(Refer to short vowel lists to test this rule.)
3. When there are two or more vowels in a syllable, or a word of one syllable the first vowel is long, and the last are silent; as: mate, sneeze, day. (Teacher marks the long and silent vowels as the reason for the sound is given.)
Children mark these words and give reason: game, kite, make, coat, meat, wait.
After rules (1 to 3) are clearly developed, apply them by marking and pronouncing these words and giving reasons.
| coat | man | neat | ||
| he | nine | box | ||
| sun | feel | kite | ||
| she | run | me | ||
| take | we | seam | ||
| heat | bit | tan | ||
| bite | mad | made | ||
| take | cape | the | ||
| mane | cap | lake |
Rule 4.
When double consonants occur, the last is silent; tell, back.
| back | bell | kill | dress | duck | ||||
| Jack | fell | till | Jess | tack | ||||
| pack | Nell | fill | less | press | ||||
| lack | Bell | pill | neck | luck | ||||
| sack | sell | will | Bess | still | ||||
| tack | tell | hill | block | stick | ||||
| shall | well | mill | peck | trill | ||||
| shell | yell | rock | clock | struck |
Rule 5.
T before ch is silent: catch.