Quick Oral Check
Oral Dictation Challenge: "The baseball pitch was a match!" Have students tap sounds in pitch (/p/ /ĭ/ /ch/) and match (/m/ /ă/ /ch/). Both end with trigraph -tch after a short vowel.
Error Correction Prompt (PINCH vs. PITCH): "Why does PINCH not have letter T?" If a student writes *PINTCH, prompt: "Listen for the /n/ sound! The consonant 'N' guards the vowel, so digraph -ch finishes the word without 'T'."
Teacher Answer Key Fundations L3 • Unit 1 • Week 1
Ladder 2 Key: The Clock Tower
Focus: The -ck vs. -k Decision Tree • Consonants l/n before k
Pacing: 12–15 Min • Monochrome Print Ready
Completed Ladder
8
C L O C K
7
L O C K
6
S O C K
5
S A C K
4
S A N K
3
S I N K
2
S I L K
1
S I C K
Base: SICK → Goal: CLOCK
When to use -ck: 1) One-syllable word. 2) Single short vowel. 3) /k/ is the very next sound. (SICK, SACK, SOCK, LOCK, CLOCK).
When to use -k after consonant: When another consonant sits between the short vowel and the ending /k/ sound (SILK: l before k; SINK: n before k; SANK: n before k).
| Word | Graphemes | Phonemes | Reason for Ending |
|---|---|---|---|
| SILK | s - i - l - k | 4 sounds | Ends in -k because of consonant 'l' |
| SINK | s - i - n - k | 3 sounds (welded) | Ends in -k because of consonant 'n' |
| SACK | s - a - ck | 3 sounds | Ends in -ck after short 'a' |
| CLOCK | c - l - o - ck | 4 sounds (blend cl-) | Ends in -ck after short 'o' |
Facilitation Tip for Potato SACK Clue:
"Remind 2nd/3rd graders about Field Day potato sack races! Ask: 'How many vowels do you hear in sack?' Just one short /ă/, so it must end with the digraph team -ck."
Quick Oral Check
Oral Dictation Sentence: "The clock had a strong lock." Target words: clock and lock. Both have short /ŏ/ directly followed by /k/, so they must use the digraph -ck.
Consonant-Buffer Check (SILK vs. SICK): "Why does SILK end in -k and not -ck?" Expected answer: "Because letter 'L' is between the short vowel /ĭ/ and /k/, so we only write single letter k!"
Teacher Answer Key Fundations L3 • Unit 1 • Week 1
Ladder 3 Key: The Barnyard Hatch
Focus: Digraph -ch vs. Trigraph -tch • Initial Consonant Blends (cr-, cl-)
Pacing: 12–15 Min • Monochrome Print Ready
Completed Ladder
8
L A C K
7
L A T C H
6
H A T C H
5
H U T C H
4
C L U T C H
3
C R U T C H
2
C R U N C H
1
R A N C H
Base: RANCH → Goal: LACK
Marking Blends (CRUNCH, CRUTCH, CLUTCH): In Level 3, initial blends get two separate underlines: cr and cl because each letter retains its sound.
Marking Trigraph -tch: Underline the trigraph tch with a single line to show that three letters represent one single phoneme /ch/.
Short vowels need protection! When a word ends with the /ch/ sound:
Facilitation Tip for 2nd Grade Clue Reading (HUTCH / LATCH):
"For hutch ('pet bunny cage') and latch ('gate hook'), ask students: 'What short vowel sound do you hear right before /ch/?' Since it is a short vowel with no consonant buffer, write -tch!"
Quick Oral Check
Oral Dictation Sentence: "The chicks hatch near the hutch." Students tap hatch (/h/ /ă/ /ch/) and hutch (/h/ /ŭ/ /ch/). Both have unguarded short vowels requiring trigraph -tch.
Vowel Guard Diagnostic (CRUNCH vs. CRUTCH): "Point to the letter guarding the vowel in CRUNCH." Student should point to N. Prompt: "Because N is guarding the vowel, do we need T? No! Only write -ch!"
Teacher Answer Key Fundations L3 • Unit 1 • Week 1
Ladder 4 Key: Switch the Track
Focus: Short /ĭ/ Closed Syllables • Parallel Rules: -ck for /k/ and -tch for /ch/
Pacing: 12–15 Min • Monochrome Print Ready
Completed Ladder
8
S T I C K
7
S T I T C H
6
S W I T C H
5
W I T C H
4
W I C K
3
T I C K
2
T R I C K
1
B R I C K
Base: BRICK → Goal: STICK
Ladder 4 showcases the mathematical symmetry of English spelling rules after a short vowel:
Short Vowel + /k/: Needs 2 letters: -ck WICK, TICK, BRICK, STICK
Short Vowel + /ch/: Needs 3 letters: -tch WITCH, SWITCH, STITCH
| Word | Initial Element | Tapping Sounds | Total Letters |
|---|---|---|---|
| WICK | Single consonant /w/ | /w/ /ĭ/ /k/ (3) | 4 letters |
| SWITCH | Consonant blend /sw/ | /s/ /w/ /ĭ/ /ch/ (4) | 6 letters |
| STITCH | Consonant blend /st/ | /s/ /t/ /ĭ/ /ch/ (4) | 6 letters |
| STICK | Consonant blend /st/ | /s/ /t/ /ĭ/ /k/ (4) | 5 letters |
Teacher Anchor Script:
"Notice how WITCH, SWITCH, and STITCH all share the exact same short /ĭ/ sound followed by /ch/. Because it's a short vowel with no consonant in front of the /ch/, we must use all three letters: T-C-H!"
Quick Oral Check
Parallel Dictation Sentence: "Switch the stick with a stitch." Highlights all 3 short /ĭ/ patterns: switch (-tch), stick (-ck), and stitch (-tch). Perfect dictation for formative check!
Fundations Syllable Marking Check: Scoop STICK → stĭck (c) Prompt student: 1) Scoop whole syllable under baseline. 2) Place breve (˘) over 'i'. 3) Underline blend s-t. 4) Underline digraph ck. 5) Write 'c' below scoop for closed syllable.
Teacher Answer Key Fundations L3 • Unit 1 • Week 1
Ladder 5 Key: The Alpine Finch
Focus: Week 1 Grand Finale Mastery • Comprehensive 4-Rule Diagnostic & Sorting Matrix
Pacing: 15 Min • Monochrome Print Ready
Completed Ladder
8
F I N C H
7
F E T C H
6
P E C K
5
P A C K
4
S A C K
3
S I N K
2
S I L K
1
M I L K
Base: MILK → Goal: FINCH
| Target Rule | Words in Ladder | Why This Spelling Applies |
|---|---|---|
| -k after consonant | MILK, SILK, SINK | 'l' and 'n' consonants precede ending /k/ |
| -ck after short vowel | SACK, PACK, PECK | Single short vowels /ă/ and /ĕ/ precede /k/ |
| -tch after short vowel | FETCH | Single short /ĕ/ precedes /ch/ |
| -ch after consonant | FINCH | Consonant 'n' buffers between /ĭ/ and /ch/ |
Exceeds (3) Solves all 8 rungs independently in jumbo squares; articulates all 4 spelling rules accurately.
Proficient (2) Solves with 1–2 clue assists; corrects -tch/-ch errors with verbal prompt.
Needs Practice (1) Confuses -ck and -k; requires multisensory tapping and rule chart support.
Unit 1 Exit Question:
"Ask the student: 'If I want to write the word MATCH, how do I know it's not M-A-C-H?' Expected student response: 'Because right after a short vowel with no consonant in the middle, we need -tch!'"
Teacher Oral Diagnostic
Ends with -k MILK / SILK / SINK after consonant l or n
Ends with -ck SACK / PACK / PECK after short vowel
Ends with -tch FETCH after short vowel /ĕ/
Ends with -ch FINCH after consonant n
