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

As you prepare for instruction, it is important to be intentional about the words you choose for your daily phonics and small-group lessons. Students should have plenty of practice reading and spelling words with the current skill. After students have had lots of practice with '-tch', you can then introduce words where the /ch/ sound at the end of the word is spelled 'ch', like branch and torch.

When choosing words, it is also helpful to select words with previously taught patterns or spelling rules to reinforce what students have already learned. If you are using our phonics continuum as a guide, you can choose words with any of the patterns or skills taught prior to '-tch' in your lessons. That includes blends, digraphs, r-controlled vowels, and vowel teams. Incorporating a cumulative review of skills ensures that students continue to practice and strengthen their understanding of what they have learned.

As you decide on words, you should try to select '-tch' words that your students might not be familiar with, like latch or notch, or words that have multiple meanings, like clutch or match. Having discussions with your students about these words and their meanings during your phonics instruction can help deepen their understanding of language and strengthen their vocabulary.

Below you'll see an example of how the types of words you'll use for dictation, or spelling practice, might change over a week. 

Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Give students lots of practice with '-tch' words, including words with previously mastered skills.	Introduce phrases with '-tch' words.	Introduce the WoRMS rulebreakers.	Give students continued practice deciding between spelling with '-tch' and 'ch'.	Include skills that your students have practiced throughout the week and skills that your students have not yet mastered.
1. batch	1. had a crutch	1. which	1. latch	1. blotch
2. notch	2. botch the job	2. match	2. march	2. which
3. sketch	3. stuck in a ditch	3. rich	3. inch	3. chill
4. etch	4. patch it	4. clutch	4. clench	4. trick
5. chick	5. snatch the shell	5. will	5. switch	5. patch
6. pitch		6. much	6. branch	6. such
7. track		7. ditch	7. mulch	7. will hatch
8. stretch		8. such	8. perch	8. do not scratch
9. shell		9. cross	9. catch	9. red and black clutch
10. hutch		10. park	10. splotch	10. fetch the ball

'-tch' and '-ch': 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 '-tch' spelling rule.

-tch Flash Card with and without Picture

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

Dictation Sheet (Kindergarten Level)

Use this sheet to practice handwriting and to dictate sounds, words, phrases, and sentences using phonics patterns students have learned. The image of the roller coaster serves as a visual aid to help students segment sounds in consonant-vowel-consonant words before they write.

Dictation Sheet (Grades 1-5)

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