Lesson 41: A Rule for Spelling (Consonant Doubling)

WHEELER'S ELEMENTARY SPELLER PRIMARY PHONICS CURRICULUM • LESSON 41 STUDENT WORKSHEET

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PHONICS & SPELLING RULES TO REMEMBER: THE DOUBLING RULE

The Classical Rule (Wheeler's Standard):
“In a word of one syllable, and words accented on the last syllable, a final consonant after a single vowel is doubled before a suffix beginning with a vowel.”
Why? Doubling keeps the preceding vowel short and closed (dip·per /ˈdɪp.ər/, not *di-per /ˈdaɪ.pər/).

• 1-1-1 Doubling Formula:

1 Short Vowel + 1 Final Consonant + Vowel Suffix → Double Consonant

• -er (Agent/Tool): dip → dip·per | drum → drum·mer
• -ed (Past Action): dip → dipped | trot → trot·ted
• -ing (Ongoing): dip → dip·ping | blot → blot·ting

EXERCISE 1 1. Add -er, -ed, and -ing to each of the following words, as shown in the first line:

Base Word	Add -er (Agent / Instrument)	Add -ed (Past Tense)	Add -ing (Present Participle)
dip (model)	dipper	dipped	dipping
trot
drum
blot
pat
bat
tin

EXERCISE 2 2. Write the words from dictation. Listen to the teacher or audio and write each sentence neatly:

DICTATION SENTENCE 1

Target Words: tin, dipper, dipped

DICTATION SENTENCE 2

Target Words: drummer, drummed, trotted

DICTATION SENTENCE 3

Target Words: blotting, blotter

DICTATION SENTENCE 4

Target Words: batter, batting, patting