problems with ng and nk

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Permalink Reply by Merry on June 23, 2009 at 6:30pm

I see that you're in Texas, I wonder if what she's hearing is due to a regional accent. Did you happen to read the tip right under the word card list in lesson 20? Have you had her try pronouncing these for spelling? I think I would show her the word cards, then you try to pronounce for spelling and see if she can do it too. Once she can do that, then I would try again to have her spell them.

On words that I have my kids pronounce for spelling, I say the pronunciation when they are first learning it. Then on the review cards I say, "I'm going to say this how we normally say it. I want you to pronounce it for spelling, and then spell it." If they can't pronounce for spelling, I give them the pronunciation, have them repeat, and then have them spell it. I don't move the word to mastered until they can pronounce it for spelling on their own (without my showing them how first).

I hope this helps! Merry :-)

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Permalink Reply by Marie Rippel on June 23, 2009 at 10:50pm

You may want to share with your daughter that there are only four words that have the combination e plus ng:
- English
- England
- length
- strength
and there are no words that contain the combination enk.

It is common for kids to hear a long E before an ng. Acknowledge that she hears the long E sound, and that when she hears a long E sound, use an i instead.

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