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'-dge' Spelling Rule Skill Explainer

Flash Card Demo: The '-dge' Rule

Where a sound falls in a word can help students figure out how to spell it. When the /j/ sound is heard after a short vowel at the end of a one-syllable word, it is spelled with '-dge'. Watch as literacy coach Elizabeth Hogan, M.Ed., models how to incorporate this card — and the chant for the '-dge' rule — into your flash card routine to help this spelling pattern stick.

Here's what you can say when warming up with this flash card that has the keyword picture:

'dge' - 'd', 'g', 'e', badge , /j/.

Video thumbnail for Flash Card Demo: The '-dge' Rule — Produced by Reading Universe, a partnership of WETA, Barksdale Reading Institute, and First Book

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[music]

This is how we warm up the short vowel rule '-dge' flashcard.

'dge', badge, /j/.

The chant is — "Immediately after a short vowel at the end of a one-syllable word, we spell /j/ 'd-g-e'. Wee!"

[music]

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Support Materials

'-dge' Flash Cards

Print these letter flash cards with pictures to help students practice '-dge'.

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'-ge' Flash Card

Use this flash card to teach '-ge'.

Download Flash Card

Reading Universe is made possible by generous support from Jim & Donna Barksdale; the Hastings/Quillin Fund, an advised fund of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation (opens in new window); the AFT (opens in new window); the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation (opens in new window); and several anonymous donors.

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