Phonics Lesson 43: Sept 29-Oct 3

Phonics Lesson 43: irregular vowel sounds with ll/l/ -all, -oll, -ull  

We have learned that we use ll to spell after a short vowel sound as part of our flsz lesson last week. Sometimes, when ll comes after the vowels a, o and u, the ll changes the vowel sound. It makes this sort of a group of heart words but we can be prepared by recognizing it could be one or the other with our vowel sounds. 

-all: These letters spell /all/ like in the words fall, call and small. 

-oll: These letters can have the short o sound like in doll. But the o in -oll is usually pronounced with the long o sound like in the words roll and troll. 

-ull: These letters often have the short u sound like in dull and skull. But the u in -ull is sometimes pronounced /oo/ like in the words pull or full.   

In this week's text called, Let's Golf, students are looking for words that have one of our special ll words that change the vowel sound. They are looking to highlight (the whole word that has that spelling pattern). Be careful for spelling patterns that are included in the story that include those letters that aren't part of this spelling pattern. Students are also looking to illustrate the story to demonstrate their understanding of the text.  

Heart (Irregular) Words of the Week

Heart words are words that do not decode or follow the spelling rules that we have been learning. We have to know them by 'heart'. However, once we learn more spelling rules, they may be only temporary heart words and the rules will come along later! In the meantime, we have been focusing on reviewing and learning the words below.

This week we are reviewing:

• your
• want 
• what
• said

We are introducing as new words:

• no
• go
• so

Fluency Grids
With each lesson, there is a fluency grid with the lesson focus that is intended to help students recognize the phonics rule and assist in reading it with accuracy and automaticity. At home, challenge your young reader to read the word (aim is to decode/read each word within 3 seconds) and then recall it each time they see it within the grid of mixed up, repeated words. A couple minutes of practice is all they need. This acts as a warm up before reading the text that also applies the same skill while building on all the previous skills as well. Each week we are building on the previous week to become more fluent readers so we can focus on what the text is sharing rather than spending all the time decoding the words.

Homework Reminders 

Students have been working on the story in their Reading Practice book that will come home each weekend. At school, they work with a partner to complete their fluency grid, read with someone their story and highlight the focus words. Following, they are illustrating a picture for the text to show their understanding. At home, students are to finish the above tasks and read to an expert the week's lesson(s). After completing, parents are to initial at the indicated spot at the top. This week, we are have completed one lesson so there will be one story to complete in their white Reading Practice booklet. Please see the information letter in the front of the book for more, detailed information about this weekend practice book coming home. Please return on Monday (or Tuesday if there is a no school day on Monday). 

Happy reading!