Spelling Course

Starter Course

Teaches all the basic phonic spelling rules using multi-sensory activities and tests. At the end of this course students will understand the basics of English spelling. Suitable for students aged six to adult.

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Main Course

Mapped to the National Curriculum in England

Below is a map of where Spellzone units may complement classroom practice and may help to deliver some of the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum in England (English - Appendix 1: Spelling) or to reinforce other vital spelling skills at an age-appropriate stage of learning.

36 units based on phonics progression covering all English spelling rules including 'Rule breakers'.

Year 1
1	The basic 'Building Bricks' of the English language An introduction to vowels and consonants Y: When is it a vowel? When is it a consonant? Ways of spelling consonant and vowel sounds Long and short vowel sounds An introduction to syllables Introduction to prefixes and suffixes Suffixes Spelling terms test	▼
2	Spelling the consonant sounds, Part 1 Introduction Consonants in one-syllable words: one consonant or two? Spelling end consonants: ff ss ll ck Spelling longer words with: ff ss ll ck Spelling the /k/ sound at the end of words: c, k or ck? Spelling choices: ick or ic? ick and ic rulebreakers and homophones Spelling the /k/ sound before a vowel: c or k? Spelling choices for the /k/ sound: c or k Rulebreakers for the c/k spellings	▼
3	Spelling the consonant sounds, Part 2 Introduction The /v/ sound: v or ve Spelling the qu words Homophones for qu words Words ending with que Homophones for que words	▼
4	Spelling the consonant digraphs, Part 1 The consonant digraphs wh, th and ch The /w/ sound: w or wh? Rules and rule breakers: wh words Homophones /w/ sound words: w or wh The /th/ sound: th The /ch/ sound - is it ch or tch? Homophones for ch and tch words	▼
5	Spelling the consonant digraphs, Part 2 The consonant digraphs sh, ph and ch saying /k/ The /sh/ sound: sh, ch, ti, ci Spelling test: /sh/ words Homophones for the /sh/ sound: sh, ch, ti, ci Another sound for ch: /k/ Spelling test: ch = /k/ Homophones for ph words Spelling the /f/ sound with ph Spelling test: /ph/ words	▼
5H	A 'Beat the spellchecker!' test for words from Units 4 and 5 Spelling test 1: Which word is correct? Spelling test 2: Spot the wrong word.	▼
6	Short vowels, Part 1: a, e and i Short vowels, Part 2: o and u Spelling the short vowel sounds: e, ea, o or u? Short vowel sound /a/ Homophones for /a/ Short vowel /e/: e or ea? Spelling test for /e/: e or ea? Homophones for /e/ Short vowel /i/: i or y? Spelling test for /i/: i or y? Homophones for /i/ Short vowels, Part 2: o and u Short vowel /o/: o, wa, qua Spelling test for /o/: o, wa, qua Homophones and rule breakers for /o/ Short vowel /u/: u, o or ou? When to use o to spell the /u/ sound. Spelling test for /u/: u, o or ou? Homophones for /u/ The schwa sound	▼
6H	A 'Beat the spellchecker!' test for Unit 6 words /a/ and /e/ words test 1: Which word is correct? /a/ and /e/ words test 2: Spot the wrong word. /i/, /o/ and /u/ test 1: Which word is correct? /i/, /o/ and /u/ words test 2: Spot the wrong word.	▼
7	Long vowels, Part 1: a and e Long vowels, Part 2: i, o and u Introduction and Unit Contents Long vowel /a/ : a-e, ai, ay, ey, ei Spelling test for long vowel /a/: a-e, ai, ay, ey, ei Rules and rule breakers for long vowel /a/ Homophones for long vowel /a/ Long vowel /e/ : e in common prefixes Long vowel /e/ : ee, ea, e-e, y Spelling test for long vowel /e/: ee, ea, e-e, y Rules and rule breakers for long vowel /e/ Homophones for long vowel /e/ Long vowels, Part 2: i, o and u Long vowel /i/ : i-e, igh, y, ie Spelling test for long vowel /i/: i-e, igh, y, ie Rules and rule breakers for long vowel /i/ Homophones for long vowel /i/ Long vowel /o/ : o-e, oa, ow, oe Spelling test for long vowel /o/: o-e, oa, ow, oe Rules and rule breakers for long vowel /o/ Homophones for long vowel /o/ Long vowel /u/ : u-e, ue, ew Spelling test for long vowel /u/: u-e, ue, ew Homophones, rules and rule breakers for long vowel /u/ Final test on all the long vowel sounds	▼
7H	A 'Beat the spellchecker!' test for Unit 7 words /a/ words - Spelling test 1: Which word is correct? /a/ words - Spelling test 2: Spot the wrong word. /e/ words - Spelling test 1: Which word is correct? /e/ words - Spelling test 2: Spot the wrong word. /i/ words - Spelling test 1: Which word is correct? /i/ words - Spelling test 2: Spot the wrong word. /o/ words - Spelling test 1: Which word is correct? /o/ words - Spelling test 2: Spot the wrong word. /u/ words - Spelling test 1: Which word is correct? /u/ words - Spelling test 2: Spot the wrong word.	▼
8	Syllables: how to divide words What are syllables? Spelling test Vowel and consonant patterns. Spelling test More vowel and consonant patterns Spelling test: One consonant or two? Rules and rule breakers and a trivia quiz	▼
9	Suffixes: why we need to double letters, change them or drop 'e' Vowel and consonant suffixes. Spelling test The doubling rule, part 1. Spelling test The doubling rule, part 2. Spelling test The doubling rule, part 3. Spelling test When to drop the letter e. Spelling test The 'Change y' rule, part 1. Spelling test The 'Change y' rule, part 2. Spelling test Rules and rule breakers Changing -f to -ves. Spelling test A final Spelling test on all the suffix rules	▼
10	Spelling choices for /ar/ sound; ar, al or a? The most common spelling: ar Spelling test for ar words Longer ar words Spelling test: longer ar words rule breakers: the al and a spellings Spelling test: ar, al or a Homophones and some more rule breakers	▼
11	Spelling choices for /er/ sound: er, ir, ear or er Spelling choices: ur ir ear er Spelling test: ur ir ear er Longer /er/ words and the 'schwa' sound Spelling test: longer /er/ words wor words and rule breakers Homophones for /er/ words	▼
12	Spelling choices for /air/ sound: air, are or ear Spelling choices: air are ear Homophones for /air/ words Spelling test: air are ear Longer /air/ words Spelling test: longer /air/ words Odd words and rule breakers	▼
12H	A 'Beat the spellchecker!' test for words from Units 10, 11 and 12 Spelling test 1: Which word is correct? Spelling test 2: Spot the wrong word.	▼
13	Spelling choices for /oo/ sound: oo and ou Two sounds for oo: long /oo/ and short /oo/ Spelling test: Is the sound long or short? Spelling choices for long /oo/: oo ou ui Spelling test: oo ou ui More spelling choices for long /oo/: u-e ue ew Spelling test: u-e ue ew Rules and rule breakers Homophones	▼
13H	A 'Beat the spellchecker!' test for Unit 13 words Test 1: Which word is correct? Test 2: Spot the wrong word.	▼
14	Spelling choices for /or/ sound: or, ore, au, aw and war The most common spellings: or ore au aw Spelling test: or ore au aw Longer /or/ words Spelling test: longer /or/ words war words Spelling test: war words Homophones for or ore au aw	▼
14H	A 'Beat the spellchecker!' test for Unit 14 words Homophones for or ore au aw, part 1 Homophones for or ore au aw, part 2	▼
15	Spelling choices for /ou/ sound: ou or ow Spelling choices for /ou/: ou ow Spelling test: ou ow Longer /ou/ words Spelling test: longer /ou/ words Rules and rule breakers Homophones for sound /ou/	▼
16	Spelling choices for /oi/ sound: oi or oy Spelling choices for /oi/: oi oy Spelling test: oi oy Longer /oi/ words Spelling test: longer /oi/ words Rules and rule breakers for /oi/ words	▼
18	Irregular common words – common errors e.g. would, who, does Common words with odd spellings Homophones for common words Spelling test: Which word is correct? Spelling test: Spot the wrong word.	▼
Year 2
19	Soft g: ge, gi and gy words gue and gui words Spelling test: -ge -dge -age Spelling test: anagrams for ge gi gy words Spelling test: -ge endings + suffixes	▼
20	Soft c: ce, ci and cy words Introduction. Word endings: -ce -nce -rce -ice ce ci and cy words Spelling test: anagrams for ce ci cy words Tricky words: cc exc sc Spelling test: cc exc sc Adding suffixes to -ce endings. Spelling test Homophones Differences in British and American spelling	▼
20H	A 'Beat the spellchecker!' test for words from Unit 20 Differences in British and American spelling, part 1 Differences in British and American spelling, part 2	▼
22	Words with silent letters e.g. wrap, comb, sign, knight Introduction and learning tips Silent letters: k w b t Spelling test: k w b t Harder spelling test: k w b t Silent letters: l n h g Spelling test: l n h g Harder spelling test: l n h g Silent p; silent letters in common spelling patterns Spelling test: proof-reading. Homophones	▼
22H	A 'Beat the spellchecker!' test for words from Unit 22 Spelling test 1: Which word is correct? Spelling test 2: Spot the wrong word.	▼
26	Word endings: -le, and exceptions e.g. -al, -el, -ol Words ending in -le -al -el. -al as suffix. When to use -le: -ble -cle -kle -dle -fle -gle -ple -tle stle -zle Spelling test: -le endings Rules and rule breakers When to use -al and -el. Some -il words Spelling test: -le -al -el Homophones	▼
26H	A 'Beat the spellchecker!' test for words from Units 25 and 26 Spelling test 1: Which word is correct? Spelling test 2: Spot the wrong word.	▼
28	Word endings: -tion, -cian, -sion Syllables in -tion words. Spelling test. 3 ways of spelling the /sh'n/ sound: -tion -cian -sion Spelling test: -tion -cian -sion Another sound for the -sion ending. Spelling test Rules and rule breakers. Final Spelling test.	▼
34	Adding suffixes to longer words – double or not? Review: Suffix rules; Stressed syllables - Spelling test The suffixing rules for longer words. Spelling test More on these rules. Spelling test Rules and rule breakers: Words ending in l.	▼
Years 3-4
23	Prefixes: when letters need changing Introduction. Spelling test: Spot the prefix The meaning of prefixes. Spelling test Confusing prefixes e.g. per/pre anti/ante Spelling test: Choose the best prefix Rules for changing prefixes. Spelling test	▼
24	The weak 'schwa' sound: stress in words What is the schwa sound? Stressed and unstressed syllables. Spelling test. Learning tips for schwa words	▼
29	Word ending: -ous, -us Vowels before -ous: -eous -ious -uous words. Spelling test: -ous or -us? Spelling test: adding -ous. Final spelling test	▼
31	Word endings:-ture, -tain, -ine Introduction and Unit Contents. Words ending in -ture. Spelling test. 2 sounds for the -ain ending. Spelling test. 3 sounds for the -ine ending. Spelling test.	▼
32	Word endings: -et, -ot, -ate, -ite Introduction and Unit Contents. The /it/ sound spelled -et. Spelling test: -ot -et -it. Rules and rule breakers and Homophones. Spelling test: -ite words. Spelling test: -ite and -ate words.	▼
Years 5-6
17	ough and augh words Different sounds for ough. Spelling test. More ough words. Spelling test: rhymes ought and aught words Spelling test: ought and aught	▼
17H	A 'Beat the spellchecker!' test for words from Units 15, 17 Spelling test: ought and aught, part 1 Spelling test: ought and aught, part 2	▼
21	The i before e rule – does it work? Words that follow the best-known rule 'i before e except after c': ie and cei Spelling test: ie and cei Long /a/ sound: ei words. Spelling test. A new rule. Final spelling test Homophones	▼
21H	A 'Beat the spellchecker!' test for words from Unit 21 Homophones, part 1 Homophones, part 2	▼
25	Word endings: -er, -ar, -or, -our, -re, -a and -ery, 2 sounds for er ar or. Rules for word endings. Words ending in -er -ar -or. Learning tips. Spelling test: -er -ar -or endings. British & American differences: -our/-or -re/-er. Spelling test - British spelling: -our -re. Spelling test - American spelling: -or -er. Words ending in -ery -ary -ory. Spelling test - American spelling: -or -er. Words ending in -a. Homophones.	▼
27	Word endings: -able, -ible Spelling test: add the suffixes Common -able and -ible words Adding suffixes to -able and -ible words	▼
30	Words with ci and ti e.g. ancient, special, initial, gracious Word endings -cial and -tial. Spelling test: -cial and -tial. Word endings -cious and -tious. Spelling test: -cious and -tious. Rules and rule breakers and homophones.	▼
33	Word endings: -ant, -ent, -ance, -ence Introduction and learning tips for word ending in -ant and -ent Some common -ant and -ent words Spelling test: -ant or -ent? Some common -ance and -ence words Word endings -ancy and -ency Spelling test: -ance -ence -ancy -ency Homophones	▼
33H	A 'Beat the spellchecker!' test for words from Units 30 to 33 Spelling test 1: Which word is correct? Spelling test 2: Spot the wrong word.	▼
35	A brief history of English spellings Introduction and quiz. History of English spelling: the early years. Quiz History of English spelling: the later years. Recent additions. Word origins. Spelling proper nouns. Brand names. What does the future hold for English spelling?	▼
36	British / American spelling differences Summary of the main differences Detailed lists of differences Spelling test: British spellings Spelling test: American spellings Spelling test: Pick the correct spelling	▼

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Spelling Course

Starter Course

Main Course

Mapped to the National Curriculum in England

Year 1

Year 2

Years 3-4

Years 5-6

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1	CVC words with a or i CVC words with the vowel a CVC words with the vowel i CVC revision words with the vowels a and i CVC a and i words + s	▼
2	CVC words with with e, o or u CVC words with the vowel e CVC words with the vowel o CVC revision words with the vowels e and o CVC e and o words + s CVC words with the vowel u CVC words with the vowel u	▼
3	CVC words revision and harder words CVC revision words with difficult consonants - set 1 CVC revision words with difficult consonants - set 2 CVC words with the consonants x and z CVC revision words + s	▼
4	Final consonant blends Final consonant blends - set 1 Final consonant blends - set 2 Final consonant blends and harder consonants - set 1 Final consonant blends and harder consonants - set 2 Final consonant blends - set 3 Final consonant blends - set 4 Final consonant blends - set 5 Final consonant blends + s	▼
5	Initial consonant blends Initial consonant blends - set 1 Initial consonant blends - set 2 Initial consonant blends - set 3 Initial consonant blends - set 5 Initial consonant blends + s	▼
6	Initial and final consonant blends Initial and final blends - set 1 Initial and final blends - set 2 Initial and final blends and harder consonants Initial and final blends and harder consonants	▼
7	2 syllable words and harder consonants 2 syllable words 2 syllable words 2 syllable words	▼
8	Tricky and common words Tricky words Common words	▼