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AFTER READING
OBJECTIVES
  • Use word parts to decode words with irregular plurals.
  • Review the silent consonant patterns wr, kn, st, mb, gn.
  • Blend and read words that contain irregular plurals.
  • Apply decoding strategies: blend longer words.
ELL
Support Phonics In Spanish, plurals are formed by adding -s to words ending in a vowel (madre/madres) and by adding -es to words ending in a consonant (arbol/orboles). Spanish speakers may therefore add -es to any words ending in a consonant (girles instead of girls). Give students additional practice writing and saying plural endings for words ending in consonants.
See the Phonics Transition Lessons in
the ELL and Transition Handbook.
Practice Book
Practice Book 3.2 p. 9
with | without Answers
Generalization
Silent Consonants When a word
begins with kn, the k is silent; with wr, the w is silent; with gn, the g is silent. When st appears in the middle of a word, the t is sometimes silent. When a word ends with gn, the g is silent; with mb, the b is silent.
You may wish to explain the meanings of these words.
gnarled twisted
gnu a large antelope
hasten to move quickly
wretched very unhappy
Vocabulary Tip
Phonics
Phonics
leaves
oxen
Irregular Plurals
TEACH
Remind students that most plural words end with -s or -es. Then explain that
some plurals are irregular. Irregular plurals are formed by changing letters or
sometimes whole words. Write scarf/scarves and mouse/mice.
  • Is scarf singular or plural? (singular) What is the final letter in the word
    scarf?     (f)
  • Is scarves singular or plural? (plural) What are the final letters in the word
    scarves?     (ves)
  • How do you think we form plurals of words that end with f or fe? (change f
    or fe to v and add -es)
  • Is mouse singular or plural? (singular) What about mice? (plural)
Think AloudMODEL Some plural words are easier to read when I know the singular
form. When I see a plural word that ends with ves, I remember that ves
 plurals are often formed from words that end in f or fe. If I replace
ves with f or fe, I can figure out the singular form. For example, the
singular form of leaves is leaf. Other words, such as oxen, don't look like
plurals. I just have to remember that the singular form of oxen is ox.
Model blending leaves and oxen.
Then have students blend the words
with you.
PRACTICE AND ASSESS
DECODE LONGER WORDS Write these words. Have students read the first line
and make the words plural; have students read the second line and make
the words singular.
knife (knives) person (people) tooth (teeth) thief (thieves)
selves (self) halves (half) children (child) geese (goose)
READ WORDS IN CONTEXT Write these sentences. Have individuals read them
and change the underlined word to either the singular or plural form.
Do cats really have nine lives? (life)
The flock of geese is flying south. (goose)
The newborn calf can already walk. (calves)
To assess, have students use both forms of the underlined words in their
own sentences.
Review Phonics
REVIEW SILENT CONSONANTS
CONNECT Write this sentence: They all listened to the teacher.
  • We studied the silent consonants wr, kn, st, mb, and gn.
  • Read this sentence to yourself. Raise your hand when you know which word has the sound of s. (listened)
  • Which letters stand for /s/ in listened? (st)
Continue the activity with the following sentences:
She twisted the knob so she could walk through the door. (kn)
He carries a comb in his pocket. (mb)
The air was filled with clouds of little gnats. (gn)
I wrote the book titles in my notebook. (wr)
PRACTICE AND ASSESS
DECODE LONGER WORDS Have individuals read the following words. Give help
chunking and blending the words as needed. Consonant pairs with silent
consonants are underlined.
knocking plumber gnarled wristband
hasten wretched gnu signpost
READ WORDS IN CONTEXT Have students read these sentences. Then, to
check meaning, have them give their own sentence for the underlined word.
The moonlight glistened on the snow.
The wreckage washed up on the beach.
The bug was bigger than my thumb.
The knight bravely fought the dragon.
Our teacher will assign new spelling words soon.
To assess, note how students pronounce the words with silent consonants.