A "spelling trick" refers to a simple, often clever technique or mnemonic that helps in correctly spelling a tricky or commonly misspelled word.- Free Lessons

Welcome to the 1st Lesson of Great Spelling Tricks.

By now, after completing the Phonics module, you should be hearing the sounds inside words more clearly — the foundation of confident spelling.

In this module, you’ll begin using powerful spelling patterns and tricks that make tricky words logical.

And this is just the beginning.

Next, you’ll move on to:
• Becoming a Word Detective
• Spelling Mastery — where you’ll confidently handle prefixes, suffixes, tenses, and the differences between UK and US spelling, compound words, etc.

Each step builds naturally on the one before — and every lesson strengthens your spelling for life.

This activity focuses on ending sounds like /e/ or /i/, as in "fly" or "money."

This story is about Baby Hill Words.

On a small hill in Spelling Village sits a happy baby.
The baby loves to watch a funny puppy running in the grass after a flying butterfly.

Sometimes the puppy jumps so high that people cry with laughter.

If you listen carefully to the words baby, happy, funny, you will hear an /ee/ sound at the end (very, tiny).

But these words do not end with an e.

In Spelling Village, these words end with y.

Did you notice the word fly has an /i/ sound?
Many words with an /i/ sound end in y.

So use your memory and apply the Baby Hill story or cry for words ending with an /ee/ or /i/ sound — they end in a y.

Let's watch this video.

You already know how to use Talking to Your Pencil to hear sounds clearly.

Now we’ll use it to spot the tricky parts in words ending in /e/ and /y/ — and make them easy.

Watch these next 2 videos, then complete the exercise.

Child image Mosquito

Say bab-ee.

What sound do you hear at the end?

But it isn’t written with e.
So which letter represents that final /ee/ sound?

Close your eyes. Listen again: bab-ee.

What do you hear?

Let's try some more words:

Which spelling is correct?

In your Decoding Book, write the final sound you hear — the /ee/ sound.

Now write the word that means to think of something in the past.
It begins m _ m o r _.

Are you using an e? That's not correct.
So which letter will represent the /ee/ sound?

Do you join the navy or do you join the navee?

Do you play rugby or do you play rugbee?

Is he handy or hande?

Do you walk Slowlee or Slowly?

Is your piggybank Empty or Emptee?

Is it a fli or fly?

The above questions also give you the answer. Go back and look at the ending letter of the correct answer.
What are you seeing?
It's a y.
Why not go back to the start of this lesson and re read the Baby Hill Words story.

THE PATTERN for Baby Hill Words

(Write it in your Decoding Book)

This activity focuses on tricky /e/ and /i/ sounds at the end of words.

The rule:

When a word ends with the /e/ or /i/ sound, it is usually spelled with y.
- Example: cry, happy, funny

Use Talking to Your Pencil to listen carefully to the final sound.
If you see a word ending in y, it is usually pronounced /e/ or /i/, not like the letter y.

A few words are exceptions — later lessons will cover them.

THE PATTERN for Baby Hill Words

No joke found

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