Code Breakers

Each sentence contains one phonetically misspelled word. Identify the error and write the correct spelling.

1. "The runner had to gap for air after sprinting up the steep hill."

What rule was broken?

Correct spelling:

2. "Use heavy shipping tap to seal the supply box securely."

What rule was broken?

Correct spelling:

3. "The new uniform has a bright neon strip along the outer edge."

What rule was broken?

Correct spelling:

Spelling Mastery Self-Check Rate: 1 (Developing) • 2 (Solid) • 3 (Mastered)

Short Vowel Blends: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ]

Consonant Digraphs: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ]

Silent-E Shift: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ]

Code Breakers Spelling Lab • Grade 7 Page 2 of 2

Dictation Sentences (Dictate at normal conversational pace, then repeat once):

Sentence A: "The brave squad ran past the stone gate."

Sentence B: "Clip the strip of red tape on the bench."

Code Breakers Facilitation Guide • Grade 7 Page 1 of 2

Instructional Routines & Remediation

CORRECTION PROTOCOLS & PACING

SIPPS Plus Bridge Support

Targeted Error Correction Protocols Real-Time Remediation

Trap 1: Dropping a Consonant in a Blend (e.g., student writes "stap" for "stamp") SIPPS Plus 1–15

Teacher Prompt: "Say the word slowly: /s-t-æ-m-p/. Watch my mouth. Did you hear /m/ before /p/? Put your finger right here and tap each sound: /s/ /t/ /æ/ /m/ /p/. You have five sounds. How many letters did you write? Add the missing /m/."

Trap 2: Omitting Silent-E on Long Vowels (e.g., student writes "strip" for "stripe") SIPPS Plus 16

Teacher Prompt: "Read what you wrote. /s-t-r-ĭ-p/ = strip. Does the vowel say /ĭ/ or /ī/? It says /ī/! What rule makes a vowel say its name across a consonant? Add silent-e to the end to make it 'stripe'."

Trap 3: Digraph Splitting or Confusion (e.g., student writes "sh-e-r-d" or "bensh") SIPPS Plus 6–10

Teacher Prompt: "In the word 'bench', what sound is at the end? /ch/. Which two letters team up to spell /ch/? Not 'sh', but 'ch'! Two letters make that one sound."

Recommended 4-Day Intervention Pacing 15–20 Min Daily Blocks

Day 1: Direct Instruction & Sound Mapping

Project Slides 1–3. Teach closed syllable rule and blend/digraph distinction. Students complete Part 1 (Elkonin Boxes).

Day 2: The Silent-E Shift Matrix

Project Slides 4–5. Contrast CVC vs. CVCe. Model the vowel shift. Students complete Part 2 (Matrix) and Part 3 (Sorter).

Day 3: Dictation Station (Assessment)

Conduct the 4-step dictation routine using the scripted master list (Words 1–8 and Sentences A & B) on Page 2.

Day 4: Proofreading & SIPPS Progress Check

Students complete Part 5 (Proofreader's Desk). Debrief error patterns and record scores for SIPPS Plus lesson advancement.

Mastery Scoring & SIPPS Plus Progression Assessment Benchmark

85% – 100% (7–8 words) Ready for SIPPS Plus Lesson 17+. Silent-e is orthographically secured. Transition to vowel teams (ai, ay, ee, ea).

70% – 84% (5–6 words) Re-teach the CVCe contrast with magnetic letter tiles. Repeat Lesson 16 guided dictation before moving forward.

< 70% (0–4 words) Revert to SIPPS Plus Lesson 1–15 blend/digraph phoneme segmentation. Verify consonant sound isolation before silent-e.

Code Breakers Facilitation Guide • Grade 7 Page 2 of 2

4 Part 4: The Dictation Station Solutions & Rubric 10 Points Total (8 words + 2 sentences)

1. stamp (/st/ & /mp/ blends)

2. brisk (/br/ & /sk/ blends)

3. brave (/br/ + long /ā/ CVCe)

4. stripe (/str/ + long /ī/ CVCe)

5. shred (digraph /sh/ + /r/ blend)

6. clasp (/cl/ & /sp/ blends)

7. theme (digraph /th/ + long /ē/ CVCe)

8. stone (/st/ + long /ō/ CVCe)

Sentence A Solution (1 pt):

"The brave squad ran past the stone gate."

Checkpoints: Capital 'T', period, target words: brave (CVCe), past (-st blend), stone (CVCe), gate (CVCe).

Sentence B Solution (1 pt):

"Clip the strip of red tape on the bench."

Checkpoints: Capital 'C', period, target words: clip (cl-), strip (str-), tape (CVCe), bench (-nch).

5 Part 5: The Proofreader's Desk Solutions 6 Points Total (2 pts each item)

1. Target sentence error: "gap" Correct: gasp

Rule Broken: Dropped the /s/ in the final consonant blend /sp/. Left off sound.

Spelling: g - a - s - p (5 sounds)

2. Target sentence error: "tap" Correct: tape

Rule Broken: Omitted silent-e. Without 'e', the vowel makes short /æ/ instead of long /ā/.

Spelling: t - a - p - e (CVCe)

3. Target sentence error: "strip" Correct: stripe

Rule Broken: Omitted silent-e. Word needed long /ī/ for a line/band ("stripe"), not short /ĭ/ ("strip").

Spelling: s - t - r - i - p - e (CVCe)

Overall Grading Scale: Total Available: 25 Points • Benchmark for SIPPS Advancement: 21/25 (84%)

21–25 pts Mastery

17–20 pts Review CVCe

≤ 16 pts SIPPS Plus 1–15

Code Breakers Answer Key • Grade 7 Page 2 of 2