Prepare for Instruction on the '-dge' Spelling Rule

Before you teach the new skill, you'll need to do a few things to get ready:

Print the '-dge' flash card to introduce the spelling rule to your students and add the card to your flash card deck.
Review the spelling rule using the student-friendly chant to help you remember all of the parts. "Immediately after a short vowel, at the end of a one-syllable word, spell /j/ … 'd', 'g', 'e'!" It might be helpful to write the chant on the back of your flash card to help you recite it with your students.
Review the '-dge' word list (opens in new window) (opens in new window) and write examples of '-dge' words on the back of your flash card. It's helpful to have examples of '-dge' words readily available for your students.

Selecting Words for Your '-dge' Lessons

Word selection is key! As you prepare for instruction, it is important to be intentional about the words you choose for your daily dictation lessons. Students should have plenty of practice reading and spelling words with the current skill. Here are some tips for selecting words for your '-dge' dictation:

After students have had lots of practice with '-dge,' select words where the /j/ sound at the end of the word is spelled '-ge, like rage and charge.
Using the phonics continuum as a guide, select words with patterns or skills taught prior to '-dge' to reinforce what students have already learned.
Select '-dge' words that may be unfamiliar to students, like hedge or nudge, or that have multiple meanings, like bridge or lodge, to deepen students' understanding of language and build vocabulary.
As students become more comfortable with spelling words that follow the '-dge' spelling rule, use phrases and sentences in your dictation to add rigor to your lesson.

Examples of words you can select for dictation throughout the week

Day 1: Give students lots of practice with '-dge' words, including words with previously learned skills.	Day 2: Be sure to include unknown vocabulary and words with multiple meanings.	Day 3: Introduce phrases with '-dge' words.	Day 4: Practice deciding between spelling with '-dge' and '-ge'.	Day 5: Include skills that your students have practiced throughout the week and skills they have not yet mastered.
1. badge	1. edge	1. edge of a ledge	1. sledge	1. badge
2. lodge	2. judge	2. dodge the ball	2. charge	2. which
3. trudge	3. smock	3. a gold badge	3. age	3. brass
4. ridge	4. nudge	4. dredge it up	4. cringe	4. trick
5. quack	5. dredge	5. ate the fudge	5. wedge	5. grudge
6. fudge	6. dwell		6. sage	6. shuck
7. track	7. bridge		7. bulge	7. in the lodge
8. hedge	8. mock		8. verge	8. page of text
9. press	9. pledge		9. twinge	9. over the bridge
10. smudge	10. grudge			10. made a pledge

'-dge' and '-ge': List of Words, Phrases, and Sentences for Lesson Planning

Use this list of words, phrases, and sentences to help you plan reading, spelling, and fluency lessons and activities for the '-dge' spelling rule.

If you've already introduced multisyllable words or prefixes and suffixes, feel free to include these words in your lessons as well. Also, be sure to discuss word meanings along the way!

Gather the Materials You Will Need

Here are some other materials you might need for your lessons:

Use the '-dge' flash card with the picture to introduce the new pattern. As students learn to read and apply the sound for '-dge', you can replace the '-dge' picture card in your flash card deck with the '-dge' card without the picture.

'-dge' Flash Card with Picture

Use this 5x7 flash card to introduce the '-dge' spelling rule. Add the card to your flash card deck to practice the '-dge' rule during your warm-up.

'-dge' Flash Card without Picture

Use this 5x7 flash card without a picture and add it to your flash card deck to practice the '-dge' spelling rule during your warm-up.

Use Flash Card Deck — All Letters and Sounds during your warm-up to have students practice any letter sounds they're still mastering. You can also use the flash cards without pictures to build words during your lesson.

Daily dictation can help students with listening skills, auditory memory, reading and spelling skills, language, and handwriting. Since '-dge' is a spelling rule, you'll focus on spelling during this lesson.

Dictation Sheet (Grades 1-5)

Use this sheet to dictate spelling sounds, words, phrases, and sentences using phonics patterns that students have learned.

Phrase and Sentence Dictation Sheet (Grades 1-5)

Use this advanced dictation sheet to dictate multisyllabic words, phrases, and complex sentences using the phonics pattern that students have learned.

3.1 Prepare for Instruction on the '-dge' Spelling Rule

'-dge' Spelling Rule Skill Explainer