English spelling rules have many exceptions, making the language difficult to learn. Some letters are silent. Single letters can represent multiple sounds depending on surrounding letters. Vowel sounds vary based on syllable structure and the presence of adjacent letters like R and silent E. The same letter combinations can represent different vowel sounds. Homophones and homonyms add further complexity. Overall, English spelling guidelines have many exceptions, requiring learners to memorize irregular words.

1. When English is Weird

2. Expect Exceptions!

3. Some letters are silent
● Some letters are
silent and don't like to
sing
● They are there but are
quiet, and don't say a
thing

4. One letter can have different sounds

5. Someletterscombineto makenew sounds
Strategy: Check forHBrothers &Give ng a
fling
● CH: hip/chip
● SH: hop/shop
● TH: hat/that
● WH: hen/when
● NG: sun/sung

6. PH & GH can say “F”
A photograph of a
phone
A cough can be rough
gh might be silent, like in light

7. Some letters double at the end

8. Strategy: Keep Cautiouswith K & C
When you hear thehard “k” sound, which will it be?
K takesI & E....C takestheother three
● Kit
● Keg
● Cat
● Cot
● Cut

9. Strategy: Give Care with G &C
Soft orHard?

10. -CK or -K
spelling the “k” sound at the end of a word

11. Vowels can be short, & they can be
long
● How can you know
how to not get them
wrong?
● Short vowels say the
sound, long vowels
the name
● To know which is
which can be quite a
pain

12. Strategy: Note an Eat the end
● Silent e at the end
makes the vowel say
it's name.
● It turns pin into pine
● Apart or together, it
works just the same.
● pie or pine, both
ways are fine.

13. Defender D

14. More ways a vowel can be long
Open Syllables

15. Strategy: Observe an R
Bossy R likes to tell the
vowels what to do
It can change a cat into a
cart. (that is true).
5 Bossy R spellings,
3 Bossy R sounds...
you will see Bossy Rs
everywhere around.

16. Sometimes Silent e wins

17. Sometimes Bossy R does

18. ar can sound like er

19. or can sound like er

20. With an e before ar, anything goes

21. Open & Closed Syllables
Strategy: Notice a closed or open door
● A vowel that is
followed by a
consonant is closed in.
● A closed syllable is
often short like in pin.
● A vowel is open with
no consonant behind
● Open syllables are
often long, you will
find.

22. Strategy: Look forvowel teams
Vowel Teams can be long & say the first sound

23. Except for Diphthongs
● Which often make
new sounds
● But sometimes not...
● AU & AW sound like
the short O in dog
● Now don't forget that
OW can also say long
O like in grow

24. Other vowel teams that don't follow
“when2vowels gowalking, the1st
onedoes thetalking”

25. Same Letters, Two Sounds
● ie says long I as in
pie, unless you want
to have a piece.
● At times it can briefly
steal a long E like a
thief.

26. Same Letters, Two Sounds
● ea says long E when
you eat peas, but not
bread.
● Did your ear hear the
short E that bread said?

27. Same Letters, two sounds
● Find ow in a brown
cow, unless there is
snow.
● Then it says Long O,
don't you know?

28. Same Letters, Two Sounds
● oo might say boot,
unless you put in your
foot.
● To make good food,
you need a cook book.

29. Strategy: Discovery of a Y at the end
● Y at the end will often
say “I” in a one syllable
word like fly
● When more syllables you
see, it likely says “E”

30. Strategy: Be aware of schwa
● Every vowel can
make a schwa sound
● So there are lots of
schwa's to be found
● A schwa is a quick &
weak “uh”
● You can find two in
this word: above.

31. Synonyms & Antonyms
Homophones & Homonyms
Homonyms: words with multiple meanings

32. Homographs & Homophones
● Homographs look
just the same but
mean something else!
● Watch out for
homographs when
you say “give me a
ring!” (what do you
mean?)

33. Yes, English is Weird
● Now you know that
this is true...
● The rules are more
like guidelines that
give you a clue!

35. Credits
● Boostforreaders.com
● Short/Long Chart: First Grade Wow
● Bossy R: carlscorner.us.com
● Defender D & FLOSS Rule:
maketaketeach.com
● Schwa: www.logicofenglish.com
● Synonym/Antonyms:
vocabularypage.com
● Homograph/Homophones:
heerenshappenings2.blogspot.com