5. Videos: See Spelling with 'c' vs 'k' in the Classroom

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Ashton Smith: We are going to do our deck. Are you ready?

Students: Yes. 'e', Ed, /ĕ/ ...

Ashton Smith: Lemme hear it.

Students: /ĕ/ ...

Narrator: As these kindergartners write more and more, they'll often have to decide how to spell the /k/ sound as in cat and kite. Should it be a 'c' or a 'k'? Today, teacher Ashton Smith is reviewing a simple and memorable way for them to make that decision.

Ms. Smith and students: 'c', cat, /k/ ... 'k', kite, /k/ ... /k/, /k/, /k/ ...

Ashton Smith: Do they make the same sound?

Students: Yeah.

Ashton Smith: Right. Okay. So how do we know when to use it? Let's see. Curvy 'c' goes with ...

Ms. Smith and students: ... curvy 'a', curvy 'o', curvy 'u'.

Ashton Smith: And straight 'k' goes with ...

Ms. Smith and students: ... straight 'i', straight 'e', straight 'y' ...

Ashton Smith: Very nice, very nice.

Narrator: To help it stick, Ms. Smith combines repetition with a visual.

Ashton Smith: All right. We know that curvy 'c' goes with ...

Students: ... curvy 'a', curvy 'o', curvy 'u' ...

Ashton Smith: Very good. Straight 'k' goes with ...

Students: ... straight 'i', straight 'e', straight 'y' ...

Narrator: Now it's time to put the rule into practice.

Ashton Smith: All right. I'm going to write some words on the board. I want you to raise your hand and tell me what letters we're going to use. Okay, my first word is cup. Let's tap it ...

Ms. Smith and students: /k/, /ŭ/, /p/ ...

Ashton Smith: With a quiet hand, who can tell me where is my /k/ sound? Quinson, is it the beginning of the word or the end of the word?

Quinson: Beginning of the word.

Ashton Smith: The beginning of the word. So we need to look at our vowel. What's our vowel sound?

Ms. Smith and students: /ŭ/ ...

Ashton Smith: Is it a short vowel? Is it a short vowel?

Students: Yes.

Ashton Smith: So Noah, what letter do I need to put for ...

Noah: 'c' ...

Narrator: 'c' ... Kiss your brain. My last word is kit. Let's tap it.

Ms. Smith and students: /k/, /ĭ/, /t/ ... kit ...

Ashton Smith: All right. What is my vowel? Everybody tell me my vowel. What's my vowel?

Students: /ĭ/ ...

Ashton Smith: /ĭ/ ... Is it a short vowel or a long vowel?

Students: Short.

Narrator: Short. All right. Who can tell me what I use for my /k/ sound? Hugo ...

Hugo: 'k' ...

Narrator: 'k' ... Why did you pick 'k'?

Hugo: Because 'k' goes with straight 'i', straight 'e', straight 'y' ...

Ashton Smith: Yes. Very good.

Narrator: Reading Universe is made possible by generous support from Jim & Donna Barksdale, the Hastings/Quillen 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.