Word rules for better reading, writing and spelling

Just like every word has a vowel - a, e, i o, u and y - every syllable also has to have a vowel - pre/des/ti/na/tion. We spell more accurately when we check each syllable has a vowel in it. This also helps us sound out syllables when we’re reading.

Sometimes multiple vowels count as one sound - ‘Beau/ti/ful’ has 4 vowels in one syllable that make a single sound! Sometimes there’s a pair of vowels like ‘ai’, or ‘ea’. The first vowel usually makes the sound.

Where two vowels said as one sound wrong, try splitting them into two sounds - ‘ide/a’.

Where a syllable starts with a short, quick vowel sound, the next letter is usually doubled - ap/pli/ca/tion. When the first vowel sound is long, the next letter is single - o/pen.

Test with these words: com/pu/ta/tion, ef/fec/tive, pi/an/o. 

Thank you the KHS Literacy Team