3.2 Explicitly Teaching the '-dge' Spelling Rule

We have already learned that the letter 'j' makes the /j/ sound. Let's read this sound together.

Today, we are going to learn another way to spell the /j/ sound!

This is a badge.

The sounds in badge are /b/, /a/. /j/.

The /j/ sound in badge is spelled 'd', 'g', 'e'. When we see '-dge' together we read it /j/.

Repeat after me 'd', 'g', 'e', badge, /j/.

Now let's read some words with '-dge.'

Reading the words with '-dge' is the easy part! Now let's talk about spelling. To help us decide when to spell with '-dge', we have a chant: Immediately after a short vowel, at the end of a one-syllable word, spell /j/ … 'd', 'g', 'e'!

That means if I am spelling a word and I hear a short vowel sound with a /j/ right after it at the end of the word, I spell the /j/ sound with '-dge.'

Let's look at the first word again. What does it say? [dodge]

Let's see why it's spelled with '-dge'.

The vowel in this word is 'o'. Is the 'o' closed in? [yes]

So, what will the 'o' say? [/ŏ/]

So, if I have /d/, /ŏ/, /j/, the /j/ sound is immediately after a short vowel so I have to spell /j/ with '-dge.'

Now let's spell a word together! The word is judge. Let's tap the sounds in judge, /j/, /u/, /j/.

The last sound here is /j/. It's at the end of the word and it's after a short vowel. So, let's spell it with '-dge'.

What are the two ways we have learned that you can represent the /j/ sound? [Students should say 'j' and '-dge'.] 

Let's review the rule for when we use '-dge'. Immediately after a short vowel, at the end of a one-syllable word, spell /j/ … 'd', 'g', 'e'! 

So we know that if we hear a short vowel and then there is a /j/ after it we use '-dge'. But what if we hear /j/ at the end of a word and it isn't after a short vowel? We have to learn another way to represent the /j/ sound.

This word is page. The sounds are /p/, /ā/, /j/. 

What vowel sound do you hear in the word page? [Students should say /ā/.] 

Yes, and in the word page what sound do you hear after the long 'a' sound? [Students should say /j/.] 

So we hear /j/ at the end but it is not after a short vowel sound. It is after a long vowel sound. That means we can't use '-dge'. The other way we are going to spell /j/ at the end of a word is with '-ge'.

'-ge' says /j/ after a long vowel sound or after a consonant at the end of a word.

This word is large. The sounds are /l/, /ar/, /j/. Is /ar/ a short vowel sound? [Students should say no.] 

So I hear /j/ at the end of the word but it is not after a short vowel. It is after the /ar/ sound, which is spelled 'ar'. So I have to use '-ge' to spell /j/ because the /j/ is coming after a consonant.

Dictation Sheet (Grades 1-5)

Phrase and Sentence Dictation Sheet (Grades 1-5)

Split dictation sheet from the -dge vs. -ge lesson