Lesson 117
Signal Vowels
When followed by E, I, and Y, C spells /s/ and G spells /j/
The concept of E signaling a 'soft' C or G sound was introduced with the -CE (Lesson 60) and -GE (Lesson 61) endings. /s/: When C is followed by A, O, or U it makes the /k/ sound as in cat, cot, and cut. When C is followed by E, I, or Y it makes the /s/ sound, like in the words city and cent. /j/: When G is followed by A, O, or U it makes the /g/ sound as in game, go, and gum. When G is followed by E, I, or Y it makes the /j/ sound, like in the words gem and gym.
Today's plan
about 20 min- Step 1Warm up our ears (blend & segment)2 min
- Steps 2 & 3Look & Say / Listen & Spell4 min
- Step 4Blending drill3 min
- Step 5New concept6 min
- Step 5Read & spell the new words5 min
Warm Up Our Ears
Say the sounds; students blend them into a word. Then say a word; students break it apart.
Blend it (teacher says sounds → you say word)
Break it (I say word → you say sounds)
Sound Drills
Full-screen cards for the class. Tap a card to check the answer, or press Hear the words to hear the example words read aloud.
👂 Listen & Spell — teacher list (9 sounds)
Say each sound; students write the spelling(s). Read straight from this list.
- /aw/au (as in haul), aw (as in lawn), augh (as in caught), ough · haunt
- /ō/o (as in go), oa (as in boat), ow (as in snow), oe (as in toe), ough · boat
- /yo͞o/u (as in cup), ew (as in few), ey (as in key), ue (as in blue) · few
- /o͞o/u (as in cup), oo (as in book), ew (as in few), ui (as in fruit), ue (as in blue), ou (as in out) · blue
- /ā/a (as in table), ai (as in rain), ay (as in play), ea (as in eat), ei, eigh, ey (as in key), aigh · rain
- /air/ear · bear
- /er/er (as in her), ir (as in bird), ur (as in turn), or (as in doctor), ar (as in car) · fern
- /ī/i (as in find), ie (as in pie), igh (as in night) · night
- /ē/e (as in me), y (as in baby), ea (as in eat), ee (as in see), ey (as in key) · bee
Blending Drill
Change one part at a time and read the new word.
New Concept
Today we learn another way that C can spell /s/ and G can spell /j/: when they are followed by the 'signal vowels' E, I, or Y.
Highlighted words are the ones to show and practice reading — tap one to hear it.
We have learned that the letter C can spell /s/ when it is followed by a silent E, such as the word . We have also learned that the letter G can spell /j/ when it is followed by a silent E, such as the word . Today we will learn another way that C can spell /s/ and G can spell /j/ in words. We know that the vowels are A, E, I, O, U, and sometimes Y. Of these vowels, E, I, and Y are called 'signal vowels.' These signal vowels signal, or tell us, that something will be different in a word. When C is followed by A, O, or U it makes the /k/ sound as in , , cut. When C is followed by E, I, or Y it makes the /s/ sound, like in the words and . When G is followed by A, O, or U it makes the /g/ sound as in , , gum. When G is followed by E, I, or Y it makes the /j/ sound, like in the words and .
c /s/
When C is followed by the signal vowels E, I, or Y it makes the /s/ sound, as in , , cycle.
g /j/
When G is followed by the signal vowels E, I, or Y it makes the /j/ sound, as in , , gym.
How our mouth moves
Review articulatory gestures for /s/ and /j/, as needed.
Read & Spell
Read — I do
Read — We do
Spell — I do
Spell — We do