Multi-Syllable Phonics Bundle for Upper Elementary Students

Have you heard about the Science of Reading, but are unsure of how to apply phonics foundation skills in an upper elementary or middle school classroom? Do you have older students who struggle with reading, writing, and spelling but are frustrated with interventions targeted towards younger children? This is the right resource for you!

Included in this bundle are SIXTY dictation sentences, SIX dictation stories with optional fill in the blank versions, ONE HUNDRED FIFTY spelling practice activities, SIX printable reference cards with the phonics rules, and SIX digital phonics references. Lessons and materials include each of the main syllable types: closed, silent-e, open, vowel team, consonant-le, and r-controlled.

In my classroom, I have used this in small groups, large groups, and with independent practice. The materials included in this bundle provide ample scaffolding, practice, and support when paired with whole class phonics instruction on the six main syllable types. These materials and lessons allow students to focus only on the phonics and spelling goals when writing, slowly increasing their confidence to be able to write and spell independently.

Why I love these so much:

I have been teaching upper elementary and early middle grades for years and consistently I've found students who struggle with writing multi-syllable words. I've had everything from a 4th grader unable to write beyond closed, single syllable words to a 6th grader struggling to spell vocabulary words from science. It's a systemic issue I've noticed in every state, every school, every grade where I have taught. The struggle? Students learned how to break apart words years ago as they were first starting to read and write single syllable words. And then they stopped. It's like once they reached 3rd grade, students suddenly thought these rules no longer applies. Or, more like it, it's like they reached a multi-syllable word and froze. Because multi-syllable words do, at first try, seem hard! But they don't have to be!

Regardless of the age of my class, I teach them the phonics rules. I'm not picky about what curriculum we use (though Reading Mastery and 95% Group are my top choices if I get a say), but I make sure we start with some sort of phonics instruction along with the reading and writing I already would be teaching. Once students have shown that they understand the rules, it's necessary to practice spelling words that follow these rules in context. That's where these lessons come in. We use them to apply the rules within the context of a given sentence or story, slowly releasing students into being able to eventually spell fluently as they create their own pieces of writing. Finally, the reference cards provide scaffolding to students as they read and write on their own - giving them a reminder of the rules for spelling or reading the syllable types rather than providing them the answers altogether.

Words You Can Expect Students to Spell:

monster

goblin

pumpkin

expected

splendid

alpine

subscribe

ignite

compute

bison

silence

revised

vital

rooftops

jigsaw

peered

boasted

miracle

chuckled

popsicles

florist

forbidden

urchin

blubber

witness

extract

splendid

engrave

ignite

athlete

valid

dilute

stipend

awful

exhaust

factoid

muffle

sizzles

stumble

startled

perspire

skirmish

Not your typical phonics spelling words, huh? That's because these lessons and materials are meant for upper elementary students to practice rules they already know. They can handle these words. They don't need the typical "cat", "dog", "home," type phonics practice. They need the types of words they actually struggle with!

Remember this: If you want students to use stronger vocabulary words, you have to give them the tools to write them out.

I hope this resource is as useful to you and your students as it has been in my own classroom.