WHEELER'S ELEMENTARY SPELLER GRADES 2–3 PHONICS • WORD BUILDING • SHORT U & SHORT O SYNTHESIS STUDENT WORKSHEET
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LESSON 30 • Word-Building Synthesis
Systematic Word Families • -uff, -uck, -ump, -ush, -ock • Short ŭ & ŏ Contrast
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Phonics & Spelling Rules to Remember (Word Building)
Rule 1 • FLOSS Rule (-ff)
After a short vowel in a one-syllable word, the final /f/ is doubled: pŭff, cŭff, blŭff, snŭff.
Rule 2 • -ck Digraph
Directly after a short vowel, use -ck for the /k/ sound: dŭck, trŭck, lŏck, clŏck.
Rule 3 • ŭ vs. ŏ Contrast
Notice minimal pairs: dŭck (short ŭ) vs. dŏck (short ŏ); lŭck vs. lŏck; stŭck vs. stŏck.
1 Form words by adding each rime to the onsets: Combine onset consonant + rime and write the word neatly:
-uff Family
b + uff
c + uff
m + uff
p + uff
bl + uff
sn + uff
-uck Family
d + uck
l + uck
cl + uck
pl + uck
st + uck
tr + uck
-ump Family
j + ump
pl + ump
th + ump
d + ump
st + ump
cl + ump
tr + ump
-ush Family
g + ush
m + ush
br + ush
h + ush
bl + ush
pl + ush
thr + ush
cr + ush
sl + ush
-ock Family
l + ock
d + ock
r + ock
st + ock
bl + ock
sh + ock
fl + ock
cl + ock
2 Minimal Pair Contrast: Read each word pair aloud with a partner and check the correct vowel sound:
Pair 1
duck dock
ŭ ŏ
Pair 2
luck lock
ŭ ŏ
Pair 3
stuck stock
ŭ ŏ
Pair 4
cluck clock
ŭ ŏ