3.2 Explicitly Teach Spelling with 'c' vs. 'k'

Now it’s time to teach! 

When you're ready, we hope you'll consider using our full lesson plans for teaching 'c' vs. 'k', which are available in our lesson plan section. 

Here are the steps for introducing students to 'c' vs. 'k' when they're spelling words that have a vowel sound right after the /k/ sound, such as cup. 

To begin the lesson, remind students that they have learned about two ways to represent the /k/ sound. In order to know which letter to use when spelling, we have to learn a rule. Show students the 'c' and the 'k' flash cards.

Say,

We have learned that 'c' and 'k' can both say /k/. It is easy for us to read those sounds now, but when we try to spell that sound, it's hard to know when to write a 'c' and when to write a 'k'. We're going to learn how to make that decision during spelling.

Point to the picture of the 'c'. Say,

'C' is a curvy letter.

'C' likes to look at curvy vowels in words and say /k/.

Curvy 'c' looks at curvy 'a', curvy 'o', and curvy 'u'.

Draw the below image on the board (or print (opens in new window) and post it).

Show students that when we write the letters 'a', 'o', and 'u', we start each with a curve. The same is true for the 'c'. Explain that this helps us remember that a word is spelled with a 'c' if it’s followed by 'a', 'o', or 'u', like in the word cap or cot.

Have students repeat, "Curvy 'c' looks at curvy 'a', curvy 'o', and curvy 'u'." 

Once students have this saying down, you can move on to the second part of this rule.

Say,

Now let’s look at 'k'.

'K' is a straight letter.

'K' likes to look at straight vowels.

Straight 'k' looks at straight 'e' and straight 'i'.

If you have already taught 'y' as a vowel, you can also include that straight 'k' looks at straight 'y'.

Draw the below image on the board (or print (opens in new window) and post it).

Show students that when we write the lowercase letters for 'e' and 'i', each one starts with a straight line. (As your students may point out, 'e' is both curvy and straight. However, it goes with straight 'k' because when we write it we start with a straight line.) Explain that 'k' starts with a straight line as well. This helps us remember that a word is spelled with a 'k' if it’s followed by 'e' or 'i', like in the word kept.

Have students repeat, "Straight 'k' looks at straight 'e' and straight 'i'." (Again, include 'y' as well if students have learned about 'y' as a vowel.)

Next, you will want to show students how these rules are used for spelling. For example, you can put the following on the board.

Point to the first example,           ap, and say,

If I was trying to spell the word cap, I hear /c/, /ă/, /p/. I have to decide if I spell it with a 'c' or with a 'k'. Let’s look and see what comes after the /k/. I hear /ă/ and it is an 'a'. Look at the board. Which /k/ sound looks at curvy 'a'? Yes! Curvy 'c' looks at curvy 'a'.

Next, point to the second example,           id.

Now, if I was trying to spell the word kid, I hear /k/, /ĭ/, /d/. I have to decide if I spell it with a 'c' or with a 'k'. Let's look and see what comes after the /k/. I hear /ĭ/ and it is an 'i'. Look at the board. Which /k/ sound looks at straight 'i'? Yes! Straight 'k' looks at straight 'i'.

After explicitly introducing students to this 'c' vs. ‘k’ spelling pattern and doing some examples together, you’ll want to move into dictation. Asking students to practice spelling words is the best way to get them practicing this spelling pattern, so you’ll spend most of your lesson time on this.

Be sure to use our 'c' vs. 'k' word lists (opens in new window) to select words for dictation.

When your students know about blends and are ready to learn the second rule for 'c' vs. 'k', you will follow similar steps.

Here are the mnemonics you will use when teaching how to spell /k/ in blends.

Tell your students,

In a blend, 'c' looks at another consonant. That means you should use 'c' when the /k/ sound is in a blend followed by a consonant, like in the words clap and fact.

Draw the below image on the board (or print (opens in new window) and post it).

And here’s the second part of the rule.

Say,

In an ending blend, 'k' looks at nothing! That means you should use a 'k' when the /k/ sound is in a blend and is the last letter in the word, like in mask, milk, and pink.

Draw the below image on the board (or print (opens in new window) and post it).

Next you'll want to practice some examples with blends on the board. Then you'll move into dictation. See the full lesson plan for teaching spelling with 'c' vs. 'k' in blends (opens in new window).