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Abstracting: Teaching a Friend Spelling Rules

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Abstracting: Teaching a Friend Spelling Rules

In this lesson, you will read a story that presents a problem. You will use the spelling skills that you've practiced so far, as well as abstracting, to solve the problem.

Abstracting: Teaching a Friend Spelling Rules

You sit next to a student, Georgio, who has just moved to the United States from Houduras. Georgio speaks English very well, but he's having trouble mastering spelling rules.

Here is an example of Georgio's writing:

"I greive for the country that i left. I miss my home on the coast where the averaje temperature is about 85 degrees. However, my nasion is very poor. I no I will have a better life here even though I am defishint in English."

You offer to help Georgio by teaching him some spelling rules.

You decided to use abstracting as a process for helping Georgio apply the spelling rules.

Abstracting: Teaching a Friend Spelling Rules

Abstracting is a process of identifying general information about a situation and then finding a new situation where you can apply the same kind of information.

Here is an example of abstracting:

1. In general terms, you tell your friend about the plot of a movie you have seen.

2. Your friend replies that the book he is reading has the same plot.

Your friend is applying your general information to a new situation. He is abstracting.

Abstracting: Teaching a Friend Spelling Rules

You must be very careful when you use abstracting. Do not make false generalizations. It is sometimes easy to apply a general statement to a new situation where the general statement doesn't fit.

Abstracting can be used to help you learn about spelling rules. To do so, follow three simple steps:

Identify a situation and see what information is important in the situation.

To use abstracting with spelling, look at the words "eighty" and "sleigh." Notice two facts:

1. Both words are pronounced with the long "a" sound.
2. In both words, "e" comes before "i."

Abstracting: Teaching a Friend Spelling Rules

Write a general statement to describe the basic information.

Consider the words "eighty" and "sleigh" again. Make a general statement:

When the letters "e" and "i" are together and they form a long "a" sound, the "e" comes before the "i."

Apply the general information to a new situation.

The words "veil," "weight," and "regin" are pronounced with a long "a" sound. You remember that "e" comes before "i" spelling these words also.

Abstracting: Teaching a Friend Spelling Rules

Situation (Step 1):
The words "vein" and "eight" are pronounced with a long "a" sound. Notice these words are spelled with the "e" before the "i."

General Statement (Step 2):
When the letters "e" and "i" are together and they form a long "a" sound, the "e" comes before the "i."

Now you are ready for Step 3. Apply the general information to a new situation. Click on the word below that is pronounced with a long "a" sound because of its spelling.

deficit

neighbor

diet

Sample Question

"Deficit" does not have the "ei" combination. Try again.

"Neighbor" is pronounced with a long "a" sound and uses the "ei" combination.

"Diet" does not have the "ei" combination. Try again.

Look for the word that used the "ei" vowel combination.

Abstracting: Teaching a Friend Spelling Rules

Here is another example of abstracting.

Situation: The word "phonics" beings with the letters "ph" and is pronounced with an "f" sound. It is pronounced "fonics." The words "phase" and "phonograph" also begin with letters "ph" and are pronounced with an "f" sound.

General Statement: Words containing the "ph" combination are pronounced with an "f" sound.

New Situation: You encounter the word "telephoto." You expect the word to be pronounced "telefoto."

Notice that in "telephoto" you have applied the general statement to include the "ph" combination in a new position. It is in the middle of a word, not the beginning. This works with telephoto, but you should be very careful when applying general statements.

Abstracting: Teaching a Friend Spelling Rules

Notice how abstracting applies to this spelling rule.

Situation: You are helping Georgio with the words "game," "lame," "fame." You point out the "e" is not pronounced. It is called a silent "e."

General Statement: An "e" at the end of a word is silent following a long vowel sound.

New Situation: You give Georgio more words ending in "e":

"Gate" is pronounced "gat" with a long "a" sound but is spelled with an "e" at the end.

"File" is pronounced "fil" with a long "i" sound but is spelled with an "e" at the end.

Abstracting: Teaching a Friend Spelling Rules

Situation:
Both "deceive" and "believe" are pronounced with a long "e" sound. One is spelled with "e" before "i" and the other with "i" before "e."

General Statement:
Use "i" before "e" except after "c" when the "i" and "e" form a long "e" sound.

Now you are ready for Step 3. Apply the general statement to a new situation. Click on the pair of words that shows a correct application of the general statement above.

eight and piece

niece and deceit

Sample Question

These words are spelled correctly, but "eight" is not pronounced with a long "e" sound. Try again.

These words are pronounced with a long "e" sound. "Deceit" is spelled with "e" before "i" because the "ei" combination follows a "c."

Listen for the long "e" sound as you pronounce each word. Then check for the correct spelling for each word.

Abstracting: Teaching a Friend Spelling Rules

These are the three steps in abstracting:

1. Identify a situation and see what information is important in the situation.

2. Write a general statement to describe the basic information.

3. Apply the general information to a new situation.

Use the scroll bar to review any of these steps or the opening story.

Abstracting: Teaching a Friend Spelling Rules

I greive for the country that I left. I miss my home on the coast where the averaje temperature is about 85 degrees.

Georgio wrote the sentences above. Click on the spelling errors you can identify in his sentences. Then click Check.

greive

Question 1 of 10

Yes. Grieve should be spelled with "i" before "e."

This should be marked. Grieve should be spelled with "i" before "e."

No. "Country" is spelled correctly.

No. "That" is spelled correctly.

No. "Left" is spelled correctly.

Yes. Average has a "j" sound but is spelled with a "g."

This should be marked. Average has a "j" sound but is spelled with a "g."

No. "Coast" is spelled correctly.

Georgio has trouble spelling words with "ie" and "ei" combinations and with the "j" sound when it is represented by a different consonant.

That's not right. Try again.

Part of your answer is correct. Try again.

That's not right. Click on the Next button to see each answer.

These words are not spelled correctly. They should be "grieve" and "average."

Click on the Go On button when ready.

Abstracting: Teaching a Friend Spelling Rules

You teach Georgio that "piece" and "grieve" are both spelled with the "i" before "e." "Deceive" and "ceiling" are spelled with "e" before "i." Now you are ready for Step 2. Look at the information you just taught Georgio. Click on the general statement that describes this information.

Use "i" before "e" except after "c" when the "i" and "e" form a short "e" sound.

Use "i" before "e" when the "i" and "e" form a long "a" sound.

Use "i" before "e" except after "c" when the "i" and "e" form a long "e" sound.

Use "i" before "e" when the "i" and "e" form a short "a" sound.

Question 2 of 10

Words that have a short "e" sound do not use "i" before "e." Try again.

Words that have a long "a" sound do not use "i" before "e." They use "e" before "i." Try again.

For words that have a long "e" sound, use "i" before "e" unless they follow a "c."

Words that have a short "a" sound do not use "i" before "e." Try again.

Focus on the order of the "i" and "e" combination and the way these words are pronounced.

Abstracting: Teaching a Friend Spelling Rules

Georgio formed the general statement below. Help him apply this general statement to another situation. Click on each word that applies to the general statement. Then click Check.

Use "i" before "e" except after "c" when the "i" and "e" form a long "e" sound.

Question 3 of 10

No. "Freight" is pronounced with a long "a" sound.

Yes. "Niece" is pronounced with a long "e" sound and spelled with "i" before "e."

This should be marked. "Niece" is pronounced with a long "e" sound and spelled with "i" before "e."

Yes. "Chief" is pronounced with a long "e" sound and spelled with "i" before "e."

This should be marked. "Chief" is pronounced with a long "e" sound and spelled with "i" before "e."

No. "Diet" is pronounced as two syllables with a long "i" sound.

Yes. "Shield" is pronounced with a long "e" sound and spelled with "i" before "e."

This should be marked. "Shield" is pronounced with a long "e" sound and spelled with "i" before "e."

Yes. "Receive is pronounced with a long "e" sound, but "e" comes before "i" because they follow a "c."

This should be marked. "Receive is pronounced with a long "e" sound, but "e" comes before "i" because they follow a "c."

Pronounce the words to yourself and listen for the long "e" sound. Do these words have "i" before "e" except after "c"?

That's not right. Try again.

Part of your answer is correct. Try again.

That's not right. Click on the Next button to see each answer.

These are all pronounced with a long "e" sound. "Niece," "chief," and "shield" use "i" before the "e." In "receive" the "e" goes before the "i" because these letters follow "c."

Click on the Go On button when ready.

Abstracting: Teaching a Friend Spelling Rules

You begin with Step 1 and teach Georgio the following information: "Average" is pronounced with a "j" sound but is spelled with a "g." Now you are ready for Step 2. Form a general statement from the information. Click on the general statement that describes this information.

The letter "g" in a word is always pronounced with a hard "g" sound as in "game."

The letter "g" with a "j" sound always has the letter "i" before it.

The "j" sound can also be represented by a "g."

The letter "g" in any word can be replaced with a "j."

Question 4 of 10

The letter "g" in a word can have a hard or soft sound, depending on the word. Try again.

The letter "i" does not always precede the letter "g" when "g" has a "j" sound, for example, gym, fudge, and average. Try again.

Words pronounced with a "j" sound, as in "average," are often spelled with a "g."

The letter "g" is not interchangeable with the letter "j." Words almost never have interchangeable letters. Try again

Pronounce the words "average" and "fudge" to yourself and listen for the sound of the "g." It is the same sound as the "j" in "joy."

Abstracting: Teaching a Friend Spelling Rules

Georgio studies the general statement below. Now use Step 3 and help Georgio apply this general statement to another situation. Click on each word to which the general statement applies. Then click Check.

Sometimes the same sound can be represented by different consonants. For example, the "j" sound also can be represented by a "g."

Question 5 of 10

No. "Garden" has a hard "g" sound.

Yes. "Package" has a "j" sound and is spelled with a "g."

This should be marked. "Package" has a "j" sound and is spelled with a "g."

No. "Sag" has a hard "g" sound.

Yes. "Sage" is pronounced with a "j" sound and spelled with a "g."

This should be marked. "Sage" is pronounced with a "j" sound and spelled with a "g."

No. "Groom" is pronounced with a hard "g" sound.

Yes. "Register" has a "j" sound and is spelled with a "g."

This should be marked. "Register" has a "j" sound and is spelled with a "g."

Pronounce all of the words to yourself and listen for the "j" sound that is in "average."

That's not right. Try again.

Part of your answer is correct. Try again.

That's not right. Click on the Next button to see each answer.

"Package," "sage," and "register" all use the "j" sound for "g."

Click on the Go On button when ready.

Subtraction of Whole Numbers

However, my nasion is very poor. I no I will have a better life here even though I am defishunt in English.

Georgio wrote the sentences above. Click on the spelling errors that you identify in his sentences. Then click Check.

Question 6 of 10

Yes. "Nation" Shound be spelled with "tion" as the ending.

This should be marked. "Nation" Shound be spelled with "tion" as the ending.

No. "However" is spelled correctly.

No. "Life" is spelled correctly.

Yes. "No," as it is used here, must be spelled "know."

This should be marked. "No," as it is used here, must be spelled "know."

Yes. "Deficient" should have "cient" at the end.

This should be marked. "Deficient" should have "cient" at the end.

No. "English" is spelled correctly.

There are three words spelled incorrectly. Two have incorrect endings, and one has a sound represented by the wrong consonant.

That's not right. Try again.

Part of your answer is correct. Try again.

That's not right. Click on the Next button to see each answer.

These words contain spelling errors.

Click on the Go On button when ready.

Abstracting: Teaching a Friend Spelling Rules

You teach Georgio to spell "know" and "knowledge." Click on the statements that express this information as a general statement. Then click Check.

"K" is never pronounced when it is the first letter of a word.

"Kn" is a combination used to represent the "n" sound.

Some words contain consonants that are not pronounced.

Words that have a long "o" sound also have a beginning letter that is silent.

"Know" and "knowledge" are the only two words that have a "kn" combination.

Question 7 of 10

No."K" is often pronounced when it is the first letter of a word, as in the word "kind."

Yes. "Kn" is a pair of consonants that represents the "n" sound.

This should be marked. "Kn" is a pair of consonants that represents the "n" sound.

Yes. Some words have consonants in them that are not pronounced, just as the "k" in know is not pronounced.

This should be marked. Some words have consonants in them that are not pronounced, just as the "k" in know is not pronounced.

No. Words that have a long "o" sound do not require that the beginning letter be silent.

No. "Know" and "knowledge" are not the only two words that have a "kn" combination.

Look at the first two letters of "know" and "knowledge." They have the same beginning sound as "navy." Then identify the two rules being used here.

That is not right try again.

Part of your answer is correct. Try again.

That's not right. Click on the Next button to see each answer.

Some words contain consonants that are not pronounced. One example is the "kn" combination that represents the "n" sound.

Click on the Go On button when ready.

Abstracting: Teaching a Friend Spelling Rules

Georgio learns the rule below. Help him apply this general statement to another situation. Click on the word to which the general statement applies.

Some words contain consonants that are not pronounced.

Question 8 of 10

All consonants in "bath" are pronounced. Try again.

The consonant "s" in "island" is not pronounced.

All consonants in "slip" are pronounced. Try again.

All consonants in "sent" are pronounced. Try again.

Pronounce all of the words to yourself. Listen carefully to the double consonants for one consonant that is not pronounced.

Abstracting: Teaching a Friend Spelling Rules

Step 1 says to identify important information. You teach Georgio that the words "nation" and "tension" have endings that are pronounced the same ("shun") but are spelled differently ("tion" or "sion"). Now you are ready for Step 2. Click on the general statement that describes the information you taught Georgio.

The sound "shun" on the end of a word can be represented by the letters "tion" or "sion."

These words, "action" and "tension," are homonyms.

These are the only two words that end in "tion" or "sion."

Words that are spelled differently but pronounced the same are called homonyms.

Question 9 of 10

The sound "shun" can be spelled by the letters "tioin" or "sion." You will have to help Georgio memorize the spelling of words with these endings.

Homonyms are words that sound the same. "Action" and "tension" are not homonyms. Try again.

These are not the only two words that end in "tion" or "sion." Many words have these endings. Try again.

Homonyms are words, not endings, that sound the same but are spelled differently. Try again.

Look at the endings of "nation" and "tension." Listen to the sound and notice the spelling.

Abstracting: Teaching a Friend Spelling Rules

You teach Georgio to spell "deficient." A word like "deficient" is spelled with "cient" at the ending but pronounced "shent." "Efficient" is another word with the "shent" sound. Click on the word to which this general situation also applies.

Question 10 of 10

"Proficient" also has an ending of "cient" that is pronounced "shent."

The ending of "relation" is "tion." This word is like "action." It does not use "cient" to create the "shent" sound. Try again.

The ending of "decision" is "sion." This word is like "tension." It does not use "cient" to create the "shent" sound. Try again.

The ending of "portion" is "tion." This word is like "action." It does not use "cient" to create the "shent" sound. Try again.

Say each of the four words aloud. Which one is most like "dificient" and "efficient"?

Abstracting: Teaching a Friend Spelling Rules

You have just used abstracting to help a friend to improve his spelling.

When you are in a confusing situation, think about using abstracting to straighten things out. See what general information you can identify and apply to your confusing situation.

Abstracting: Teaching a Friend Spelling Rules