Skill Explainer
1. Overview of the FLoSS(Z) Spelling Rule
FLoSS(Z) Spelling Rule Skill Explainer
Quick Look: A Chant for the FLoSS(Z) Rule
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whole class: FLoSS(Z) Rule! Immediately after a short vowel, at the end of a one-syllable word, we double 'f', 'l', 's', or 'z'. Yippee!
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Note: FLoSS(Z) (pronounced floss) is a mnemonic device to help students remember which consonants to double: ‘f’, ‘l’, ‘s’, and ‘z’.
Exception to the Rule
Though the FLoSS(Z) rule is generally consistent, there are a few exceptions to the rule:
Words that should follow the FLoSS(Z) pattern but do not: chef, if, gal, pal, bus, gas, us, this, yes, quiz
Words that should double ‘s’ but do not because the ‘s’ is making the sound of a ‘z’: has, is, was
Words that double consonants other than ‘f’, ‘l’, ‘s’, or ‘z’: add, egg, mitt, putt
You can teach these words as irregularly spelled words or rule breakers.
Though the FLoSS(Z) rule is generally consistent, there are a few exceptions to the rule:
Words that should follow the FLoSS(Z) pattern but do not: chef, if, gal, pal, bus, gas, us, this, yes, quiz
Words that should double ‘s’ but do not because the ‘s’ is making the sound of a ‘z’: has, is, was
Words that double consonants other than ‘f’, ‘l’, ‘s’, or ‘z’: add, egg, mitt, putt
You can teach these words as irregularly spelled words or rule breakers.
