Preparing to teach students about consonant and vowel alternation among words that are related in spelling and meaning? Read on to get all the info you need before you start teaching students!

In this blog post, you will:

• learn the various types of consonant and vowel alternations

• get student-friendly examples of consonant and vowel alternation

• gain insight about the significance of focusing on the spelling-meaning connection among related words with students

• learn the spelling exceptions to teach students 

• walk away with easy-prep resources for how to teach students about consonant and vowel alternations and how to use spelling-meaning patterns to their advantage in fun and engaging ways

What is the spelling-meaning connection and why is it important to teach students about?

As students shift their perspective from viewing words in isolation to recognizing them as integral contributors to broader spelling patterns woven throughout the English language, their proficiency in spelling and vocabulary undergoes a transformative surge. When students are taught about the spelling-meaning connection - words that are related in spelling are usually related in meaning as well, despite changes in sound - they develop two critical spelling and vocabulary strategies.

First, when students are unsure about the spelling of a specific word, they can use their knowledge of the spelling-meaning connection to think of another related word that they do know how to spell and use it to help them spell the word they are uncertain about. 

For example, unaccented schwa sounds very often give students trouble because the sound doesn’t provide a clue to the vowel. So, if a student is unsure if the word “competition” is spelled “compatition”, “compitition”, “compotition”, or “competition”, they could think of the related word “compete” to spell the unaccented vowel with an e. 

Second, the spelling-meaning connection significantly improves vocabulary development and insight. When students recognize the power of using related words in spelling-meaning families as clues to help them understand the meaning of unfamiliar words, their word knowledge bank grows exponentially. For example, if a student knows what the word “critic” means, they can use that to understand the meanings of “critical” and “criticize”, especially in the context of a sentence.

In what grade level are students ready to learn about related words in spelling-meaning families?

Students are typically ready to learn about the spelling-meaning connection and find value in connecting related words between late 4th grade through 6th grade. Students need to have a strong foundational understanding of how affixes and bases are put together and the impact they have on meaning and part of speech before fully diving in to learn about the spelling-meaning connection.

How do students apply the spelling-meaning connection?

One avenue that helps support students in growing their spelling-meaning strategy is by having them practice identifying consonants and vowels that alternate in related words, also known as consonant and vowel alternation. It is important for students to recognize that although they hear consonant and vowel sound changes in related words, the spelling almost always remains the same, solidifying the power in using their knowledge of the spelling-meaning connection when they are uncertain how to spell a particular word.

What is consonant alternation?

A consonant alternation is when a consonant sound change can be observed in words connected by both spelling and meaning. For instance, the consonant that remains silent in one word of a pair with shared spelling and meaning becomes sounded in the related word. Consonant alternation also typically occurs in consonants that can make both soft and hard sounds like the consonant g or c.

What are some consonant alternation examples?

Find more consonant alternation examples and resources here:

Consonant Alternation among Related Words Derivational Relations Games and Activities

What is vowel alternation?

A vowel alternation is when a vowel sound change can be observed in words connected by both spelling and meaning. For instance, the vowel may make the long vowel sound in one word of a pair with shared spelling and meaning and then alternates to a short or schwa sound in the related word.

What are some vowel alternation examples?

Students need lots of examples to see and hear the vowel alternation occurring among related words. These are some great visuals to share with students that include some long to short vowel alternation examples, long to schwa vowel alternation examples, and schwa to short vowel alternation examples. I’ve also linked resources below that can be used to help support students as they are learning this concept.

Find more vowel alternation examples and resources here:

Long to Short Vowel Alternation Derivational Relations Games and Activities

Long to Short or Schwa Vowel Alternation Derivational Relations Activities

Adding Suffix -ITY Schwa to Short Vowel Alternation among Related Words

Long, Short, Schwa Vowel Alternations among Related Words Derivational Relations

Multiple Vowel Alternations among Related Words Derivational Relations

Are there exceptions to the spelling-meaning connection?

Once students get a lot of exposure to seeing that the spelling remains the same among related words in spelling-meaning families, even when the sound changes or alternates when suffixes are added, it is important to note the exceptions to this generalization. In some related words, a change does occur within the spelling of the base before a suffix is added. Although there are only a few instances like this, the exceptions themselves follow similar spelling patterns, making it easier for students to remember them.

Find more spelling-meaning connection exception examples and resources here:

Adding -ION Vowel Alternation among Related Words with Spelling Change

How do you teach consonant and vowel alternation in related words through the spelling-meaning connection?

Because using the spelling-meaning connection is such a powerful strategy to spell and define words students are uncertain about, they need ample time to work with related words in spelling-meaning families and familiarize themselves with the strategy. I think it is important to provide students with a large assortment of activities to keep them engaged and help them solidify their learning.

I’ve created word searches, printable spelling word list activities, and various word study notebook activities centering around consonant and vowel alternation among related words, but not surprisingly, my students’ favorite way to engage in word study practice is by playing games. 😉

One of my favorite games to encourage students to make connections among words that are related in spelling and meaning is Linked!. Linked! is a partner-based game where students take turns drawing cards and moving their pawns along a game board path, searching for and recording words that are “linked” in spelling and/or meaning along the way to reach the end before their opponent does.

The game cards for this particular game challenge students to analyze the words on the game board before covering them. Depending on what the student draws they must analyze a variety of things to find the correct word to cover- vowel sounds, schwa sounds, accented syllables, unaccented syllables, derived meanings, silent and sounded consonants, and part of speech. They then must sort the related word pairs they find into categories highlighting the consonant or vowel alternation that occurred between the words.

Another great option, especially for independent practice (although can easily be adapted for partner play) is Vowel Alternation Sprint, a word board activity that challenges students to generate missing related words in spelling and/or meaning within a given sentence and then match them to a word board describing the vowel alternation changes that occurred. All Vowel Alternation Sprint games include three different board versions for repeated play opportunities.

A student favorite and one that gives them LOTS of practice deciding which suffix to choose depending on the base word or word root they are attaching it to is Alternation Match & Stack. In this independent or partner-based activity, students match sentence cards containing missing words that are related in spelling and meaning. After making a match, students then must add the word study word to a gridded mat, finding a way to connect it with other words (much like Scrabble ®).

You can find all the games and activities I incorporate into our word study routine when students are learning about consonant and vowel alternation through the spelling-meaning connection in the Words with Spelling and Meaning Connections 1 Bundle and Words with Spelling and Meaning Connections 2 Bundle.

YOUR EFFORTS TODAY ARE PAVING THE WAY!

When it comes to teaching consonant and vowel alternation among related words through the spelling-meaning connection, I believe that the more exposure and practice students get, the stronger readers and spellers they become! Not only does incorporating gameplay into our word study routine provide an additional opportunity for students to practice and apply what is being taught, but adding games and play-based activities adds some much-needed variety and engagement to our word study block.

Looking for more Derivational Relations resources?

You can get all of the Derivational Relations Stage games and activities in a time-saving , money saving bundle!