Focus: vowel choices (page 1)

beat cheat flight knight mite quite site tightbeet eat fright light neat right sleet treatbite feet heat meat night seat slight wheatbleat fight height meet peat sheet spite whitebright fleet kite might plight sight sweet write

Focus: unstressed vowels (page 2)

abandoned conference easily generous library offering similarabominable consonant explanatory geography literacy original skeletonalcohol corporal extra grammar literate parallel smuggleranimal deafening factory heaven literature parliament stationaryastronomy definite familiar history locomotive poisonous stationerybenefit definitely family holiday lottery predict telephoneboundary describe fattening hospital margarine prepare televisionbusiness description February illiterate marvellous primary vegetablecarpet desperate flattery interest mathematics prosperous voluntarycategory dictionary formal interested medicine reference WednesdayCatholic difference freedom January memorable Saturday wideningcentre different frightening jewellery messenger secretarycompany disinterest general journalist miniature separatecompromise doctor generally lettuce miserable signature

Focus: doubling consonants (page 3)

Doubled letters

beg begged beggar hum humming hummedbig bigger biggest mop mopping moppeddig digging digger run runner runningdrag dragging dragged stop stopper stoppeddrop dropping dropped sun sunny sunnierfit fitter fittest wet wetter wettesthug hugging hugged win winning winner

Undoubled letters

beep beeping beeped dream dreamer dreamingblast blasting blasted feel feeling feelerburn burner burning help helped helpercount counter counted train trainer traineddisgust disgusted disgusting trick tricky tricked

Contrasting sets

dine dining dinner ride riding riddenhide hiding hidden write writing written

Focus: the soft c (page 4)

Ci

accident circuit circumstance city decision incidentcinema circular circus civil decisive incisorcinnamon circulation cistern decide disciple recitalcircle circumference citizen decimal discipline recite

ce

ceiling cellar cent century deceased discerncelebrate cellophane centenary cereal deceit exceptcelebrity cement centigrade ceremony December incensecelery cemetery centipede certain decent receivecell census centre certificate descend recent

cy

bicycle cyclic cyclone cynic cypress fancy mercycyanide cyclist cylinder cynical cyst lacy recycle

Focus: pluralisation s/es (page 5)

Typical words Hissing and buzzing words

balloon balloons box boxesboy boys bus busesday days church churchesdog dogs dish dishesgirl girls fox foxesmeal meals kiss kissesschool schools lunch lunchessister sisters patch patchesword words watch watches

Focus: words ending in y (page 6)

Vowel + y words Consonant + y words

boy boys baby babiesbuoy buoys city citiesbuy buys cry criesday days fly fliesdonkey donkeys jelly jellieskey keys lolly lolliesmonkey monkey lorry lorriesquay quays party partiestray trays puppy puppies

try triesworry worries

Focus: words ending in f and fe (page 7)

f and fe endings

calf calveshalf halveslife livesloaf loavesscarf scarvesself selvesthief thieveswolf wolvesknife knives

wife wivesFocus: plurals of words which end with vowels other than e ( page 8)

List 1

anacondas corgis igloos pianos skis zoosareas cuckoos jumbos piazzas sofas zulusarmadillos dahlias kangaroos piccolos solosbananas discos kimonos pizzas sombrerosbanjos ECUs kiwis pumas sonatasbhajis emus magnolias radios tarantulasbongos fiestas matzos risottos tattooscameras galas oratorios rotas tombolascasinos geckos paellas sambas umbrellascellos gnus pagodas samosas violaschapa(t)is gurus pastas saunas visasconcertos haikus patios siestas yoyos

List 2

buffaloes dominoes heroes tomatoes volcanoescargoes echoes mangoes torpedoesdingoes haloes potatoes vetoes

List 3

antennae criteria macaroni phenomena spaghetti tagliatellebacteria fungi paparazzi ravioli strata

Focus: irregular plurals (9)

Irregular plurals

antenna antennaechild childrendeer deerfoot feetformula formulaegoose geeselarva larvaelouse liceman menmouse micesheep sheeptooth teeth

woman women

Focus: vowel suffixes (page 10)

al ary ic ist ive er est

additional anniversary acidic artist alliterative baker cleverestexceptional dictionary allergic balloonist alternative driver driestmedical library analytic dramatist apprehensive farmer fiercestnational missionary comic extremist comprehensive islander funniestoccasional necessary dramatic instrumentalist corrective manager handsomestpersonal revolutionary energetic journalist derivative poorer nastiestseasonal stationary horrific machinist discursive reader neatestsensational manic novelist exhaustive richer poorest

photographic specialist explosive teenager richestscientific stockist investigative villager strongestterrific violinist retrospective voyager tallest

Focus: consonant suffixes (page 11)

ly ful less

actually beautiful carelessespecially forgetful endlesseventually hateful fearlessfriendly hopeful headlesskindly merciful homelesslikely painful joblessoriginally pitiful lifelesspersonally resentful mercilessproperly sorrowful speechlessreally successful thanklessweekly wishful thoughtless

Focus: words ending in y (page 12)

empty emptier emptiest emptily emptinesshappy happier happiest happily happinessheavy heavier heaviest heavily heavinesshungry hungrier hungriest hungrilylazy lazier laziest lazily lazinesspretty prettier prettiest prettily prettinessready readier readiest readily readinesstrendy trendier trendiest trendily trendinesswindy windier windiest windily

ally allying allied alliancecarry carrying carried carriagemarry marrying married marriagemodify modifying modified modificationreply replying replied replysupply supplying supplied suppliertry trying tried trialvary varying varied variety

Focus: modifying words ending in e (page 13)

Some words as starting points for investigation

article force hope poke shame timeattainable frame life possible sure tunebike free like programme tackle usecare game lone rake take voyagecycle hassle make realise tangible wrestlefake home nice rule terrorise wrinkle

Focus: able and ible (page 14)

ible able

credible adorableedible agreeableforcible breakablehorrible disposableindestructible enjoyableinvincible enviablelegible identifiablepossible manageableresponsible miserablereversible miserablesusceptible reliabletangible respectableterrible valuable

Focus: ful suffixes (page 15)

Typical ful words

boast boastful fear fearful play playfulcare careful hand handful scorn scornfulcolour colourful harm harmful shame shamefuldoubt doubtful hope hopeful thank thankfulfaith faithful mouth mouthful wake wakeful

y words

beauty beautiful fancy fanciful pity pitifulbounty bountiful mercy merciful plenty plentiful

Focus: words ending with cian, sion and tion (page 16)

cian sion ssion tion other

dietician collision discussion attention asianelectrician confusion mission diction oceanmagician corrosion oppression direction russianmusician exclusion passion faction venetianoptician explosion percussion fictionphysician extension possession fractionpolitician infusion profession proportion

transfusion session reduction

ation etion ition otion ution

demonstration completion competition devotion constitutioneducation deletion intuition emotion contributionfoundation depletion opposition lotion distributionnation secretion petition motion institutionstation position notion pollutiontranslation repetition promotion revolution

Focus: antonym prefixes

in im ir il mis non un anti

inaccurateinactiveinattentiveincapableinconvenientincredibleindecent

immatureimmobileimpatientimpoliteimpossibleimpracticalimprobableimproper

irrationalirregularirresistibleirresponsible

illegalillegibleilliterate

misbehavemiscalculatemiscountmisdealmisfiremisfortunemishearmisinformmisplacemisreadmistake

non-dripnon-fictionnonsensenon-smokernon-starternon-sticknon-stopnon-violent

unfortunateunfoundedunhelpfulunlikelyunrealisticunreasonable

antibioticantibodyanticlimaxanticlineanticlockwiseanticycloneantifreezeantiheroantiseptic

Focus: common prefixes (page 18)

Prefixes and meanings Roots to work with

anti against inter between act makebi two mis wrong awaken marinecontra against non not clean placede undo pre before dead sleepin not sub under face visitpro ahead sus under grow writere again un not liveex out of

Focus: a prefixes (page 19)

ad al a abadditionadjacentadjectiveadjoinadjustadmireadvanceadventadverbadvise

almightyalmostalonealreadyalrightalsoalthoughaltogetheralways

aboardafieldagroundalertaloftamoralapartastrideawakeaway

abideablazeabloomafloataglitteraliveanotheraroundasleepatonal

abandonabdicateabductaberrantabjureabscondabseilabsolve

Focus: classical prefixes (page 20)

auto circum bi tele trans microautobiographyautodidactautographautomaticautomatonautomobileautopsy

circlecircularcirculatecircumferencecircumnavigatecircumstancecircumventcircus

bicepsbicyclebifocalsbilingualbipedbiplanebisect

telegenictelegraphtelepathytelephonetelephototelescopetelevision

transatlantictransfertranslatetransmittransparenttransplanttransport

microcosmmicrofilmmicrometermicrophonemicroscopicmicro-skirt

aqua aero audi re prim superaquaplaneaquariumAquariusaquatic

aerodromeaerodynamicsaeronautaeroplane

audibleaudienceauditionauditorium

reconsiderrepeatreplayreply

primaryprimateprimeprimrose

supermansupernaturalsupernovasuperpowersupersede

Focus: common letter clusters (page 21)

our ough ear ight ice ausarmourflourhourjourneymournourselvespoursourtouryour

coughdroughtenoughploughroughsloughthoroughthoughthoughtthroughtoughtroughwrought

bear deardrearyearnfeargearhearhearthlearnwearweary

brighteightfightfreightheightlightmightnightrightsighttightweight

Aliceapprenticedicemicenicenoticepolicepracticericespicetwice

AustraliaAustriabecausecauseclauseclaustrophobiapausesausage

Focus: homophones (page 22)

by buy bye sew so sowcent scent sent their they’re thererein rain reign too two torode road rowed you yew ewe

aloud allowed him hymn peace pieceare our hole whole place plaicebeach beech hour our plane plainbean been in inn read reedblue blew key quay right writeboard bored knight night scene seenbreak brake knot not see seacell sell know no stair starecereal serial leak leek steel stealdear deer made maid sum somefate fete main mane sun sonflour flower meet meat tail talegrate great might mite through threwhair hare morning mourning vain veinherd heard new knew waist wastehere hear pane pain week weak

Focus: common roots

Words derived from other languagesfrom graphein – write from annus – year from dictare – to saygraph annual dictatorphotograph anniversary dictionary

from mikro – small from manus – hand from mort – deadmicroscope manual mortgagemicrolight manuscript mortuary

from octo – eight from aqua – water from roi – kingoctagon aquarium royaloctopus aqueduct royalty

from skopein – to see from unus – one from presse – presstelescope unit expressmicroscope union pressure

from ge – earth from insula – island from voix –voicegeology insulation voicegeography peninsula vocal

from naus – ship from specere – to look from bloc – blocknausea spectator blockagenautical spectrum blockade

Focus: word families and spelling patterns (page 24)

act actor action activity react reactionchild children childhood childlike childish childlesselectric electrical electricity electrician electronic electrocutesign signatory signature signal resign resignationtake mistake mistaken overtaken overtaking partaking

assist assistant assistance machine machinery machinistbalance imbalance unbalanced medic medical medicationbore boring boredom obey disobey disobedientcall recall calling operate cooperate cooperationclaim reclaim reclamation pack packet packagecover discover discovery pain painkiller painstakingexamine examination examiner pass passage passengergive given forgiveness press impress depressiongovern governor government prison imprisoned imprisonmenthand handler handicraft prove approval disapprovehero heroic heroism public publication publicityjoy joyful enjoyment relate relative relationlight lightning delighted shake shakily shaken

Focus: apostrophes for omission (page 26)

Pronouns Other contractions

I’m I’ll I’ve I’d aren’t ma’amYou’re You’ll You’ve You’d can’t o’clockHe’s He’ll He’s He’d couldn’t shan’tShe’s She’ll She’s She’d doesn’t ‘tisWe’re We’ll We’ve We’d don’t weren’tThey’re They’ll They’ve They’d hadn’t won’t

haven’t

Focus: possessive pronouns (page 27)

1 2 3

I my mineyou your yourshe his hisshe her hersit its its

we our oursthey their theirsFocus: using visual strategies to improve spelling (page 33)

Beautiful fiend parliamentBenefited hymn psycheChaos jealous psychiatristCharacter jewellery psychologistChemistry knight rhymeConscience liaison rhythmCupboard library separateDescription medicine siegeEnvironment miniature WednesdayFebruary mnemonics

Appendix 1: Spelling list (page 36)

accommodation evidence possessionactually explanation potentialalcohol February preparationalthough fierce prioritiseanalyse/analysis forty processargument fulfil proportionassessment furthermore propositionatmosphere guard questionnaireaudible happened queueaudience health reactionautumn height receivebeautiful imaginary referencebeginning improvise reliefbelieve industrial rememberbeneath interesting researchburied interrupt resourcesbusiness issue safetycaught jealous Saturdaychocolate knowledge secondaryclimb listening separatecolumn lonely sequenceconcentration lovely shoulderconclusion marriage sincerelyconscience material skilfulconscious meanwhile soldierconsequence miscellaneous stomachcontinuous mischief straightcreation modern strategydaughter moreover strengthdecide/decision murmur success

definite necessary surelydesign nervous surprisedevelopment original surveydiamond outrageous techniquediary parallel technologydisappear participation texturedisappoint pattern tomorrowembarrass peaceful unfortunatelyenergy people Wednesdayengagement performance weightenquire permanent weirdenvironment persuade/persuasion womenevaluation physical

Common homophones and confusion (page 37)

a lot/allot choose/chose quiet/quiteadvise/advice cloth/clothe sites/sightsaffect/effect conscience/conscious source/sauceallowed/aloud course/coarse threw/throughbought/brought our/are to/too/twobraking/breaking practise/practice

Appendix 2: Subject spelling lists (page 38)

Art

abstract easel landscapeacrylic exhibition palettecharcoal foreground pastelcollage frieze perspectivecollection gallery portraitcolour highlight sketchcrosshatch illusion spectrumdimension impastdisplay kiln

D and T

aesthetic hygiene presentationbrief ingredient productioncarbohydrate innovation proteincomponent knife/knives recipedesign linen sewdiet machine specificationdisassemble manufacture technologyevaluation mineral tensionfabric natural textilefibre nutrition vitaminflour polyesterflowchart portfolio

Drama

applause freeze rehearse/rehearsalcharacter/characteristics improvise rolecostume inspire scene/scenariocurtain lighting scriptdirector movement sharedramatise perform/performance spotlightentrance playwright stageexit position theatre/theatrical

English

advertise/advertisement figurative prepositionalliteration genre resolutionapostrophe grammar rhymeatmosphere imagery scenechorus metaphor simileclause myth soliloquycliché narrative/narrator subordinatecomma onomatopoeia suffixcomparison pamphlet synonymconjunction paragraph tabloidconsonant personification vocabularydialogue playwright vowelexclamation pluralexpression prefix

Geography

abroad function povertyamenity globe provisionatlas habitat region/regionalauthority infrastructure ruralclimate international settlementcontour landscape situationcountry latitude tourist/tourismcounty location transport/transportationdesert longitude urbanemployment nation/national wealtherosion physical weatherestuary pollution

History

agriculture/agricultural defence politics/politicalbias disease priestcastle document propagandacathedral dynasty ProtestantCatholic economy/economical rebel/rebellionchronology/chronological emigration reigncitizen government religiouscivilisation immigrant republiccolony/colonisation imperial/imperialism revolt/revolutionconflict independence siegeconstitution/constitutional invasion sourcecontradict/contradiction motive tradecurrent parliament traitor

ICT

binary hardware networkbyte icon outputcable input passwordcartridge interactive previewCD-ROM interface processorcomputer internet programconnect/connection justify scannercursor keyboard sensordata/database megabyte serverdelete memory softwaredisk modem spreadsheetdocument module viruselectronic monitorgraphic multimedia

Library

alphabet/alphabetical encyclopaedia novelanthology extract photocopyarticle fantasy publisherauthor genre relevant/relevancecatalogue glossary romanceclassification index sectioncontent irrelevant/irrelevance seriescopyright librarian systemdictionary magazine thesauruseditor non-fiction

Mathematics

addition equation questionnaireadjacent fraction radiusalternate graph ratioangle guess recurringamount horizontal reflect/reflectionapproximately isosceles regular/irregularaverage kilogram rhombusaxis/axes kilometre rotate/rotationcalculate litre squarecentimetre measure subtractioncircumference metre symmetry/symmetricalcorresponding minus tonneco-ordinate multiply/multiplication triangle/triangulardecimal negative vertex/verticesdegree numerator verticaldenominator parallel/parallelogram volumediameter percentage weightdigit perimeterdivide/division perpendicularequilateral positiveestimate quadrilateral

Music

choir melody scalechord minim scorechromatic minor semibrevecomposition/conductor musician synchronisecrotchet octave syncopationdynamics orchestra/orchestral tempoharmony ostinato ternaryinstrument/instrumental percussion timbreinterval pitch triadlyric quaver vocalmajor rhythm

PE

active/activity injury qualifyagile/agility league relayathletic/athlete medicine squadbicep mobile/mobility tacticexercise muscle tournamentfield personal tricepsgym/gymnastic pitchhamstring quadriceps

PSHE

able/ability effort realityachieve/achievement emotion/emotional relationshipaddict/addiction encourage/encouragement represent/representativeapprove/approval gender rewardcommunication generous/generosity sanctioncontrol involve/involvement sexism/sexistdependent/dependency prefer/preference stereotypediscipline pressurediscussion racism/racist

RE

baptism Hindu/Hinduism prophetBible/biblical hymn religious/religionBuddhist/Buddhism immoral/immorality shrineBurial Islam signcelebrate/celebration Israel Sikh/Sikhismceremony Judaism/Jewish specialChristian marriage spirit/spiritualcommandment miracle symbolcommitment moral/morality synagoguecreation Muslim templedisciple parable weddingfaith pilgrim/pilgrimage worshipfestival pray/prayerfuneral prejudice

Science

absorb exchange organismacid freeze oxygenalkaline frequency particlesamphibian friction predatorapparatus function pressurechemical growth reproducecirculate/circulation hazard respire/respirationcombustion insect solutioncondensation laboratory temperaturecycle liquid thermometerdigest/digestion mammal vertebrateelement method vesselevaporation nutrient

Appendix 3: Sample spelling investigation (page 43)

army armies dish dishes pen pensash ashes display displays penny penniesbaby babies donkey donkeys pocket pocketsberry berries fly flies puppy puppiesbook books fox foxes ray raysbox boxes game games sandwich sandwichesboy boys glass glasses school schoolsbrush brushes hat hats shoe shoesbush bushes inch inches table tableschurch churches jelly jellies tax taxescity cities key keys time timesclasp clasps kiss kisses toy toysday days lip lips watch watchesdelay delays monkey monkeys window windowsdesk desks party parties witch witches

Focus: How the spelling of verbs alter when ing is added (page 44)

Simple – add ing Short vowels – double Drop e + add ing

1 2 3 4 5 6ask asking chat chatting bite bitingclean cleaning clap clapping care caringdo doing fit fitting decide decidingdream dreaming hop hopping drive drivinggo going hug hugging hope hopingjump jumping let letting make makingpack packing plan planning save savingsay saying run running share sharingsend sending shop shopping shine shiningthink thinking shut shutting take takingwalk walking skip skipping write writing

(page 45)

Base words Verb to noun Noun to verb

age escape music er ateart happy reduce im enchange hate simple ism ifyclass help television ist isecompose legal itycriminal love nesscritic magnet ologydecide medicine tioneducate mobile

(page 46)

some useful examples to start withaqua water aquarium Aquarius aquatic aquaplaneauto self automatic autograph autobiography automobilebi two bicycle biped binoculars binaryport carry transport portable import exportsuper greater supernatural superman supernova superpowertele far off telephone television telepathy telecommunicationstrans across transport transplant transfer transaction

(page 47)

ie cei ei (long a) ei (other)

belief lie priest ceiling eight eitherbrief medieval quiet conceit foreign heightchief mischief relief deceit freight heirdie niece review perceive neighbour neitherfield obedient shield receipt reign proteinfierce patient shriek receive rein theirfiery pie thief sovereign weirdfriend piece tie veilgrief pier view veinhandkerchief pierce yield weigh