Reference page | For use all year
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This chart lists every sound, spelling rule and word pattern taught in the Grade 3 English lessons, in the order they are taught. Each row gives example words and links to the lesson. Tricky words are taught in Lesson 11 of every chapter. They are on the Tricky Word List.
How to use this chart
(For the adult) Point to a spelling and ask the learner to say the sound or the rule, then read the example words. Tick the last box when the learner can read and spell words with that pattern. If a pattern is hard, go back to the lesson in the Lesson column.
Term 1
| Sound or rule | Spelling | Example words | Lesson | I know it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adding endings (review) | -ing, -ed, -er, -est: drop the e, double the last letter, or change y to i | hoping, stopped, cried, biggest | 1.9 | ☐ |
| Longer words: stress at the end | double the last letter before -ing or -ed | forgetting, beginning, preferred | 1.10 | ☐ |
| Longer words: stress not at the end | do not double the last letter | gardening, limited | 1.11 | ☐ |
| Prefixes | dis-, mis- | disagree, dislike, misspell, mislead | 2.9 | ☐ |
| Prefixes | re-, in- | replay, refill, incorrect, inactive | 2.10 | ☐ |
| Prefixes | il-, im-, ir- (in- changes to match the next letter) | illegal, impossible, irregular | 2.11 | ☐ |
| y says short i | y in the middle of a word | myth, gym, pyramid, mystery, crystal | 3.9 | ☐ |
| ou says short u | ou | young, touch, double, trouble, country | 3.10 | ☐ |
Term 2
| Sound or rule | Spelling | Example words | Lesson | I know it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prefixes | sub-, inter- | submarine, subway, international, interact | 4.9 | ☐ |
| Prefixes | super-, anti-, auto- | supermarket, anticlockwise, autograph | 4.10 | ☐ |
| Word families | words that share a root | solve, solution; sign, signal; history, historic | 4.11 | ☐ |
| Suffix | -ation | information, preparation, exploration | 5.9 | ☐ |
| Suffix | -ly | sadly, completely, usually, happily | 5.10 | ☐ |
| Exceptions with -ly | special rules | gently, simply, basically, truly | 5.11 | ☐ |
| Word ending | -ture | picture, nature, creature, adventure, furniture | 6.9 | ☐ |
| Word ending | -sure | measure, treasure, pleasure | 6.10 | ☐ |
| Word ending | -sion (as in vision) | vision, decision, television | 6.11 | ☐ |
Term 3
| Sound or rule | Spelling | Example words | Lesson | I know it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Word endings that say shun | -tion, -sion | invention, action, extension, decision | 7.9 | ☐ |
| Word endings that say shun | -ssion, -cian | discussion, permission, musician, electrician | 7.10 | ☐ |
| Suffix | -ous | dangerous, famous, humorous | 7.11 | ☐ |
| ch says k | ch | chorus, echo, school, character, stomach | 8.9 | ☐ |
| ch says sh; word endings | ch; -gue, -que | chef, machine, parachute; league, tongue, antique, unique | 8.10 | ☐ |
| sc says s | sc | science, scene, scent, scissors, muscle | 8.11 | ☐ |
| The ay sound | ei, eigh, ey | vein, reindeer, eight, weigh, neighbour, they, grey, obey | 9.9 | ☐ |
| Apostrophes for plural owners | ‘s and s’ | the girl’s pot, the girls’ pots, the children’s buckets | 9.10 | ☐ |
| Homophones | words that sound the same | weather, whether; peace, piece; brake, break; here, hear | 9.11 | ☐ |
Tips for spelling a new word
1. Say the word slowly, and clap the syllables.
2. Spell one syllable at a time. Check each one has a vowel.
3. Look for a prefix at the start, a suffix at the end, or a word family. A prefix or suffix is spelt the same way in every word.
4. If you add an ending, check the rule: drop the e, double the letter, or change y to i.
5. If the word sounds the same as another word, think about the meaning before you choose the spelling.
6. Read the word back. Does it look right?
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