Alternative Spellings for Sounds
Spell words using alternative grapheme choices for known phonemes, learning new spellings for sounds already encountered (e.g., /ɔ:/ as 'a' before ll, /ʌ/ as 'o', words ending -tion), including distinguishing common homophones
Suggested ages 6–9
Learning journey
Your child is learning more advanced spelling rules, including how to add suffixes that change the root word, use apostrophes correctly in contractions and possessives, and spell words with alternative letter patterns for familiar sounds.
Evidence of understanding
- Spell 'ball', 'call', 'walk' using alternative grapheme /ɔ:/ as 'a' before ll
- Distinguish homophones in writing: 'there/their/they’re', 'here/hear', 'quite/quiet'
- Spell words ending in -tion correctly: 'station', 'fiction', 'motion'
Assessment prompt
When Alternative Spellings for Sounds writes and comes across a word where the same sound can be spelled different ways — like "see" and "sea" — do they know which spelling to use?
Standards alignment
L.1.2d
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects · 1
L.1.2e
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects · 1
L.2.2d
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects · 2
L.3.2e
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects · 3
L.3.2f
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects · 3
Segment words into phonemes
The national curriculum in England: Key stages 1 and 2 framework document · Key Stage 1
Learn new spellings
The national curriculum in England: Key stages 1 and 2 framework document · Key Stage 1
Distinguish homophones
The national curriculum in England: Key stages 1 and 2 framework document · Key Stage 1
Apply spelling rules
The national curriculum in England: Key stages 1 and 2 framework document · Key Stage 1
Sound /ɔ:/ spelt a
The national curriculum in England: Key stages 1 and 2 framework document · Key Stage 1
Sound /ʌ/ spelt o
The national curriculum in England: Key stages 1 and 2 framework document · Key Stage 1
Sound /i:/ spelt –ey
The national curriculum in England: Key stages 1 and 2 framework document · Key Stage 1
Sound /ɒ/ spelt a
The national curriculum in England: Key stages 1 and 2 framework document · Key Stage 1
Sound /ɜ:/ spelt or
The national curriculum in England: Key stages 1 and 2 framework document · Key Stage 1
Sound /ɔ:/ spelt ar
The national curriculum in England: Key stages 1 and 2 framework document · Key Stage 1
Words ending in –tion
The national curriculum in England: Key stages 1 and 2 framework document · Key Stage 1
Homophones and near-homophones
The national curriculum in England: Key stages 1 and 2 framework document · Key Stage 1
Spell further homophones
The national curriculum in England: Key stages 1 and 2 framework document · Key Stage 2