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Unit 6, Part 2: Spelling the short vowel sounds

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Unit 6: Short vowels, Part 2: o and u

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Spelling the short vowel sound /ŏ/: o, wa or qua

/ŏ/ as in octopus. Spell octopus

Teaching point Most of the time the sound /ŏ/ is spelled with just the letter o.

BUT: The w has a be-witching effect on vowels, often changing their sounds.
After w or qu, the sound /ŏ/ is spelled with the letter a.
Spell witch

Some examples:

Spell octopus
Spell watch

Spell quads
o as in octopus. wa as in watch. qua as in quads.
of
off
odd
October
object
observe
offer
office
often
olive
opera
operate
orange
Oscar

bottom
cotton
dollar
golf
hospital
modern
solid
...and many more
wad
wand
want
was
wash
wasp
watch
what
wander
wallet
warrant

swab
swamp
swan
swap (also swop)
swat
swallow
qualify
quality
quandary
quantity
quarrel
quarry

squash
squat
squalid
squalor
squabble
squander
squadron
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