Reading / Grades 3-4 / spelling practice
Spell chief, not cheif
Learning goal: Hear chief, remember its middle letter pair, repair a swapped spelling and use chief and chiefs in sentences.
Before you start: Recognize the letters c, h, i, e and f. A helper may say the word and read directions. Use paper or another comfortable writing method; no recording is needed.
Read or print this lesson What to practiceThe video could not load. The transcript is still available below.
Next: your worksheet
Chief: Keep the Middle in Order
Checking sign-in...
Read the transcript
Saved reading place
Video transcript and practice. Reading or printing does not count as playback time or an assessed grade.
1. Meet a useful word
Video: 0:00
Our word is chief. A fire chief leads a fire department. Say chief with me. Chief. Now look at its five letters: C, H, I, E, F. The tricky part is the pair in the middle. Today we will notice that pair, practise remembering it, and use the word in a sentence.
2. Five letters, three sounds
Video: 0:24
Say chief slowly, then say it naturally again. The letters C and H work together for the first sound. The letters I and E work together for the long E sound in the middle. F spells the last sound. Five letters represent three sounds here. Count sounds, not letter names. In this word, I comes just before E.
3. Keep the middle in order
Video: 0:50
Look at the spelling marked repair. Its two middle letters have traded places. They do not get to swap seats today! Put I first, then E. Read the corrected word: chief. Check the beginning and ending too. This is how chief is spelled. It is not a rule that I always comes before E in every English word. Check unfamiliar words in a dictionary.
4. Pause and remember
Video: 1:19
Pause here. Cover any other copies of our word on your page. Say the word for a leader, and write it from memory on paper. A helper can say it for you without spelling it. Think about the first sound, the middle pair, and the ending. Take your time. When you have tried, uncover the word and continue to the next picture.
5. Check one letter at a time
Video: 1:44
Here is the check: C, H, I, E, F. Compare your word one letter at a time. Are the middle letters I, then E? If they were switched, notice the correct order, cover the model, and try again. Making a repair is part of learning. A correct choice on a screen is useful, but writing without the model gives you a different kind of practice.
6. Give the word a job
Video: 2:10
Read this sentence: The fire chief checked the map. Chief names a leader. Now try: Our chief goal is to help. Here chief means main or most important. Same spelling, different job in the sentence. Pause and make your own sentence using either meaning. Explain it to a helper. You do not need to share real names or personal details.
7. One chief, two chiefs
Video: 2:38
Fun fact: the plural of chief is chiefs. Keep the F and add S. English words ending in F do not all make their plurals the same way. We are learning this particular word, not guessing every plural. Say one chief, two chiefs. Then spell chiefs. You kept the same middle pair and added just one letter at the end.
8. Try it on paper
Video: 3:04
Continue to the worksheet below. First do the cover and write practice. Then answer the spelling and meaning questions. Checking those questions does not automatically check your handwriting or your own sentence. Ask a helper to look at those parts with you. Try the second sheet another day. Before looking at the model again, see whether you can remember the middle pair.
Show your understanding
You can point, explain aloud, draw or write.
- Explain and repair the ie order in chief, then try writing the word with all models hidden. A helper reviews the unaided writing separately.
- Use chief for a leader or the main thing, and form chiefs without changing f. Checked choices do not certify handwriting or unaided spelling.
Try it yourself
Pause at the five empty boxes. Cover other copies and write the word for a leader before revealing the check.
Continue to the worksheet, then try the second sheet another day. A helper reviews your handwritten word and original sentence separately.
Next: your worksheet
Chief: Keep the Middle in Orderhttps://s3u.com/ra3h1
Lesson: https://s3u.com/lessons/spell-chief