‘-ck’ Spelling Rule Skill Explainer

A Listening Game for the '-ck' Spelling Pattern

A listening game (aka a phonemic awareness activity) is an important part of a structured literacy lesson because it gives students a chance to focus on the sounds they need in order to read and spell a new phonics pattern. Watch Ashton Smith’s kindergarten students listen to and identify short vowel sounds in words like duck and sick. It’s a foundational skill they’ll need when Ms. Smith teaches them the ‘-ck’ spelling rule.

Learn more about how to use listening games in the classroom (opens in new window) with reading coach Carla Stanford.

For more on how to teach these skills, check out Reading Universe’s free skill explainer on short vowels and the '-ck’ spelling rule.

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Ashton Smith: We are going to do some listening games. I want you to give me the vowel sound. The what?

Students: The vowel sound.

Ashton Smith: And our vowels are ...

together: A-E-I-O-U.

Narrator: Listening games aren't just a fun way to get students engaged at the start of a lesson. They also strengthen the skills that make reading and spelling possible, hearing and identifying the different sounds in a word, or phonemic awareness.

Ashton Smith: All right, your first word is duck. What's step it? /d/ ...

Students: /ŭ/, /k/.

Ashton Smith: What's our vowel sound?

Students: /ŭ/.

Ashton Smith: All right. Your next word is pack.

Narrator: Kindergarten teacher Ashton Smith designed her listening game to put the spotlight on short vowel sounds. That's because today's lesson introduces the '-ck' rule, a spelling pattern that only follows short vowels like in duck and pack.

Ashton Smith: What's our vowel sound?

Students: /ă/.

Ashton Smith: What vowel says /ă/?

Students: 'A'!

Ashton Smith: Give me ... clock. /k/, /l/ ...

Students: /ŏ/, /k/.

Ashton Smith: What's our vowel sound?

Students: /ŏ/.

Ashton Smith: /ŏ/. Yeah. Which vowel says /ŏ/?

Students: 'O'!

Ashton Smith: Your next word is sick. /s/ ...

Students: /ĭ/, /k/.

Ashton Smith: What's our vowel sound?

Students: /ĭ/.

Ashton Smith: /ĭ/. What vowel says /ĭ/?

Students: 'I'!

Ashton Smith: Very good

Narrator: Reading Universe is made possible by generous support from Jim and Donna Barksdale, the Hastings/Quillin Fund, an advised fund of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, the AFT, the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, and anonymous donors. Special thanks to Hope Hill Elementary, Reading Is Essential for All People, and Atlanta Public Schools. If you enjoyed this video, please subscribe to our YouTube channel @RUteaching. Reading Universe is a service of WETA, Washington D.C., the Barksdale Reading Institute, and First Book.

Ashton Smith: My name is Ashton Smith, and this is Reading Universe.