Phonics Patterns

Word Meanings in a /j/ Lesson

Bilingual reading specialist and speech pathologist Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan works with Emilio, a third grader at Kenwood Montessori School in Brownsville, Texas, on producing the /j/ sound and spelling it with the letter ‘g’, pointing out the similarities and differences between Spanish and English. She uses various strategies including introducing new vocabulary words, having Emilio read and write words and sentences as he practices the new spelling patterns, and introducing cognates — words that share a similar spelling, meaning, and pronunciation in two languages.

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Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan: Today you're going to learn a new sound in the English language. All right? And we're going to play with the sounds. All right. So I want you to say this word after me. Say beanie.

Emilio: Beanie.

Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan: Very good. Now I want you to change the first sound. Just listen. Can you change it to /j/?

Emilio: "Genie."

Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan: Let's say the next word. Say kim.

Emilio: Kim.

Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan: Can you change the sound /k/ to /j/?

Emilio: Gym.

Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan: Gym. So I can work out at your school gym? Can you tell me a sentence with "gym" for your school?

Emilio: Can I go to the gym?

Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan: Can I go to the gym? That was an excellent sentence. My goodness. Can you say the word bell?

Emilio: Bell.

Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan: Can you change the /b/ to /j/?

Emilio: Gel.

Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan: What did you put in your hair this morning?

Emilio: Gel.

Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan: Gel. En español es gel ¿verdad?