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Unit 8: Syllables: vowel and consonant patterns

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Unit 8: Syllables: how to divide words

Unit StartCourse Test: What are syllables? Spelling testPage 2: What are syllables? Spelling testCourse Test: Vowel and consonant patterns. Spelling testPage 4: Vowel and consonant patterns. Spelling testPage 5: More vowel and consonant patternsCourse Test: Spelling test: One consonant or two?Page 7: Spelling test: One consonant or two?Page 8: Rules and rule breakers and a trivia quizUnit End

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Syllables: vowel and consonant patterns


The usual rule is simple: every syllable contains a vowel.

Sometimes, that vowel sound is spelled with just one letter:

dentist lazy upon volcano America

Sometimes, it is spelled with more than one letter:

teaching lightest statue swallow cloakroom

Rule Breakers - these words break spelling rules

Now, you know what’s coming next!

A few words break the rule and the syllables are created by consonants.
For example:
  Sometimes the letter m on the end of a word forms a syllable on its own:
rhythm Most rock music has strong rhythm.
chasm A chasm is a wide gap.
spasm A spasm is a sudden, uncontrolled movement.

  These words all have the suffix -ism which has two syllables. It can mean an action, a system, a principle, a medical condition:
ageism Ageism: bias against older people.
alcoholism Alcoholism: an addiction to alcohol.
Buddhism Buddhism: the beliefs of Buddhists.
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The Spellzone interactive course is intended to be used online and may not be printed.

One of the students has put in a huge amount of effort in completing Spellzone at least 3 times a week since his arrival with us in January. Looking at his scores after the latest GL testing, his standardised score has risen from 99 to 131. This is a truly phenomenal result. I just wanted to share the best result I have ever seen.

Terrie Penrose-Toms, Casterton College

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