Focus: vowel choices (page 1)
beatcheatflightknightmitequitesitetight
beeteatfrightlightneatrightsleettreat
bitefeetheatmeatnightseatslightwheat
bleatfightheightmeetpeatsheetspitewhite
brightfleetkitemight plightsightsweetwrite
Focus: unstressed vowels (page 2)
abandonedconferenceeasilygenerouslibraryofferingsimilar
abominableconsonantexplanatorygeographyliteracyoriginalskeleton
alcoholcorporalextragrammarliterateparallelsmuggler
animaldeafeningfactoryheavenliteratureparliamentstationary
astronomydefinitefamiliarhistorylocomotivepoisonousstationery
benefitdefinitelyfamilyholidaylotterypredicttelephone
boundarydescribefatteninghospitalmargarinepreparetelevision
businessdescriptionFebruaryilliteratemarvellousprimaryvegetable
carpetdesperateflatteryinterestmathematicsprosperousvoluntary
categorydictionaryformalinterestedmedicinereferenceWednesday
CatholicdifferencefreedomJanuarymemorableSaturdaywidening
centredifferentfrighteningjewellerymessengersecretary
companydisinterestgeneraljournalistminiatureseparate
compromisedoctorgenerallylettucemiserablesignature
Focus: doubling consonants (page 3)
Doubled letters
begbeggedbeggarhumhumminghummed
bigbiggerbiggestmopmoppingmopped
digdiggingdiggerrunrunnerrunning
dragdraggingdraggedstopstopperstopped
dropdroppingdroppedsunsunnysunnier
fitfitterfittestwetwetterwettest
hughugginghuggedwinwinningwinner
Undoubled letters
beepbeepingbeepeddreamdreamerdreaming
blastblastingblastedfeelfeelingfeeler
burnburnerburninghelphelpedhelper
countcountercountedtraintrainertrained
disgustdisgusteddisgustingtricktrickytricked
Contrasting sets
dinediningdinnerrideridingridden
hidehidinghiddenwritewritingwritten
Focus: the soft c (page 4)
Ci
accidentcircuitcircumstancecitydecisionincident
cinemacircularcircuscivildecisiveincisor
cinnamoncirculationcisterndecidedisciplerecital
circlecircumferencecitizendecimaldisciplinerecite
ce
ceilingcellarcentcenturydeceaseddiscern
celebratecellophanecentenarycerealdeceitexcept
celebritycementcentigradeceremonyDecemberincense
celerycemeterycentipedecertaindecentreceive
cellcensuscentrecertificatedescendrecent
cy
bicyclecycliccyclonecyniccypressfancymercy
cyanidecyclistcylindercynicalcystlacyrecycle
Focus: pluralisation s/es (page 5)
Typical wordsHissing and buzzing words
balloonballoonsboxboxes
boyboysbusbuses
daydayschurchchurches
dogdogsdishdishes
girlgirlsfoxfoxes
mealmealskisskisses
schoolschoolslunchlunches
sistersisterspatchpatches
wordwordswatchwatches
Focus: words ending in y (page 6)
Vowel + y wordsConsonant + y words
boyboysbabybabies
buoybuoyscitycities
buybuyscrycries
daydaysflyflies
donkeydonkeysjellyjellies
keykeyslollylollies
monkeymonkeylorrylorries
quayquayspartyparties
traytrayspuppypuppies
trytries
worryworries
Focus: words ending in f and fe (page 7)
f and fe endings
calfcalves
halfhalves
life lives
loafloaves
scarfscarves
selfselves
thiefthieves
wolfwolves
knifeknives
wifewives
Focus: plurals of words which end with vowels other than e ( page 8)
List 1
anacondascorgisigloospianosskiszoos
areascuckoosjumbospiazzassofaszulus
armadillosdahliaskangaroospiccolossolos
bananasdiscoskimonospizzassombreros
banjosECUskiwispumas sonatas
bhajisemusmagnoliasradiostarantulas
bongosfiestasmatzosrisottostattoos
camerasgalasoratoriosrotastombolas
casinosgeckospaellassambasumbrellas
cellosgnuspagodassamosasviolas
chapa(t)isguruspastassaunasvisas
concertoshaikuspatiossiestasyoyos
List 2
buffaloesdominoesheroestomatoesvolcanoes
cargoesechoesmangoestorpedoes
dingoeshaloespotatoesvetoes
List 3
antennaecriteriamacaroniphenomenaspaghettitagliatelle
bacteriafungipaparazziraviolistrata
Focus: irregular plurals (9)
Irregular plurals
antennaantennae
childchildren
deerdeer
footfeet
formulaformulae
goosegeese
larvalarvae
louselice
manmen
mousemice
sheepsheep
toothteeth
womanwomen
Focus: vowel suffixes (page 10)
alaryicistiveerest
additionalanniversaryacidicartistalliterativebakercleverest
exceptionaldictionaryallergicballoonistalternativedriverdriest
medicallibraryanalyticdramatistapprehensivefarmerfiercest
nationalmissionarycomicextremistcomprehensiveislanderfunniest
occasionalnecessarydramaticinstrumentalistcorrectivemanagerhandsomest
personalrevolutionaryenergeticjournalistderivativepoorernastiest
seasonalstationaryhorrificmachinistdiscursivereaderneatest
sensationalmanicnovelistexhaustivericherpoorest
photographicspecialistexplosiveteenagerrichest
scientificstockistinvestigativevillagerstrongest
terrificviolinistretrospectivevoyagertallest
Focus: consonant suffixes (page 11)
lyfulless
actuallybeautifulcareless
especiallyforgetfulendless
eventuallyhatefulfearless
friendlyhopefulheadless
kindlymercifulhomeless
likelypainfuljobless
originallypitifullifeless
personallyresentfulmerciless
properlysorrowfulspeechless
reallysuccessfulthankless
weeklywishfulthoughtless
Focus: words ending in y (page 12)
emptyemptieremptiestemptilyemptiness
happyhappierhappiesthappilyhappiness
heavyheavierheaviestheavilyheaviness
hungryhungrierhungriesthungrily
lazylazierlaziestlazilylaziness
prettyprettierprettiestprettilyprettiness
readyreadierreadiestreadilyreadiness
trendytrendiertrendiesttrendilytrendiness
windywindierwindiestwindily
allyallyingalliedalliance
carrycarryingcarriedcarriage
marrymarryingmarriedmarriage
modifymodifyingmodifiedmodification
replyreplyingrepliedreply
supplysupplyingsuppliedsupplier
trytryingtriedtrial
varyvaryingvariedvariety
Focus: modifying words ending in e (page 13)
Some words as starting points for investigation
articleforcehopepokeshametime
attainableframelifepossiblesuretune
bikefreelikeprogrammetackleuse
caregamelonerake takevoyage
cyclehasslemakerealisetangiblewrestle
fakehomeniceruleterrorisewrinkle
Focus: able and ible (page 14)
ibleable
credibleadorable
edibleagreeable
forciblebreakable
horribledisposable
indestructibleenjoyable
invincibleenviable
legibleidentifiable
possiblemanageable
responsiblemiserable
reversiblemiserable
susceptiblereliable
tangiblerespectable
terriblevaluable
Focus: ful suffixes (page 15)
Typical ful words
boastboastfulfearfearfulplayplayful
carecarefulhandhandfulscornscornful
colourcolourfulharmharmfulshameshameful
doubtdoubtfulhopehopefulthankthankful
faithfaithfulmouthmouthfulwakewakeful
y words
beautybeautifulfancyfancifulpitypitiful
bountybountifulmercymercifulplentyplentiful
Focus: words ending with cian, sion and tion (page 16)
ciansionssiontionother
dieticiancollisiondiscussionattentionasian
electricianconfusionmissiondictionocean
magiciancorrosionoppressiondirectionrussian
musicianexclusionpassionfactionvenetian
opticianexplosionpercussionfiction
physicianextensionpossessionfraction
politicianinfusionprofessionproportion
transfusionsessionreduction
ationetionitionotionution
demonstrationcompletioncompetitiondevotionconstitution
educationdeletionintuitionemotioncontribution
foundationdepletionoppositionlotiondistribution
nationsecretionpetitionmotioninstitution
stationpositionnotionpollution
translationrepetitionpromotionrevolution
Focus: antonym prefixes
in
/ im / ir / il / mis / non / un / antiinaccurate
inactive
inattentive
incapable
inconvenient
incredible
indecent / immature
immobile
impatient
impolite
impossible
impractical
improbable
improper / irrational
irregular
irresistible
irresponsible / illegal
illegible
illiterate / misbehave
miscalculate
miscount
misdeal
misfire
misfortune
mishear
misinform
misplace
misread
mistake / non-drip
non-fiction
nonsense
non-smoker
non-starter
non-stick
non-stop
non-violent / unfortunate
unfounded
unhelpful
unlikely
unrealistic
unreasonable / antibiotic
antibody
anticlimax
anticline
anticlockwise
anticyclone
antifreeze
antihero
antiseptic
Focus: common prefixes (page 18)
Prefixes and meanings / Roots to work withanti
/ against /inter
/ between / act / makebi / two / mis / wrong / awaken / marine
contra / against / non / not / clean / place
de / undo / pre / before / dead / sleep
in / not / sub / under / face / visit
pro / ahead / sus / under / grow / write
re / again / un / not / live
ex / out of
Focus: a prefixes (page 19)
ad
/ al / a / abaddition
adjacent
adjective
adjoin
adjust
admire
advance
advent
adverb
advise / almighty
almost
alone
already
alright
also
although
altogether
always / aboard
afield
aground
alert
aloft
amoral
apart
astride
awake
away / abide
ablaze
abloom
afloat
aglitter
alive
another
around
asleep
atonal / abandon
abdicate
abduct
aberrant
abjure
abscond
abseil
absolve
Focus: classical prefixes (page 20)
auto / circum / bi / tele / trans / microautobiography
autodidact
autograph
automatic
automaton
automobile
autopsy / circle
circular
circulate
circumference
circumnavigate
circumstance
circumvent
circus / biceps
bicycle
bifocals
bilingual
biped
biplane
bisect / telegenic
telegraph
telepathy
telephone
telephoto
telescope
television / transatlantic
transfer
translate
transmit
transparent
transplant
transport / microcosm
microfilm
micrometer
microphone
microscopic
micro-skirt
aqua / aero / audi / re / prim / super
aquaplane
aquarium
Aquarius
aquatic / aerodrome
aerodynamics
aeronaut
aeroplane / audible
audience
audition
auditorium / reconsider
repeat
replay
reply / primary
primate
prime
primrose / superman
supernatural
supernova
superpower
supersede
Focus: common letter clusters (page 21)
our / ough / ear / ight / ice / ausarmour
flour
hour
journey
mourn
ourselves
pour
sour
tour
your / cough
drought
enough
plough
rough
slough
thorough
though
thought
through
tough
trough
wrought / bear
dear
dreary
earn
fear
gear
hear
hearth
learn
wear
weary / bright
eight
fight
freight
height
light
might
night
right
sight
tight
weight / Alice
apprentice
dice
mice
nice
notice
police
practice
rice
spice
twice / Australia
Austria
because
cause
clause
claustrophobia
pause
sausage
Focus: homophones (page 22)
bybuybyesewsosow
centscentsenttheirthey’rethere
reinrainreigntootwoto
roderoadrowedyouyewewe
aloud / allowed / him / hymn / peace / pieceare / our / hole / whole / place / plaice
beach / beech / hour / our / plane / plain
bean / been / in / inn / read / reed
blue / blew / key / quay / right / write
board / bored / knight / night / scene / seen
break / brake / knot / not / see / sea
cell / sell / know / no / stair / stare
cereal / serial / leak / leek / steel / steal
dear / deer / made / maid / sum / some
fate / fete / main / mane / sun / son
flour / flower / meet / meat / tail / tale
grate / great / might / mite / through / threw
hair / hare / morning / mourning / vain / vein
herd / heard / new / knew / waist / waste
here / hear / pane / pain / week / weak
Focus: common roots
Words derived from other languagesfrom graphein – write / from annus – year / from dictare – to say
graph / annual / dictator
photograph / anniversary / dictionary
from mikro – small / from manus – hand / from mort – dead
microscope / manual / mortgage
microlight / manuscript / mortuary
from octo – eight / from aqua – water / from roi – king
octagon / aquarium / royal
octopus / aqueduct / royalty
from skopein – to see / from unus – one / from presse – press
telescope / unit / express
microscope / union / pressure
from ge – earth / from insula – island / from voix –voice
geology / insulation / voice
geography / peninsula / vocal
from naus – ship / from specere – to look / from bloc – block
nausea / spectator / blockage
nautical / spectrum / blockade
Focus: word families and spelling patterns (page 24)
actactoractionactivityreactreaction
childchildrenchildhoodchildlikechildishchildless
electricelectricalelectricityelectricianelectronicelectrocute
signsignatorysignaturesignalresignresignation
takemistakemistakenovertakenovertakingpartaking
assistassistantassistancemachinemachinerymachinist
balanceimbalanceunbalancedmedicmedicalmedication
boreboringboredomobeydisobeydisobedient
callrecallcallingoperatecooperatecooperation
claimreclaimreclamationpackpacketpackage
coverdiscoverdiscoverypainpainkillerpainstaking
examineexaminationexaminerpasspassagepassenger
givegivenforgivenesspressimpressdepression
governgovernorgovernmentprisonimprisonedimprisonment
hand handlerhandicraftproveapprovaldisapprove
heroheroicheroismpublicpublicationpublicity
joyjoyfulenjoymentrelaterelativerelation
lightlightningdelightedshakeshakilyshaken
Focus: apostrophes for omission (page 26)
PronounsOther contractions
I’mI’llI’veI’daren’tma’am
You’reYou’llYou’ve You’dcan’to’clock
He’sHe’llHe’sHe’dcouldn’tshan’t
She’sShe’llShe’sShe’ddoesn’t‘tis
We’reWe’llWe’veWe’ddon’tweren’t
They’reThey’llThey’veThey’dhadn’twon’t
haven’t
Focus: possessive pronouns (page 27)
123
Imymine
youyouryours
hehishis
sheherhers
ititsits
weourours
theytheirtheirs
Focus: using visual strategies to improve spelling (page 33)
Beautifulfiendparliament
Benefitedhymnpsyche
Chaosjealouspsychiatrist
Characterjewellerypsychologist
Chemistryknightrhyme
Conscienceliaisonrhythm
Cupboardlibraryseparate
Descriptionmedicinesiege
EnvironmentminiatureWednesday
Februarymnemonics
Appendix 1: Spelling list (page 36)
accommodationevidencepossession
actuallyexplanationpotential
alcoholFebruarypreparation
althoughfierceprioritise
analyse/analysisfortyprocess
argumentfulfilproportion
assessmentfurthermoreproposition
atmosphereguardquestionnaire
audiblehappenedqueue
audiencehealthreaction
autumnheightreceive
beautifulimaginaryreference
beginningimproviserelief
believeindustrialremember
beneathinterestingresearch
buriedinterruptresources
businessissuesafety
caughtjealousSaturday
chocolateknowledgesecondary
climblisteningseparate
columnlonelysequence
concentrationlovelyshoulder
conclusionmarriagesincerely
consciencematerialskilful
consciousmeanwhilesoldier
consequencemiscellaneousstomach
continuousmischiefstraight
creationmodernstrategy
daughtermoreoverstrength
decide/decisionmurmursuccess
definitenecessarysurely
designnervoussurprise
developmentoriginalsurvey
diamondoutrageoustechnique
diaryparalleltechnology
disappearparticipationtexture
disappointpatterntomorrow
embarrasspeacefulunfortunately
energypeopleWednesday
engagementperformanceweight
enquirepermanentweird
environmentpersuade/persuasionwomen
evaluationphysical
Common homophones and confusion(page 37)
a lot/allotchoose/chosequiet/quite
advise/advicecloth/clothesites/sights
affect/effectconscience/conscioussource/sauce
allowed/aloudcourse/coarsethrew/through
bought/broughtour/areto/too/two
braking/breakingpractise/practice
Appendix 2: Subject spelling lists (page 38)
Art
abstracteasellandscape
acrylicexhibitionpalette
charcoalforegroundpastel
collagefriezeperspective
collectiongalleryportrait
colourhighlightsketch
crosshatchillusionspectrum
dimensionimpast
displaykiln
D and T
aesthetichygienepresentation
briefingredientproduction
carbohydrateinnovationprotein
componentknife/knivesrecipe
designlinensew
dietmachinespecification
disassemblemanufacturetechnology
evaluationmineraltension
fabricnaturaltextile
fibrenutritionvitamin
flourpolyester
flowchartportfolio
Drama
applausefreezerehearse/rehearsal
character/characteristicsimproviserole
costumeinspirescene/scenario
curtainlightingscript
directormovementshare
dramatiseperform/performancespotlight
entranceplaywrightstage
exitpositiontheatre/theatrical
English
advertise/advertisementfigurativepreposition
alliterationgenreresolution
apostrophegrammarrhyme
atmosphereimageryscene
chorusmetaphorsimile
clausemythsoliloquy
clichénarrative/narratorsubordinate
commaonomatopoeiasuffix
comparisonpamphletsynonym
conjunctionparagraphtabloid
consonantpersonificationvocabulary
dialogueplaywrightvowel
exclamationplural
expressionprefix
Geography
abroadfunctionpoverty
amenityglobeprovision
atlashabitatregion/regional
authorityinfrastructurerural
climateinternationalsettlement
contourlandscapesituation
countrylatitudetourist/tourism
countylocationtransport/transportation
desertlongitudeurban
employmentnation/nationalwealth
erosionphysicalweather
estuarypollution
History
agriculture/agriculturaldefencepolitics/political
biasdiseasepriest
castledocumentpropaganda
cathedraldynastyProtestant
Catholiceconomy/economicalrebel/rebellion
chronology/chronologicalemigrationreign
citizengovernmentreligious
civilisationimmigrantrepublic
colony/colonisationimperial/imperialismrevolt/revolution
conflictindependencesiege
constitution/constitutionalinvasionsource
contradict/contradictionmotivetrade
currentparliamenttraitor
ICT
binaryhardwarenetwork
byteiconoutput
cableinputpassword
cartridgeinteractivepreview
CD-ROMinterfaceprocessor
computerinternetprogram
connect/connectionjustifyscanner
cursorkeyboardsensor
data/databasemegabyteserver
deletememorysoftware
diskmodemspreadsheet
documentmodulevirus
electronicmonitor
graphicmultimedia
Library
alphabet/alphabeticalencyclopaedianovel
anthologyextractphotocopy
articlefantasypublisher
authorgenrerelevant/relevance
catalogueglossaryromance
classificationindexsection
contentirrelevant/irrelevanceseries
copyrightlibrariansystem
dictionarymagazinethesaurus
editornon-fiction
Mathematics
additionequationquestionnaire
adjacentfractionradius
alternategraphratio
angleguessrecurring
amounthorizontalreflect/reflection
approximatelyisoscelesregular/irregular
averagekilogramrhombus
axis/axeskilometrerotate/rotation
calculatelitresquare
centimetremeasuresubtraction
circumferencemetresymmetry/symmetrical
correspondingminustonne
co-ordinatemultiply/multiplicationtriangle/triangular
decimalnegativevertex/vertices
degreenumeratorvertical
denominatorparallel/parallelogramvolume
diameterpercentageweight
digitperimeter
divide/divisionperpendicular
equilateralpositive
estimatequadrilateral
Music
choirmelodyscale
chordminimscore
chromaticminorsemibreve
composition/conductormusiciansynchronise
crotchetoctavesyncopation
dynamicsorchestra/orchestraltempo
harmonyostinatoternary
instrument/instrumentalpercussiontimbre
intervalpitchtriad
lyricquavervocal
majorrhythm
PE
active/activityinjuryqualify
agile/agilityleaguerelay
athletic/athletemedicinesquad
bicepmobile/mobilitytactic
exercisemuscletournament
fieldpersonaltriceps
gym/gymnasticpitch
hamstringquadriceps
PSHE
able/abilityeffortreality
achieve/achievementemotion/emotionalrelationship
addict/addictionencourage/encouragementrepresent/representative
approve/approvalgenderreward
communicationgenerous/generositysanction
controlinvolve/involvementsexism/sexist
dependent/dependencyprefer/preferencestereotype
disciplinepressure
discussionracism/racist
RE
baptismHindu/Hinduismprophet
Bible/biblicalhymnreligious/religion
Buddhist/Buddhismimmoral/immoralityshrine
BurialIslamsign
celebrate/celebrationIsraelSikh/Sikhism
ceremonyJudaism/Jewishspecial
Christianmarriagespirit/spiritual
commandmentmiraclesymbol
commitmentmoral/moralitysynagogue
creationMuslimtemple
discipleparablewedding
faithpilgrim/pilgrimageworship
festivalpray/prayer
funeralprejudice
Science
absorbexchangeorganism
acidfreezeoxygen
alkalinefrequencyparticles
amphibianfrictionpredator
apparatusfunctionpressure
chemicalgrowthreproduce
circulate/circulationhazardrespire/respiration
combustioninsectsolution
condensationlaboratorytemperature
cycleliquidthermometer
digest/digestionmammalvertebrate
elementmethodvessel
evaporationnutrient
Appendix 3: Sample spelling investigation (page 43)
armyarmiesdishdishespenpens
ashashesdisplaydisplayspennypennies
babybabiesdonkeydonkeyspocketpockets
berryberriesflyfliespuppypuppies
bookbooksfoxfoxesrayrays
boxboxesgamegamessandwichsandwiches
boyboysglassglassesschoolschools
brushbrusheshat hatsshoeshoes
bushbushesinchinchestabletables
churchchurchesjellyjelliestaxtaxes
citycitieskeykeystimetimes
claspclaspskisskissestoytoys
daydaysliplipswatchwatches
delaydelaysmonkeymonkeyswindowwindows
deskdeskspartypartieswitchwitches
Focus: How the spelling of verbs alter when ing is added (page 44)
Simple – add ingShort vowels – doubleDrop e + add ing
123456
askaskingchatchattingbitebiting
cleancleaningclapclappingcare caring
dodoingfitfittingdecidedeciding
dreamdreaminghophoppingdrivedriving
gogoinghughugginghopehoping
jumpjumpingletlettingmakemaking
packpackingplanplanningsavesaving
saysayingrunrunningsharesharing
sendsendingshopshoppingshineshining
thinkthinkingshutshuttingtaketaking
walkwalkingskipskippingwritewriting
(page 45)
Base wordsVerb to nounNoun to verb
ageescapemusicerate
arthappyreduceimen
changehatesimpleismify
classhelptelevisionistise
composelegality
criminalloveness
criticmagnetology
decidemedicinetion
educatemobile
(page 46)
some useful examples to start withaqua /
water
/ aquarium / Aquarius / aquatic / aquaplaneauto / self / automatic / autograph / autobiography / automobile
bi / two / bicycle / biped / binoculars / binary
port / carry / transport / portable / import / export
super / greater / supernatural / superman / supernova / superpower
tele / far off / telephone / television / telepathy / telecommunications
trans / across / transport / transplant / transfer / transaction
(page 47)
ieceiei (long a)ei (other)
beliefliepriestceilingeighteither
briefmedievalquietconceitforeignheight
chiefmischiefreliefdeceitfreightheir
dieniecereviewperceiveneighbourneither
fieldobedientshieldreceiptreignprotein
fiercepatientshriekreceivereintheir
fierypiethiefsovereignweird
friendpiecetieveil
griefpierviewvein
handkerchiefpierceyieldweigh