usually make a soft sound (/j/ and /s/) when followed by e, i or y, as in the first e of gentle and the i in Cindy. 

6. Spelling generalisations 

Spelling generalisation to introduce multiple sounds for one letter pattern: 

Spelling pattern: ‘Eat bread’; ea 

Generalisations for use: 

Two sounds of ea: 

  • most common: long e as in meat 
  • less common: short e as in head 

ea can also make the long ‘a ‘sound in words such as great and break.