Hard Soft C Anchor Chart
Phonics Reference Chart
Hard C vs. Soft C
The Golden Clue:
Look at the letter right after the C!
/k/
Hard C Sound
Sounds like the letter K
🥁
When followed by:
A
O
U
(or any consonant / at end of word)
cat
cold
cup
/s/
Soft C Sound
Sounds like the letter S
🪶
When followed by:
E
I
Y
Remember: “Watch out for e, i, and y!”
cent
city
cycle
Secret Power
Silent E Does Double Duty! (VCe Pattern)
2 Jobs in 1 Word! ⚡
1
Makes the vowel say its name The silent e jumps back to make the vowel LONG!
2
Softens the C to /s/ Because e follows c, it turns C into its SOFT /s/ sound!
See It in Action: Silent E softens the C and commands the vowel!
ice long i • /s/
face long a • /s/
rice long i • /s/
spice long i • /s/
slice long i • /s/
grace long a • /s/
chance -nce softens c
Practice Word Bank (7 Examples Each)
Read aloud to test each sound!
Hard C (/k/) a, o, u
cake c + a
corn c + o
cube c + u
camp c + a
cost c + o
cupcake c + u
candle c + a
Soft C (/s/) e, i, y
cell c + e
city c + i
celery c + e
cider c + i
pencil c + i
cereal c + e
fancy c + y
Both in One Word! /s/ & /k/
circus /s/ then /k/
circle /s/ then /k/
recycle /s/ then /k/
cancel /k/ then /s/
concert /k/ then /s/
accent /k/ then /s/
Pacific /s/ then /k/
💡 Pro Tip: When C meets E, I, or Y, it whispers /s/! With A, O, or U, it clicks /k/! Phonics Rule
Hard Soft C Copier Chart
Printable Phonics Reference
Hard C vs. Soft C
The Golden Clue
Look at the letter right after the C!
/k/
Hard C Sound
Sounds like the letter K
Click
When followed by:
A
O
U
(or any consonant / at end of word)
cat
cold
cup
/s/
Soft C Sound
Sounds like the letter S
Hiss
When followed by:
E
I
Y
“Watch out for E, I, and Y!”
cent
city
cycle
Phonics Secret
Silent E Does Double Duty! (VCe Pattern)
2 Jobs in 1 Word!
1
Makes the vowel say its name The silent e reaches back to make the vowel LONG!
2
Softens the C to /s/ Because e directly follows c, it makes C say SOFT /s/!
See It in Action: Silent E softens the C and commands the vowel!
ice long i • /s/
face long a • /s/
rice long i • /s/
spice long i • /s/
slice long i • /s/
grace long a • /s/
chance -nce • /s/
Practice Word Bank (7 Examples Each)
Read aloud to test each sound!
Hard C (/k/) a, o, u
cake c + a
corn c + o
cube c + u
camp c + a
cost c + o
cupcake c + u
candle c + a
Soft C (/s/) e, i, y
cell c + e
city c + i
celery c + e
cider c + i
pencil c + i
cereal c + e
fancy c + y
Both in One Word! /s/ & /k/
circus /s/ then /k/
circle /s/ then /k/
recycle /s/ then /k/
cancel /k/ then /s/
concert /k/ then /s/
accent /k/ then /s/
Pacific /s/ then /k/
★ Pro Tip: When C meets E, I, or Y, it whispers /s/! With A, O, or U, it clicks /k/! Rule