Language Conventions
NAPLAN Spelling Rules 1 and 2: Long Vowels, Vowel Names
The first two spelling rules relate to how we spell long vowel sounds (how we spell the sounds of vowels saying their names) as in baby, he, silent, go and music. While the vowels on their own can make these sounds, usually at the end of syllables, the two other ways we spell the sounds of vowels saying their names are traditionally assessed in NAPLAN.
The first two spelling rules relate to how we spell long vowel sounds (how we spell the sounds of vowels saying their names) as in baby, he, silent, go and music. While the vowels on their own can make these sounds, usually at the end of syllables, the two other ways we spell the sounds of vowels saying their names are traditionally assessed in NAPLAN.
A silent, final e at the end of a word following a single vowel and consonant usually makes the vowel say its name. It is called a bossy e. It is important to know that the bossy e, while very bossy, only has the power to jump over one consonant to make the vowel say its name. It also makes i and u say their third sounds, the name of e as in magazine and trampoline and long oo as in flute and salute. Examples: mate, Pete, like, cone, cute Exceptions: love, were, come, give, have, glove. NAPLAN Spelling Rule 1: Bossy e |
For words in which the long vowel sound is not at the end of a syllable or does not follow the vowel-consonant-silent, final e pattern, two (or more) letters must work together to make the long vowel sounds. Most of these are double vowels which are two vowels, or the letter y acting as a vowel, working together. The first vowel often says its name and the second letter is silent. This is known as the double vowel rule: when two vowels go walking the first one does the talking and says its name. Some double vowels make more than one sound, but this rule generally applies to the most common sound made by the double vowels. Examples: paint, stay, seen, beach, tie, boat, toe, light, key. Exceptions to the double vowel rule: boy, coin, pool, foot, sound, clown and other sounds made by some of the double vowels such as bread, great and they. NAPLAN Spelling Rule 2: Double Vowels |
Additional Learning Resource
The Bossy e Board Game is available for purchase and download from our shop.
The Bossy e Board Game is available for purchase and download from our shop.