Unit 22 - Words with Silent Letters
Many spelling problems are caused by words with silent letters, for example:
So why are these letters
there, if they have no use? Sometimes it is because, hundreds of years
ago, these letters were once pronounced. But, over the years, because
the words were hard to say, the sounds have died out. Now only their
ghosts remain.
|
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| Think of these silent letters as the .............................................
'ghost letters'. |
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The sound of the word is
no help when trying to learn words with silent letters. You need to
use your eyes and your hand. Try these ways: |
1) Use the 'Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check' method.
2) As you write a word, use a 'spelling language' to say it aloud, pronouncing
the silent letter. Click below for an example:
3) Make up mnemonics with several words from one list in the same sentence
e.g. I know I can't knit knickers with a knife
on my knobbly knees.
4) Link the words with another in which you can hear the target letter
e.g.
| sign - signal |
| bomb - bombard |
| nestle - nest |
| Christmas - Christ |
| castle - in the past |
| crumbs - crumbled bread |
