Best Spelling Choices

Sensible Spelling Secrets

Sue’s Strategies® explains numerous spelling secrets about letters and suffixes.

Best Spelling Choices explains how to select the right spelling if the letter or letters could be spelled in a few ways. The text removes the need to guess when searching for the right letter(s). For example, when do you select C or K to make a K sound? Since C before E, I, & Y creates an S sound, “cake” needs a K after A or the word says “case.” Similarly, the work “kick” needs a K or it spells “sick.” CK follows a different strategy. The text also relates when to select the letter G over J, S over Z, plus other options.

Best Spelling Choices includes information about word endings such as E versus Y. Since ending E insists on being silent most of the time, use Y to say E like rainy and windy. The text also explains how to determine the difference between ending A or AY, ending Y or I, plus many other spellings used at ends of words..

Because letters that form suffixes sound very different from the same letters within a root word, Best Spelling Choices reveals these secrets. If every OUS were pronounced like the sound in house, then friends would attend marvelous parties. The suffix OUS should sound like the pronoun, US. The suffixes AL and ABLE also sound quite unlike those same letters as part of a root word: Albert versus personal; fable versus sizable. Suffixes must be recognized to improve spelling. 

The major spelling Strategies protect vowel sounds, so the E Rule, Doubling Rule, Consonant Y Rule, and CK rule need study. Best Spelling Choices explains why these strategies matter and how these strategies should be implemented. Practice exercises are also included.

Thus, Best Spelling Choices offers an opportunity to learn how to make sensible spelling decisions.