Encoding
The two‐letter ending pattern that spells the /ch/ sound.
What is -tch or -ch
In a word like fetch, this ending chunk helps the reader know the vowel before it is short.
What is tch?
Blend the sounds /p/ + /u/ + /tch/ to say the word with the -tch pattern.
What is “putch”?
Spell the word that means “to catch or trap” with the /ch/ ending pattern.
What is “catch” → C-A-T-C-H (uses -tch)?
A student who misreads words like bridge or badge may need review with this ending pattern.
What is -dge?
The ending pattern spells the /j/ sound
What is -dge?
In the word “midge”, what ending pattern signals /j/ and what is the vowel before it?
What is dge? and the vowel sound is a short i
Blend /m/ + /i/ + /dge/ to form a word using the -dge ending.
What is “midge”?
Spell the word meaning " used to keep food cold” that uses the /j/ ending pattern.
What is “fridge” → F-R-I-D-G-E (uses -dge)?
A student who spells bold as brold is confusing patterns in this word family group.
What is the -old pattern?
Name an ending pattern that spells a long vowel plus “ld” or “lt” sound
What is -old, -olt, -ild, -ind, or -ost
For the word “cold”, which ending pattern do you use, and what is the vowel sound?
What is -old? and the vowel sound is a long O
Blend /c/ + /ō/ + /ld/ to form a word using the -old pattern.
What is “cold”?
Spell the word meaning “very cold” that uses the -old pattern.
What is “cold” → C-O-L-D?
Depending on the word, this letter can make either the long /ī/ or long /ē/ sound.
What is y?
The ending pattern is used to encode the /əl/ sound (as in “candle”, “puddle”)
What is -le?
When decoding “cycle”, which ending pattern and vowel sound apply
The ending pattern -le is used and the vowel “y” is acting as /ī/ in the first syllable /“cy–/ and then we have the /əl/ at the end.
Blend /r/ + /ī/ + /nd/ to form a word using the -ind ending.
What is “rind”?
Spell the word meaning “a collection of rain” that uses the -le ending and has the /əl/ sound at the end.
What is “puddle” → P-U-D-D-L-E
To help a student read a word like bundle, a teacher may coach them to decode the first chunk, then attach this ending.
What is -le?
A one-syllable word ends with the /ch/ sound. You know the vowel before it is long, not short. Which ending pattern should you not use, and what ending should you encode instead?
You should not use -tch because the vowel is long.
Instead, use “ch” after a long vowel (e.g., “peach,” “coach”)
In decoding “wristle” (not a common word, but for practice), identify the ending pattern and explain how you’d split syllables and decode.
Ending pattern -le gives the final /əl/ sound, you’d split wrist‐le; decode “wrist” then attach the /əl/ ending.
Blend /h/ + /u/ + /s/ + /tle/ to form a multi‐syllable word ending in the -le pattern.
What is “hustle”?
Spell the word meaning " a forest of very green ,dense trees and vines, and it is warm and humid" that uses the -le ending and has the /el/ sound at the end.
What is “jungle” → J-U-N-G-L-E
A student reads the words “match,” “pitch,” and “fetch” correctly, but when they see the word “coach,” they try to decode it as /cō-tch/ and insist it should end with -tch “because it sounds like the other ones.”
What is the rule that -tch is only used after a short vowel in a one-syllable word — otherwise the ending is just ch?