ABC Kids Do Phonics Rules

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ABC Kids Rule Pages

 Letter /a/ has 20 phonics
rules. Copy each of the rules
onto cards with my picture
and store them in my pocket!

Rule #1 “The long /a/ rule”

/a/ is long in a syllable which ends in /a/.
Like in the words: acorn, bacon, and volcano

Rule #2 “The short /a/ rule”

/a/ is short in a syllable ending in a consonant.
Like in the words: am, and, ranch, apple, transfer
Exception: all and Yacht
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Rule #3 “The broad /a/ rule”
/a/ is broad when it ends a word.
ple

Like in the words: umbrella, cobra, and formula

Exception: bologna
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Rule #4 “The silent /e/ rule”

/a/ is long when followed by a consonant and silent /e/.
Like in the words: ale, take, dare, and bracelet.

Rule #5 “The foreign words rule”

/a/ is usually broad in foreign spellings.
Like in the words: morale, mirage, locale

Rule #6 “The /ae/ rule”

/ae/ is a Latin spelling for long /e/ or short /e/.
Like in the words: Caesar, paeon, algae and aesthetic
Rule #7 “The /ah/ rule”
/ah /always says the broad sound.
Like in the words: ah, hurrah, bah, shah, and sahib

Rule #8 “The /ai/ rule”

/ai / almost always says the long /a /sound.
Like in the words: ail, stair, braise, brail, frail and pail.
Exception: plaid, said, mountain, aisle

Rule #9 “The /al/ rule”

/al/ at the end of a polysyllabic word is almost always reduced to
a semi-syllable /l/. At the end of a one-syllable word, /al/ is short.
file
Like in the words: royal, principal and gal, Hal and Al.
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Rule #10 “The /al/ plus a vowel rule”

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/al / followed by a vowel (except silent /e/) in a stressed syllable

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almost always has a short /a/ sound.

Like in the words: salary, value, fatality, palace.

Rule #11 “The /al/ plus a consonant rule”

/al/ followed by a consonant is the same syllable has a broad
sound, and the /l/ is silent.
Like in the words: all, calm, alms, Psalms, talk, and salt.

Rule #12 “The /al/ broad sound rule”

/al/ followed by a consonant in a different syllable usually has a
broad sound.
Like in the words: almost, falter, and almond.
 Rule #13 “The /al/ short sound rule”
/al/ followed by a consonant in a different syllable sometimes has
a short sound.
Like in the words: alley, gallop, album, calcium and malfunction.

Rule #14 “The /a/ plus /nge/ rule”

/a/ followed by a /nge/ almost always has a long a sound.
Like in the words: strange, manger, grange.
Exception: anger, tangerine

Rule #15 “The /a/ plus /r/ rule”

/a/ followed by a single /r/ has the sound of the /r/.
Like in the words: far, jar, lark, large, scarlet, and harvest.
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Rule #16 “The /a/ plus /rr/ or /r/ and a vowel rule
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An /a/ followed by either a double /rr/ or by an /r/ followed by a

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vowel, phonetically carries the /r/ sound to the next syllable, and
that becomes a long /a/.
Like in the words: marry, carrot, garrison and tariff, and charity.

Rule #17 “The /a/ plus /ste/ rule”

/a/ followed by /ste/ is almost has a long /a/ sound.
Like in the words: taste, waste, chasten
Exception: fasten

Rule #18 “The /au/ rule”

Vowel blend /au/ usually represents the broad /a/ sound.
Like in the words: saucer, haunted, and caught, taught.
Exception: laugh, dinosaur, and restaurant
Rule #19 “The /aw/ rule”
Vowel Blend /aw/ always has the broad /a/ sound.
Like in the words: awe, paw, yawn, and awkward.

Rule #20 “The /ay/ rule”

Vowel blend /ay/ often has the long /a/ sound.
Like in the words: clay, mayor, play, portray, and pay
Exception: says, quay, aye, bayou

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 Letter /b/ has 5 phonics
rules. Copy each of the rules
onto cards with my picture
and store them in my pocket!

Rule #1 “The single /b/ rule”

Single consonant /b/
Like in the words: bob, curb, bulb, oboe

Rule #2 “The double /b/ rule”

Double consonant /b/
Like in the words: babble, bubble, rubber

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Rule #3 “The /bl/ rule”
Consonant blend /bl/
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Like in the words: black, bleak, blind, blend, sublime, blue

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Rule #4 “The /br/ rule”

Consonant blend /br/
Like in the words: brake, break, brick, broke, brut, celebrate

Rule #5 “The silent /b/ rule”

/b/ is silent before /t/ or after /m/ when they are in the same
syllable.
Like in the words: doubt, debt, subtle, and crumb, dumb, thumb
Exception: subtitle
 Letter /c/ has 13 phonics
rules. Copy each of the rules
onto cards with my picture
and store them in my pocket!

Rule #1 “The hard /c/ rule”

When /c/ is not followed by /e/, /i/, or /y/ it
usually has the hard /k/ sound.
Like in the words: act, coast, creed, objection

Rule #2 “The soft /c/ rule”

When /c/ is followed by /e/, /i/, or /y/ it usually
has the soft /s/ sound.
Like in the words: cent, face, city, pencil, cyclone
Exception: cello file
Rule #3 “The 2nd soft /c/ rule”
ple

When /c/ is followed by /e/ or /i/ and another vowel (a or o), it

often has the soft /sh/ sound
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Like in the words: ocean, herbaceous, social, and delicious

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Rule #4 “The double /c/ rule”

When /c/ is doubled, the first /c/ has a hard /k/ sound and the
second /c/ is silent, unless followed by /e/ or /i/ when it is
pronounced /s/.
Like in the words: acclaim, accompany, accent, accept and
accidental.

Rule #5 “The /cl/ rule”

Consonant blend /cl/
Like in the words: cluck, class, declaration, uncle
Rule #6 “The /cr/ rule”
Consonant blend /cr/
Like in the words: crew, cradle, secretary, lucre

Rule #7 “The /tsh/ rule”

/ch/ often has the dental sound of /tsh/
Like in the words: child, church, wrench, and merchant

Rule #8 “The Greek rule”

/ch/ has the /k/ sound in the English spelling of the Greek letter
/chi/
Like in the words: chorus, chrome, echo, stomach

Rule #9 “The French rule”

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/ch/ has the /sh/ sound in French words
Like in the words: chandelier, mustache, machine
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Rule #10 “The the /ck/ and /cqu/ rule”

Sa

/ck/ and /cqu/ always have the /k/ sound

Like in the words: kicker, wreck, hickory, and lacquer

Rule #11 “The /cz/ rule”

/cz/ may have a oft /ch/ sound
Like in the words: Czech, czards

Rule #12 “The silent /c/ rule”

/c/ is silent before another consonant when it would be phoneti-
cally harsh to pronounce it.
Like in the words: muscle, indictment, drachm, Czar

Rule #13 “The /sc/ rule”

/sc/ blends tom make the /s/ sound when it is followed by /e/ or /i/
in the same syllable.
Like in the words: science, ascension
 Letter /d/ has 10 phonics
rules. Copy each of the rules
onto the cards with my pic-
ture and store them in my
pocket!

Rule #1 “The single /d/ rule”

Single consonant /d/
Like in the words: did, blind, made

Rule #2 “The double /d/ rule”

Double consonant /d/
Like in the words: daddy, huddle, forbidden

Rule #3 “The /dr/ rule” file

Consonant blend /dr/
Like in the words: drink, dresser, drop
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Rule #4 “The /dw/ rule”

m

Consonant blend /dw/

Sa

Like in the words: dwell, dwarf, dwindle

Rule #5 “The /di/ rule”

Consonant-vowel blend /di/ says the /ji/ sound.
Like in the words: soldier

Rule #6 “The /dge/ rule”

/dge/ says the /j/ sound. The final /e/ makes the /g/ soft; the
letter /d/ inserts a consonant, which makes the preceding vowel
short.
Like in the words: fudge, bridge, badger
 Rule #7 “Drop the /e/ rule”
American spelling sometimes drops the silent /e/ when adding a
suffix.
Like in the words: judgment, fledgling, abridgment

Rule #8 “The /dj/ rule”

/dj/ says the /j/ sound.
Like in the words: adjourn, adjust, adjective

Rule #9 “The /du/ rule”

Consonant-vowel blend /du/ say the /ju/ sound.
Like in the words: educate, schedule, gradual
file
Rule #10 “The silent /d/ rule”
ple

/d/ blends into silence when it would be phonetically harsh to

pronounce it between /n/ and another consonant.
m

Like in the words: handkerchief, handsome.

Sa
 Letter /e/ has 25 phonics
rules. Copy each of the rules
onto cards with my picture
and store them in my pocket!

Rule #1 “The long /e/ rule”

/e/ is long when it ends a syllable.
Like in the words: he, idea, cedar, and tepee.

Rule #2 “The short /e/ rule”

/e/ is short in a syllable which ends in a
consonant.
Like in the words: exit, bell, forget and pet.
file
Rule #3 “The silent /e/ rule”
/e/ at the end of a word is silent when it is preceded by a vowel
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and a consonant.
Like in the words: pirate, native, purpose.
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Rule #4 “The long vowel rule”

If the last syllable is stressed, the preceding vowel is usually
long.
Like in the words: debate, derive, suppose.

Rule #5 “The short vowel, silent /e/ rule”

/e/ is silent when it is at the end of a word and is preceded by a
vowel and two consonants. The preceding vowel is almost always
short.
Like in the words: large, serve, syringe, bronze, curve.

Rule #6
When the two consonants before the /e/ are identical, the word is
of French origin, and the last syllable is almost always stressed.
Like in the words: crevasse, rosette, chenille.
Rule #7 “The two /e/’s rule”
When two /e/’s are separated by one consonant, the first /e/ is
almost always long and the second /e/ is almost always silent.
Like in the words: evening, merely, extremely
Exception : even

Rule #8 “The Greek /e/ rule”

In words of Greek origin, final /e/ or /es/ is always long.
Like in the words: acme, apostrophe, and diabetes, indices

Rule #9 “The French /e/ rule”

In words of French origin, final /e/, /ee/, or /et/ often has the
file
long /a/ sound. (There are many exceptions)
Like in the words: café, cliché, entrée, valet and crochet
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Rule #10 “The /ea/ rule”

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/ea/ can represent the long or the short sound of /e/, or

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occasionally the long /a/ sound.

Like in the words: mean, breathe, meant, heavy,
Exception: break, steak, great

Rule #11 “The swallowing /r/ rule”

/r/ always swallows up the short /e/ sound of /ea/
Like in the words: earnest, learn, yearn, certain.
Exception: heart

Rule #12 “The /d/ and /t/ rule”

The past tense ending, /ed/ is pronounced /ed/ whenever it
follows /d/ or /t/.
Like in the words: decided, branded, belated, wasted.
Rule #13 “Only say the /d/ rule”
/e/ is silent and only /d/ is pronounced after a voiced consonant
(b, g, j, l, m, n, r, v, w, y, z)
Like in the words: sobbed, dodged, called, barred, saved, buzzed

Rule #14 “Say the /d as /t/ rule”

/e/ is silent and /d/ is pronounced as /t/ after an unvoiced
consonant. (f, k, p, s, x)
Like in the words: puffed, baked, topped, boxed, guessed

Rule #15 “The double /ee/ rule”

Double /ee/ regularly says the long /e/ sound unless it is a word
from French origin (see Rule #9 The French /e/ Rule)
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Like in the words: fee, deed, discreet
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Rule #16 “The /ei/ rule”

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/ei/ commonly says the long /a/ sound, unless it follows /c/, when
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it says the long /e/ sound.

Like in the words: heir, reindeer, and deceit, receive, receipt
Exception: heifer, forfeit, seismic.

Rule #17 “The /eig/ and /eigh/ rule”

/eig/ and /eigh/ usually say the long /a/ sound.
Like in the words: reign, beige, and eight, neighbor, weigh
Exception: foreign, sovereign and height

Rule #18 “The /eo/ rule”

When /eo/ represents one vowel sound at the end of a syllable, it
may have either long /e/ short /e/ or long /o/ sound.
Like in the words: people, jeopardy, leopard, yeoman.
Rule #19 “The /eo/ rule”
When /eo/ divides between two syllables, /e/ is always long, but
/o/ is usually short, except when /o/ ends the word.
Like in the words: geography, neon, oreo, rodeo, stereo
Exception: deodorant

Rule #20 “The swallowing /r/ rule”

/r/ always swallows up the short /e/ sound.
Like in the words: fisher, person, merge, certain

Rule #21 “the double /r/ rule”

Doubled /r/ lengthens the short /e/ sound toward the /e/ long /a/
sound
Like in the words: berry, error, terrible
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Rule #22 “The ending rules”
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The plural endings /-es/ pronounced /ez/ is used with words end-
m

ing with the sound of /s/ )soft /c/, /z/, /sh/ (soft ch), /tch/ (hard /
tch/), /j/ (soft /g/), /zh/, /x/ (cks).
Sa

Like in the words: faces, blazes, fishes, cages, oranges, fixes

Rule #23 “The /eu/ and /ew/ rule”

/eu/ and /ew/ always say the long /u/ (long /oo/ or /yoo/) sound.
Like in the words: sleuth, deuce, neutral, blew, few, jewlery
Exception: sew

Rule #24 “The /ey/ says /ee/ rule”

/ey/ says the long /e/ sound.
Like in the words: key, money, jockey, abbey
Exception: eye

Rule #25 “The /ey/ says /aa/ rule”

/ey/ in some primary words has a long /a/ sound.
Like in the words: hey, convey, surveyor
 Letter /f/ has 4 phonics
rules. Copy each of the rules
onto cards with my picture
and store them in my pocket!

Rule #1 “The single /f/ rule”

Single consonant /f/.
Like in the words: far, prefer, fifty
Exception: of

Rule #2 “The double /f/ rule”

/f/ is often doubled after a short vowel
Like in the words: fluff, difficult, mastiff
Exception: if, of, chef, clef
file
Rule #3 “The /fl/ rule”
Consonant blend /fl/.
ple

Like in the words: fling, flat, inflation, baffle, raffle, affluent.

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Rule #4 “The /fr/ rule”

Consonant blend /fr/.
Like in the words: frog, freezing, confronted
 Letter /g/ has 13 phonics
rules. Copy each of the rules
onto cards with my picture
and store them in my pocket!

Rule #1 “The single /g/ rule”

Single /g/ often has the hard /g/ sound, unless it is
followed by the vowels /e/, /i/, or /y/.
Like in the words: gag, triangle, lagoon, goulash.

Rule #2 “The /e/, /i/, /y/ rule”

When a single /g/ is followed by /e/, /i/, or /y/, it
commonly has the /j/ sound.
Like in the words: gem, cage, giant, gypsy.
Exception: gear, geese, girl, give, gynecology
file
Rule #3 “The double /g/ rule”
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Double /g/ has the hard /g/ sound.

Like in the words: egg, shaggy, ragged
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Exception: exaggerate
Sa

Rule #4 “The French /g/ rule”

In French the /g/ says the /zh/ sound.
Like in the words: rouge, beige, garage, bourgeoisie

Rule #5 “The /geon/ and /gion/ rule”

/-geon/ and /-gion/ are pronounced /jun/
Like in the words: surgeon, pigeon, contagion, religion

Rule #6 “The /-geous/ and /-gious/ rule”

/-geous/ and /-gious/ are pronounced /jus/.
Like in the words: gorgeous, religious
Rule #7 “The silent /gh/ rule”
/gh/ is often silent when it follows a vowel in the same syllable.
Like in the words: straight, through, weight

Rule #8 “The hard /gh/ rule”

/gh/ says the hard /g/ sound when it precedes a vowel in the same
syllable.
Like in the words: ghost, aghast, sorghum

Rule #9 “When /gh/ says /f/ rule”

/gh/ at the end of a primitive word sometimes has the /f/ sound.
Like in the words: cough, laugh, enough
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Rule #10 “The /gl/ rule”
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Consonant blend /gl/ with a hard /g/ sound.

Like in the words: glitter, gloomy, glad, bugle, juggle.
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Rule #11 “The silent /g/ rule”

When /g/ is followed by /m/ or /n/ in the same syllable, the /g/ is
silent.
Like in the words: diaphragm, phlegm, gnat, sign, reign

Rule #12 “The /gr/ rule

Consonant blend /gr/ with hard /g/ sound.
Like in the words: green, great, bluegrass

Rule #13 “The insertion rule”

When /u/ is inserted between /g/ and /e/ or between /g/ and /i/, it
prevents the /g/ from saying the soft /j/ sound.
Like in the words: vogue, guess, penguin, guild, guile.
 Letter /h/ has 4 phonics
rules. Copy each of the rules
onto cards with my picture
and store them in my pocket!

Rule #1 “The /h/ rule”

Consonant /h/.
Like in the words: house, cohort, horse.

Rule #2 “The silent /h/ rule”

The /h/ is silent in words borrowed from French.
Like in the words: hour, honest, graham

Rule #3 “The /h/ plus a vowel rule”

/h/ is not pronounced when it follows a vowel in the same
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syllable.
Like in the words: ah, uh, hurrah, eh, nihilism, oh, ohm, John.
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Rule #4 “The silent /h/ for ease rule”

Sa

/h/ is not pronounced when its pronunciation would be

phonetically difficult.
Like in the words: exhibit, shepherd
 Letter /i/ has 16 phonics
rules. Copy each of the rules
onto cards with my picture
and store them in my pocket!

Rule #1 “The long /i/ rule”

/i/ is usually long when it ends a syllable.
Like in the words: I, tiger, bison, reprisal

Rule #2 “The at the end rule”

/i/ at the end of a word may make the long /i/ or
the long /e/ sound.
Like in the words: alkali, alibi, ski, chili, taxi
file
Rule #3 “The short /i/ rule”
/i/ is commonly short in a syllable which ends in a consonant.
ple

Like in the words: in, string, religion, digger

m

Rule #4 “The /i/ plus a vowel rule”

Sa

If /i/ is followed by another vowel, the following vowel is often

part of another syllable, and a consonantal /y/ sound appears be-
tween the two vowels.
Like in the words: dial, diet, violet.

Rule #5 “The /i/ with long /e/ sound rule”

In a suffix or an unstressed syllable, when /i/ is followed by a
vowel beginning another syllable, the /i/ says the long /e/ sound.
Like in the words: librarian, copier, curious, aquarium

Rule #6 “The swallowing /i/ rule”

When /i/ begins a syllable, the /i/ is swallowed up by
consonantal /y/ sound.
Like in the words: brilliant, spaniel, companion, savoir
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 Letter /k/ has 2 phonics
rules. Copy each of the rules
onto cards with my picture
and store them in my pocket!

Rule #1 “The /k/ rule”

Consonant /k/.
Like in the words: king, skillful, crinkle.

Rule #2 “The silent /k/ rule”

/k/ is silent before /n/ only at the beginning of a
primitive word.
Like in the words: know, knot, knead, knife.
file
ple
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Sa
 Letter /l/ has 8 phonics
rules. Copy each of the rules
onto cards with my picture
and store them in my pocket!

Rule #1 “The /l/ rule”

Single consonant /l/.
Like in the words: look, sleep, politics

Rule #2 “The /l/ plus a long vowel rule”

When /l/ is pronounced after a long vowel
especially after ling /i/ or long /u/ a consonantal
/y/ or /w/ sound often appears, creating a
semi-syllable.
Like in the words: male, meal, mile, mole, mule.
file
Rule #3 “The double /l/ short vowel rule”
ple

When /l/ is doubled, the preceding vowel is short.

Like in the words: bell, dwell, windmill.
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Sa

Rule #4 “The consonant plus /l/ rule followed by /e/ rule”

When a consonant plus /l/ occurs after a vowel, and before an /e/,
and if the first of the two syllables is stressed, then the first vowel
may be long.
Like in the words: able, title, noble, ruble.

Rule #5 “The two consonants plus /l/ between vowels rule”

When two consonants plus the letter /l/ occur between two
vowels, then the first vowel is short.
Like in the words: apple, kettle, tickle, bottle, puddle.
Sa
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ple
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Sa
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Sa
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Rule #7 “The /n/ plus the /k/ sound rule”
When /n/ is followed by a /k/ sound, such as hard /c/, /k/, /q/, or
/x/ (ks), then the /ng/ sound is followed by the /k/ or /ks/ sound.
Like in the words: zinc, sanction, blink, blanket, lynx, anxious.

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 Letter /o/ has 24 phonics
rules. Copy each of the rules
onto cards with my picture
and store them in my pocket!

Rule #1 “The long /o/ rule”

/o/ is long when it ends a syllable.
Like in the words: no, story, mobile

Rule #2 “The short /o/ rule”

/o/ is short in a syllable ending in a consonant.
Like in the word: on, hot, fox, chronic, often, ob-
ject
Exception: all and Yacht
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Rule #3 “The two consonants rule”
/o/ is short when it is followed by two consonants.
ple

Like in the words: off, cloth, respond.

m

Rule #4 “The sounds like short /u/ rule”

Sa

/o/ may sound like short /u/.

Like in the words: come, won, comfort, government.

Rule #5 “The /oa/ rule”

When /oa/ is in one syllable, it has a long sound.
Like in the words: goat, road, board.

Rule #6 “The /oe/ rule”

When /oe/ ends a word it almost always has a long sound.
Like in the words: doe, foe, hoe, roebuck, toe, and woe.

Rule #7 “The /oi/ rule”

/oi / is a vowel blend for the /oy/ sound.
Like in the words: foil, noise, pointer
 Rule #8 “The /oo/ rule”
/oo / has the /oo/ of zoo when it ends a word or when it is fol-
lowed by: f, h, l, m, n, p, s, th, v, z.
Like in the words: boo, doodle, moo, poodle, too, voodoo, proof,
pooh, fool, broom, noon, loop, loose, tooth, groove, snooze.

Rule #9 “The /oo/ followed by /k/ rule”

/oo/ has the /uh/ sound of took when it is followed by /k/.
Like in the words: took, crooked, brook.

Rule #10 “The /oo/ followed by /r/ rule”

/oo/ has the long /o/ sound of door when followed by an /r/.
Like in the words: floor, door, moor, poor
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Rule #11 “The /oo/ followed by /d/ or /t/ rule”
ple

When /oo/ is followed by a /d/ or a /t/ it can have any of the three
vowel sounds of /u/
m

Like in the words: food, mood, moot, boot, shoot, good, wood,
Sa

hood, foot, soot, blood, flood, root, soot.

Rule #12 “The /or/ rule”

/or/ followed by a consonant in a different syllable usually has a
broad sound.
Like in the words: or, corn, storm, fortify.

Rule #13 “The /orr/ short vowel rule”

When /orr /is followed by a short vowel sound it’s sound is long.
Like in the words: horrible, torrent, correct, porridge.

Rule #14 “The /orr/ long vowel rule”

When /orr/ is followed by a long vowel the /o/ sound is short.
Like in the words: sorry, borrow, tomorrow, corrode.
Exception: horror
 Rule #15 “The silent /e/ rule”
When /o/ is followed by one consonant and a silent /e/, the /o/ is
long.
Like in the words: rode, home, core.

Rule #16 “The /ol/ rule”

When /ol/ is followed in the same syllable by d, k, l, st, or t then
the /o/ is long.
Like in the words: old, cold, mold, folk, yolk, roll, toll, knoll,
poll, holster, bolster, pollster, bolt, colt, jolt.

Rule #17 “The /oll/ rule”

When /oll/ is divided between syllables, the /o/ becomes a short
file
sound.
Like in the words: folly, hollow, dollar, collect.
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m

Rule #18 “The many sounds of /ou/.”

Sa

/ou/ has many sounds:

Vowel blend /ow/, long /o/, long /oo/, short /oo/, short /u/
Like in the words: our, mouse, doubt, pour, soul, shoulder, you,
soup, tour, courier, would, should, could, tour, young, touch, fa-
mous, trouble.

Rule #19 “The many sounds of /ough/.”

/ough/ has many sounds:
Vowel blend /ow/, long /o/, short /o/, long, /oo/, short /off/, short /
uff/.
Like in the words: drought, doughty, bough, dough, though, bor-
ough, furlough, thorough, bough, ought, bought, sought, wrought,
brought, fought, thought, through, slough, cough, trough, rough,
tough, enough.
Rule #20 “The /ou/ followed by /r/ or /l/ rule”
When /ou/ is followed by /r/ or /l/ it has a long /o/ sound.
Like in the words: four, pour, court, source, gourd, soul, mould,
boulder, poultry.

Rule #21 “The French words rule”

In French words the /r/ swallows up the /ou/ sound.
Like in the words: flourish, journal, courteous.

Rule #22 “The /ow/ rule”

/ow/ may say the vowel blend in owl, especially if followed by d,
l, or el, or by an n, or er, when it is not a verb.
Like in the words: allow, cow, how, now, sow, vow, crowd,
file
howdy, rowdy, owl, cowl, fowl, howl, (not bowl), bowel, dowel,
Powell, towel, crown, down, frown, gown, town, flower, shower.
ple
m

Rule #23 “The long /ow/ rule”

Sa

/ow/ may say the long /o/ sound as in snow, especially if followed
by n when it is a verb.
Like in the words: blow, flow, mow, snow, shadow, own, mown,
thrown.

Rule #24 “The /oy/ rule”

/oy/ forms the vowel blend /oy/ as in boy.
Like in the words: oyster, voyage, toy.
 Letter /p/ has 7 phonics
rules. Copy each of the rules
onto cards with my picture
and store them in my pocket!

Rule #1 “The single /p/ rule”

/p/ says /p/.
Like in the words: park, keep, soapy.

Rule #2 “The double /p/ rule”

/pp/ says /p/.
Like in the words: popper, appraise, topping.

Rule #3 “The /pb/ rule” file

/p/ is silent when followed by /b/.
Like in the words: cupboard, raspberry, clapboard.
ple

Rule #4 “The /ph/ rule”

m

/ph/ is the Greek spelling for the /f/ sound.

Sa

Like in the words: phosphor, nephew, graph, phone.

Rule #5 “The /pl/ blend”

/pl/ says /pl/.
Like in the words: plant, splendid, reply.

Rule #6 “The silent /p/ rule”

/p/ is silent when it is followed in the same syllable by n, s, or t.
Like in the words: pneumatic, pneumonia, psalm, psychic, corps,
ptomaine, prompt, receipt.

Rule #7 “The /pr/ blend”

/pr/ says /pr/.
Like in the words: sprocket, represent, praise.
 Letter /q/ has 3 phonics
rules. Copy each of the rules
onto cards with my picture
and store them in my pocket!

Rule #1 “The /qu/ blend”

/qu/ says /kw/..
Like in the words: quick, queen, squirrel.

Rule #2 “The /qu/ followed by /a/ rule”

/qu/, when followed by short /a/, usually says the
broad /a/ sound.
Like in the words: quadrant, equal, squad.

Rule #3 “The French /qu/ rule”

file
In French words /qu/ sounds like /k/.
Like in the words: piquant, antique, mosquito, liquor.
ple
m
Sa
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Rule #8 “The added /e/ or /s/ rule”
When /e/ or /s/ is added to a word with /th/, /th/ is them voiced.
Like in the words: clothe, bathe, lathe, baths, mouths, booths.
Exception: clothes

Rule #9 “/th/ says /t/ rule”

/th/ says /t/ in some names and foreign words.
Like in the words: Thomas, Beethoven, thyme.

Rule #10 “The silent /th/ rule”

/th / is silent when followed by an /s/.
Like in the words: isthmus, asthma.
file
Rule #11 “The /thr/ and /thw/ rule”
ple

/thr/ and /thw/ say /th/ when not dividing a syllable.

Like in the words: three, threat, thread, thwart.
m
Sa

Rule #12 “/ti/ at the beginning rule”

/ti/ says /t/ when it begins a word.
Like in the words: title, tiny, tight.

Rule #13 “/ti/ within /ch/ rule”

/ti/ within a word says the soft /ch/ sound when it follows /s/.
Like in the words: Christian, question, bastion.

Rule #14 “/ti/ within /sh/ rule”

/ti/ within a word says /sh/ sound when it is followed by a vowel.
Like in the words: ratio, nation, initial, action, function.
Exception: anger, tangerine
Rule #15 “When /tu/ says /ch/ rule.”
/tu/ says /ch/ when it is within a word.
Like in the words: nature, culture, gesture, virtue, actual.

Rule #16 “The /tr/ blend rule”

/tr/ says /tr/.
Like in the words: tray, contract, extra.

Rule #17 “The /tw/ blend rule.”

/tw/ says /tw/.
Like in the words: twice, between, twelve.
file
Rule #18 “The silent /t/ rule”
/t/ is often silent when preceded by an /s/ and followed by /le/ or
ple

/en/.
Like in the words: apostle, hustle, whistle, thistle, hasten, fasten,
m

listen.
Sa

Rule #19 “The /str/ blend rule.”

/str/ says /str/.
Like in the words: straw, construct, lustre.
 Letter /u/ has 11 phonics
rules. Copy each of the rules
onto cards with my picture
and store them in my pocket!

Rule #1 “The long /u/ rule”

Long /u/ says it’s name. It is long when it ends a
syllable.
Like in the words: uniform, humor, fury, curious,
bugle

Rule #2 “The silent /e/ rule”

/u/ is always long when followed by a consonant
and a silent /e/.
Like in the words: cube, pure, fume, huge.
file
Rule #3 “The /ue/ rule”
ple

/ue/ has a long /u/ sound when it ends a word.

Like in the words: rescue, statue, hue, Sue, due, flue.
m
Sa

Rule #4 “The French /ue/ rule”

/ue/ is silent in French words where /ue/ follows /g /or /q/.
Like in the words: tongue, plague, dialogue, rogue, critique,
opaque, clique..

Rule #5 “The /ui/ rule.”

/ui/ says the long /u/ sound.
Like in the words: juice, suit, bruise, fruit.
Exception: suite says sweet.

Rule #6 “The French /ui/ rule”

/ui / has the short /i/ or long /i/ sound in French words where it
follows a /g/ or a /q/.
Like in the words: guilt, guide, quit, quilt.
Rule #7 “The short /u/ rule”
/u / is short in a syllable which ends in a consonant.
Like in the words: ugly, putt, hunted, crutch, put, pulley, pulpit.

Rule #8 “The swallowing /r/ rule”

/r/ swallows up the short /u/ sound.
Like in the words: burnt, turtle, surprise, hurrah, furry.
Exception: plaid, said, mountain, aisle

Rule #9 “The /w/ rule”

When /u/ is preceded by a consonant and followed by a vowel is
says /w/.
Like in the words: suave, suede, suite, quote, anguish.
file
ple

Rule #10 “The double /uu/ rule”

/uu/ says the long /u/ sound.
m

Like in the words: vacuum, continuum.

Sa

Rule #11 “The broad /a/ rule”

/u/ before a short /a/ changes the /a/ to a broad /a/.
Like in the words: suave, squash, quarter.
Exception: Quack
 Letter /v/ has 3 phonics
rules. Copy each of the rules
onto cards with my picture
and store them in my pocket!

Rule #1 “The /v/ rule”

/v/ says /v/.
Like in the words: vine, advance, provision.

Rule #2 “The end of the word rule”

/v/ at the end of a word is always followed by
silent /e/.
Like in the words: greave, groove, relieve, solve.

Rule #3 “The /ve/ rule”

file
A single vowel before /ve/ is always short.
Like in the words: give, have, love.
ple

Exception: Eve
m
Sa
 Letter /w/ has 9 phonics
rules. Copy each of the rules
onto cards with my picture
and store them in my pocket!

Rule #1 “The voiced /w/ rule”

/w/ followed by a vowel is always voiced.
Like in the words: wagon, aware, entwine.

Rule #2 “The short to broad /a/ rule”

/w/ usually changes a short /a/ to a broad /a/.
Like in the words: wand, swan, wallet.
Exception: wack

Rule #3 “The bossy /r/ rule”

file
/r/ changes a broad /a/ after /w/ to a long /o/.
Like in the words: war, warning, dwarf, swarm, ward.
ple
m

Rule #4 “The /wh/ rule”

Sa

/wh/ says /w/.

Like in the words: what, whether, anywhere.

Rule #5 “The swallowing /o/ rule”

/o/ swallows the /w/ sound in /who/ so that it says the long /o/
sound or the /oo/ sound.
Like in the words: whole, whore, who, whom, whose.

Rule #6 “The short /o/ rule”

/w/ changes short /o/ to the short /u/ sound.
Like in the words: won, wonder, wolf, woman.
Rule #7 “The swallowing /r/ rule”
/r/ swallows the short /u/ sound of /o when it follows /w/.
Like in the words: word, worst, worship

Rule #8 “When /w/ is swallowed rule”

/w/ is swallowed by /r/.
Like in the words: write, wrong, wreckage.

Rule #9 “The it’s too hard to say that rule”

In some words we do not pronounce the /w/ because it is too hard
to do so.
Like in the words: two, answer, sword.
file
ple
m
Sa
 Letter /x/ has 3 phonics
rules. Copy each of the rules
onto cards with my picture
and store them in my pocket!

Rule #1 “The unvoiced /ks/ rule”

The unvoiced /x/ is always at the end of a
syllable.
Like in the words: fox, mixing, sixteen.

Rule #2 “The voiced /gz/ rule”

When the syllable with the /x/ is not stressed, and
the next syllable begins with a vowel the /x/ says
/gz/
Like in the words: exact, auxiliary, exhort.
file
Rule #3 “The Greek rule”
ple

In Greek words, the /x/ says /z/.

Like in the words: Xerox, Xerxes, xylophone, xenophobia.
m
Sa
Sa
m
ple
file
 Rule #7 “The long /i/ rule”
When /y. or /ye/ is followed by a consonant and a silent /e/, the /
y/ says the long /i/ sound.
Like in the words: bye, dye, lye, rye, type, style, lyre, enzyme.

Rule #8 “The swallowing /r/ rule”

/r/ swallows up the short /i/ sound of /y/ when it appears at the
end of a word or when the next syllable begins with a consonant.
Like in the words: martyr, satyr, zephyr, myrtle

Rule #9 “The /yr/ rule”

When /yr/ is followed by a vowel, the short /i/ sound of the /y/ is
file
heard.
Like in the words: syrup, lyric, pyramid, tyranny.
ple
m
Sa
 Letter /z/ has 5 phonics
rules. Copy each of the rules
onto cards with my picture
and store them in my pocket!

Rule #1 “The /z/ rule”

/z/ says /z/.
Like in the words: zipper, frozen, recognize.

Rule #2 “The /ts/ rule”

When /z/ is preceded by /t/ in the same syllable it
says /ts/.
Like in the words: waltz, quartz, chintz.
file
Rule #3 “The foreign words rule”
/zh/ says /zh/ in Russian words and /j/ in Chinese words.
ple

Like in the words: Zhukov (zhoo-kov), Zhanjiang (jan-jyang).

m

Rule #4 “The silent /zh/ rule”

Sa

When /z/ is followed by /i/ or /u/, it changes to the voiced /zh/

sound.
Like in the words: glazier, brazier, azure.

Rule #5 “The end of the word rule”

/z/ is almost never alone at the end of a word. There is either an
/e/ or another /z/ present.
Like in the words: sneeze, bronze, seize, buzz, jazz, fizz, fuzz,
Exception: quiz and whiz.
Sa
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 Hmmm...I wonder
which of these words
follows this rule?

file
ple
m
Sa

ABC Kids Review Pages

 An Idea for how to Use the Review
Sheets
1. After you have introduced the rule card use this page for a review.
Write the # of the rule on the alphabet kid’s shirt. (example: A1)
2. Have your child find the words on the bottom of his/her rule card
which are examples of the rule.
3. Then find the words on the review sheet and circle them.
4. Finally write the word(s) in the space around the alphabet kid.

*To make this page into a half sheet simply print in Fine Print (this is a
free program you can download off of the internet at fineprint.com)
with the “2 up “ option.
file
ple
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Sa
Umbrella bracelet Caesar algae morale mirage

Gallop malfunction almost far marry scarlet taste awe

ale hurrah stair ail royal palace value Al calm almond
Hmmm...I wonder
which of these words
follows this rule?

file
ple
m
Sa

acorn yawn volcano clay and apple diaphragm

muscle lucre church lacquer chorus echo

Coast
pencil face policy
Hmmm...I wonder
which of these words
follows this rule?

creed cyclone
delicious

file

machine accept
ple
m
merchant Czech

Sa

class
science
Stomach

Cost cent wreck acclaim cluck crew child

Blind huddle dresser dwarf bridge fledgling

Adjourn educate
Hmmm...I wonder
nade drop dwindle badger schedule

which of these words

follows this rule?

handkerchief dandelion
file
ple
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Sa
Adjust handsome

dragon done

Did daddy drink dwell soldier fudge judge

Wasted sobbed key boxed fee reindeer deceit

Acme appendices
feud
Hmmm...I wonder
which of these words
follows this rule?
fishes
person berry

café hey valet mean

file
ple
peon

m
Sa
leopard

breath learn
Eight people

Idea exit pirate debate large rosette evening

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