📚 Wheeler's Speller • Lesson 50 (Word Building • Suffixes -ing, -er, -y)
BOOK 1 • LESSON 50 WHEELER'S ELEMENTARY SPELLER • ORTHOGRAPHIC MASTER KEY TEACHER INSTRUCTIONAL KEY
TEACHER INSTRUCTIONAL GUIDE • LESSON 50
Morphology Matrix • Doubling & Drop-e Rules • Decodable Dictation
M Morphological Matrix: Complete analysis of all 25 words across the 4 suffix groups.
Group Base Words Derived Words / IPA Rule Mechanism Teaching & Phonetic Notes
Group 1: -ing
(Drop silent -e)		 give, have, come, write, blame, strive giving /ˈɡɪvɪŋ/, having /ˈhævɪŋ/, coming /ˈkʌmɪŋ/, writing /ˈraɪtɪŋ/, blaming /ˈbleɪmɪŋ/, striving /ˈstraɪvɪŋ/ Drop final silent -e before vowel suffix -ing Prevents incorrect forms like *giveing or *writeing. Note write has long ī; give/have have short vowels.
Group 2: -ing
(Doubling)		 get, let, whip, run, pat, put getting /ˈɡɛtɪŋ/, letting /ˈlɛtɪŋ/, whipping /ˈwɪpɪŋ/, running /ˈrʌnɪŋ/, patting /ˈpætɪŋ/, putting /ˈpʊtɪŋ/ 1-1-1 Rule: CVC doubles final stop/nasal Doubling preserves the short vowel sound /ɛ, ɪ, ʌ, æ, ʊ/. Single letter would signal a long vowel (*wiping).
Group 3: -er
(Doubling)		 red, big, thin, dim, wet, glad, hot, mad redder /ˈrɛdər/, bigger /ˈbɪɡər/, thinner /ˈθɪnər/, dimmer /ˈdɪmər/, wetter /ˈwɛtər/, gladder /ˈɡlædər/, hotter /ˈhɒtər/, madder /ˈmædər/ 1-1-1 Rule before comparative vowel suffix -er Short vowel adjectives doubling: *glad* has CCVC base; still 1 vowel followed by 1 consonant.
Group 4: -y
(Doubling)		 fun, sun, fog, star, mud funny /ˈfʌni/, sunny /ˈsʌni/, foggy /ˈfɒɡi/, starry /ˈstɑːri/, muddy /ˈmʌdi/ 1-1-1 Rule before vowel suffix -y (/i/) star has r-controlled vowel; doubled rr preserves /ɑːr/ in derived adjective.
K Master Answer Key: All 25 derived words and quick check rule.
Ex 1 (Drop e + ing): giving having coming writing blaming striving
Ex 2 (Double + ing): getting letting whipping running patting putting
Ex 3 (Double + er): redder bigger thinner dimmer wetter gladder hotter madder
Ex 4 (Double + y): funny sunny foggy starry muddy
Check Question Solution: To keep the short vowel sound /ʌ/ (or 1-1-1 rule: 1 syllable, 1 short vowel, 1 final consonant).
D Decodable Dictation Sentences: Read each sentence clearly, highlighting suffix additions.
Sentence 1 (running, getting, sunny)
“The boys were running and getting hot on the sunny hill.”
Sentence 2 (writing, having, funny)
“She was writing a letter and having a funny time.”
Sentence 3 (redder, bigger)
“The redder apple was bigger than the thin green one.”
Sentence 4 (muddy, starry)
“After the muddy rain, we saw a clear starry sky.”
Wheeler's Elementary Speller • Orthographic Master Key Lesson 50 • Teacher Instructional Guide Page 1 of 1