Letter combinations in words and phonic structures. Vocabulary Spelling tests Dictation. The key importance of phonemic knowledge to spelling and word decoding has now been clearly demonstrated. Students are, therefore taught to recognise consonants and vowels, short vowels and long vowels and syllables. Word grouping based upon common letter patterns is stressed.
Students have experience in anagrams, and in word structures.
Word building is a major concern. It includes the use of prefixes and suffixes,and building different parts of speech from specific words. Syllabifying is emphasised as an aid to spelling and pronunciation. Students use their word building skills to identify and build compound words. Vocabulary and spelling are highly interrelational.