Lesson 42
FLSZ Spelling Rule
F, L, S, and Z are doubled after a short vowel sound
This lesson is students' first introduction to the concept that two letters can be combined to represent one sound. It is common for other consonants to be doubled, especially as part of closed syllables in a word with a suffix (e.g., rubber, stopped), but the focus of this lesson is the set of consonants that are consistently doubled at the end of a short word.
Today's plan
about 15 min- Step 1Warm up our ears (blend & segment)2 min
- Steps 2 & 3Look & Say / Listen & Spell4 min
- Step 4Blending drill3 min
- Step 5New concept + read/spell6 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)
Flashcard 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.
Blending Drill
Change one part at a time and read the new word.
Initial
g t y
st tr
gl pl
sc scr
Middle
a
i
u
Final
m mp p s
+
New Concept
Today we learn that when we hear /f/, /l/, /s/, or /z/ at the end of a word after a short vowel sound, we usually double the letter.
Highlighted words are the ones to show and practice reading — tap one to hear it.
Let's look at some letters we already know. F spells /f/, L spells /l/, S spells /s/ and Z spells /z/. Something tricky happens when these sounds come after a short vowel sound. When we hear /f/, /l/, /s/, or /z/ at the end of a word after a short vowel sound, we use double letters, or the same letter two times, to spell that sound. A helpful way to remember these letters that are doubled at the end of words is with the sentence "Jeff will pass Buzz!" Discuss how the letters FF, LL, SS, and ZZ come after short vowel sounds. When you see these double letters FF, LL, SS, and ZZ, you sound them out the same way as F, L, S, Z.
FLSZ Spelling Rule
When we hear /f/, /l/, /s/, or /z/ at the end of a word after a short vowel sound, we use double letters to spell that sound.
How our mouth moves
Refer to sound wall, as needed.
Sound wall
Add each double letter grapheme card to its corresponding picture card on the consonant grid: ff /f/, ll /l/, ss /s/, zz /z/.
Open the digital sound wall →