Year 4/5/6

This week in spelling, our focus shifts to derivational suffixes, specifically exploring the rules for using "ion," "tion," and "sion" when transforming verbs into nouns. Understanding these suffixes is essential for students as they delve into the intricacies of spelling.

When learning how to spell words, students must coordinate three linguistic word forms: phonological, orthographic, and morphological knowledge. These may sound like complex terms, but they simply refer to understanding the sounds, letter patterns, and functions of smaller units within words.

For instance, let's take the word "education." It's spelled with "tion" because the base word is "educate." Understanding the morphological knowledge here helps students recognize that adding "tion" changes the verb "educate" into the noun "education."

Additionally, examining the orthographic knowledge reveals why "educate" is spelled with a "c" that makes the /k/ sound. This is because, in English, before the letter "a," "c" is typically preferred over "k."

By mastering these spelling rules and understanding the underlying principles behind them, students can enhance their spelling skills and develop a deeper appreciation for the structure and nuances of the English language.

To reinforce these concepts at home, consider practising spelling or playing games like Scrabble or Hangman with your kids. These activities provide enjoyable opportunities for them to sharpen their spelling skills while having fun.

EN3-SPELL-01 automatically applies taught phonological, orthographic and morphological generalisations and strategies when spelling in a range of contexts, and justifies spelling strategies used to spell unfamiliar words