Helpful Phonics Rules

Phonics Rule 1 – Short Vowel

When a single vowel is followed by a single consonant, the vowel is short. We mark the

vowel with a breve or what we call a big smile. The vowel is usually short when there is a

single (1) vowel in a word. (cat, dog, hop)

Phonics Rule 2 – Long Vowels

When there are two vowels in a word the first vowel says its name (long) and the second

vowel is silent. The first vowel talks and the second vowel is silent. The first vowel is

marked with a long straight line and the second vowel is crossed out. (coat, ride, make)

Phonics Rule 3 – Double Consonants

Double consonants make on sound and the final consonant is crossed out. (cross, bless, class)

Phonics Rule 4 – C or K Vowels

C comes before a, o, and u (cat, cot, cut)

K comes before the other two, e and i. (keep, kite)

Phonics Rule 5 – “ow/ou” sounds

The “ow” and “ou” makes the sound as if you were pinched saying “ow”. “Ow” and “ou” can

also say just “o” when it is on the end of a word. These vowel combinations can have both of

these two sounds. (count, wow, mow)

Phonics Rule 6 – The “er”, “ir”, and “ur” sounds

These three combinations make the same “er” sound. They are marked with a little house

called a circumflex. (bird, verse, nurse)

Phonics Rule 7– The “or” sound

“Or” makes the “or” sound and is marked with a long line above the vowel, “o”. Remember

to think the “or” we make as we say “At ELCA, the students have a choice for lunch of hot

lunch OR pizza/grill.

Phonics Rule 8 – “W” before “or”

When “W” is before “or”, the “or” says “er”. (Work, word)

Phonics Rule 9 – “oo” sound

There is a long and short sound to “oo”. The long sound is marked with a long straight line

above both “oo’s” as in tooth. The short sound is marked with a big smile above both “oo’s”

as in book. (booth, took)

Phonics Rule 10 – “oi”and “oy” sounds

“Oi” and “oy” make the same sound as the sound of a pig that says, “Oink”. “Oi” comes in

the front or middle of a word. “Oy” comes at the end of a work. (oil, boil, toy, boy)

Phonics Rule 11 – “qu” sound

Q and u are always together just like being married. (queen)

Phonics Rule 12 – The 4-H club

“Sh” makes the sound of asking someone to be quiet and putting your finger by your mouth

to say “sh”. “Ch” is the sound a train makes going up a hill and chugging away. “Th” makes

the sound of putting your tongue between you front teeth and blowing. The “wh” has two

sounds, a hard and soft. The hard sound is said loud as in whale and the soft sound is like

blowing out a birthday candle as in who. (show, church, wheel, why, think)

Phonics Rule 13 – Prefix and Suffix

A prefix comes at the front of the word where “pre” means before. A suffix comes at the end

of the word. (unbutton, enjoy, pointing, looked)

Phonics Rule 14 – Compound Words

A compound word is taking two words and putting them together to make a new word.

(cupcake, butterfly, baseball)

Phonics Rule 15 – Syllables

Syllables are word parts. We identify how many syllables are in a word by clapping you

index finger and thumb together as you say the word. (com-put-er)

Phonics Rule 16 – Contractions

Contractions are two words put together to make a short word by leaving out one or more

letter and replacing them with an apostrophe. Children have to learn which letters to leave

out. (I’m, didn’t, aren’t)

Phonics Rule 17 – Abbreviations

Words can be made shorter by leaving off some of the letters. A period is put in the place of

the letters. We will learn which words can be abbreviated. (Mon., Mrs., Sept.)

Phonics Rule 18 – Quotation Marks

Quotation marks are placed around what someone said. The look like elbow macaroni.

(Mother said, “Please come in.”)