When you double a letter, remember to FLOSS

Playing a game while eating a snack or a meal, takes the “homework” feel out of teaching literacy. For more Eat Your Words activities, follow along on Instagram.

One of the first spelling rules children can learn after they understand short vowels is the doubling rule. When a ONE syllable letter word ends in F, L, S (or Z) and the letter comes right after a short vowel, the F, L, S, or Z is doubled. Words like kiss, bell, hill, chill, fluff, huff, miff, mess, drill, pass, miss, fill, still, sniff, and so on!

Hershey KISSes for dessert tonight with a side of spelling. Done and done!

As always in the English language, there are exceptions. Words that end in S where the S makes the /Z/ sound do not apply, such as dogs or bugs. Red words should be taught as sight words when possible, such as the word was. Two syllable words or words with more than one vowel do not apply. The word awful does not apply because it has two syllables; tail or foil would not apply because each has a vowel team.

As always, let me know if you try this at home! Don’t forget the free printable!