~See Homework Contract for nightly assignments.

Focus Spelling Patterns

~A closed syllable type has a short vowel followed by one or more
consonants. Example: hot  + dog = hotdog
~An open syllable ends in a vowel and the vowel is long and says its name.
Example: ape
A silent e syllable is when an "e" is preceded by a vowel and a consonant.
The "e" indicates that the vowel that comes before it makes a long sound.
Example: lake
~An r-controlled syllable has a vowel followed by the consonant "r." The "r"
controls the sound the vowel makes. Example: Proc + tor = Proctor
A consanant-le syllable is a final syllable in which the e is silent: thus
it sounds like a "consonant -el". Example: pur + ple= purple
A double vowel syllable has two vowels that together make one sound. Double
vowel syllables can be vowel digraphs or vowel dipthongs.
Vowel digraphs have two vowels that make the long vowel sound of one of the
vowels. Example: rain + coat = raincoat.
Vowel dipthongs make an unusual sound, like "oo or ow."
Root Words

The root is the part of a word that carries the most meaning. Knowing the

meaning of Greek and Latin roots can help you figure out the meaning of many
words.

Prefixes

Prefixes are word parts added to the beginning of a root or base word to
create new meaning.

Example: auto... self + mobile...movement = automobile...self movement

Suffixes

Suffixes are combinations of letters or single letters attached to the end
of a word or word part. A suffix sometimes changes the meaning of the word
or the function of a word (the way it is used).

Example: auto + mate (v)- to operate by automation: by itself

auto + matic (n)- operates mostly by itself