A
8 Points
frog + s = frogs
plant + s = plants
truck + s = trucks
bell + s = bells
chair + s = chairs
desk + s = desks
spoon + s = spoons
rock + s = rocks
B
8 Points
bench + es = benches
dish + es = dishes
class + es = classes
fox + es = foxes
watch + es = watches
glass + es = glasses
flash + es = flashes
buzz + es = buzzes
3
1 pt each = 3 pts
1. Mom bought three juicy peaches at the market. (peach)
peach + es = peaches
2. Five yellow buses waited in front of the school. (bus)
bus + es = buses
3. We packed all the old books into cardboard cartons. (book)
book + s = books
Suffix Showdown Answer Key Comprehensive Grading Reference Complete Page 2 of 2
Give the student a yellow highlighter. Have them highlight only the ending letters (ch, sh, s, ss, x, z) before deciding.
Say: "If a word already sounds like a hissing snake (ssss), we need -es so the snake doesn't get stuck!"
Suffix Showdown • Paraprofessional Support Guide Turn to Page 2 for Prompting Hierarchy & Progress Log Page 1 of 2
Tiered Support, Misconceptions, & Documentation
Target: Gradual Release of Responsibility
4
Tier 1: Wait
Give 5–8 seconds of silence. Allow the student to re-read and self-correct without immediate interruption.
Tier 2: Auditory
"Say the word out loud. Does the end buzz or hiss? How many syllables do you feel when you make it plural?"
Tier 3: Visual
Point to the Golden Rule box on Page 1: "Is that ending letter in this yellow box? Check it right now."
Tier 4: Model
"Watch me: 'dish' ends in 'sh'. Because it ends in 'sh', we must add -es. Say dishes with me: dish-es."
5
Quick correction protocol
| Observed Error | Root Cause | How to Redirect (Exact Script) |
|---|---|---|
| Writes "boxs" or "dishs" | Defaulting to standard -s without checking final sound | "Read that out loud: box-s. Can your tongue say two 's' sounds together? It needs the vowel cushion -es!" |
| Overgeneralizing -es ("cates", "froges") | Applying the newly taught rule to every single word | "Look closely at 'cat'. Does it end in ch, sh, s, ss, x, or z? No! So it only needs the regular friendly -s." |
| Writes "quizes" with 1 z | Unaware of consonant doubling before suffix | "Great job picking -es! English has a sneaky rule: 'quiz' is a short vowel word, so we double the 'z' into quizzes!" |
6
Reduced Load
Assign odds or evens (6 equations on P.1, 8 words in the sort on P.2) for fine-motor or processing fatigue.
Visual Pointer Strip
Write ch, sh, s, ss, x, z = ES on an index card taped directly beside student's paper.
Oral Pre-Sort
Have the student orally read and group 4 words before doing any writing to isolate spelling from phonemic awareness.
7
Return this completed log to lead teacher
| Student Name | Level of Support Needed | Mastery Status | Notes & Next Steps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indep / Min / Mod / Max | Mastered / Needs Practice | ||
| Indep / Min / Mod / Max | Mastered / Needs Practice | ||
| Indep / Min / Mod / Max | Mastered / Needs Practice |
Suffix Showdown • Paraprofessional Support Guide Classroom-Ready Support Documentation Page 2 of 2
