3.2 Explicitly Teaching the FLoSS(Z) Spelling Rule
FLoSS(Z) Spelling Rule Skill Explainer
We've already learned that a closed syllable contains one vowel followed by at least one consonant, which makes the vowel say its short sound.
Today we’re going to learn how to read and write closed-syllable words that have a double consonant at the end of the word. Double means two of something.
When you have a short vowel, one-syllable word that ends with the letters ‘f’, ‘l’, ‘s’, or ‘z’, you will double the final consonant in the word.
We call this rule the FLoSS(Z) rule [pronounced floss] because when you put these consonants together, it looks like the word floss.
The flash card shows the four FLoSS(Z) consonants that we double for this new rule.
When we see two of the same consonants together or double consonants, we read it as one sound. For example, when we see the ‘-ff’ (point to ‘-ff’ on the flash card), we say /f/.
Now let’s talk about spelling. To help us remember when to double the final consonant, we have a chant: Immediately after a short vowel, at the end of a one-syllable word, we double ‘f’, ‘l’, ‘s’, and ‘z’ ... yipee!
That means if I am spelling a word and I hear a short vowel with one of /f/, /l/, /s/, or /z/ after it at the end of the word, I need to double the final consonant.
Let’s look at the first word again. What does it say? [puff]
Let’s talk about why it's spelled with ‘-ff’.
The vowel in the word is ‘u’. Is the ‘u’ closed in? [yes]
So, what will the ‘u’ say? [/ŭ/]
So, if I have /p/, /ŭ/, /f/, the /f/ sound is immediately after a short vowel, so I have to spell /f/ with ‘-ff’.
Now let’s spell a word together! The word is boss. Let’s tap the sounds in boss, /b/, /ŏ/, /s/.
The last sound here is /s/, which is one of our FLoSS(Z) consonants. It is at the end of the word and it’s after a short vowel. So, let’s spell it ‘-ss’.
Dictation Sheet (Grades 1-5)
