Sound Sleuths Spelling List
Phonics & SPED Toolkit Long /ē/ Focus & Sound Mapping
Sound Sleuths Spelling List
Name:
Date:
4-Step Sound-It-Out Routine:
1. Chin Drop (Syllables) 2. Finger Tap (Sounds) 3. Spot Pattern (Vowels) 4. Blend & Write
A
Vowel Team ee (Makes Long /ē/)
"When two E's go walking, they say /ē/!"
#1 1 syllable
seed
/s/ • /ē/ • /d/
3 sounds
#2 1 syllable
speech
/s/ /p/ • /ē/ • /ch/
4 sounds
#3 1 syllable
screech
/s/ /k/ /r/ • /ē/ • /ch/
5 sounds
#4 2 syllables
a • sleep
uh • /s/ /l/ /ē/ /p/
5 sounds
#5 2 syllables
a • greed
uh • /g/ /r/ /ē/ /d/
5 sounds
B
Open Syllable e (End of Syllable says /ē/)
"Open door = the vowel calls out its name!"
#6 2 syllables
re • tail
/r/ /ē/ • /t/ /ā/ /l/
re + ai (tail)
#7 2 syllables
me • ter
/m/ /ē/ • /t/ /er/
me + er (bossy r)
#8 2 syllables
se • cret
/s/ /ē/ • /k/ /r/ /et/
se + cret
#9 Soft C
ce • dar
/s/ /ē/ • /d/ /er/
'c' says /s/ before e
#10 Silent C
sce • nic
/s/ /ē/ • /n/ /ik/
'sc' says /s/ together
Challenge Words: Syllable Split & Special Sound Rules
Chunk them into small bites!
ex • cept 2 syllables
Sounds: /ek/ /s/ /e/ /p/ /t/
Sleuth Clue: Prefix ex- + cept. The second 'c' says /s/!
fol • low 2 syllables
Sounds: /f/ /o/ /l/ • /ō/
Sleuth Clue: Split between twin l's. The ow says long /ō/!
Teacher/Parent Tip: Have the student tap each phoneme with their index finger before writing.
Page 1 of 2 • Master Word List
Hands-On Practice
Sound-It-Out Mapping Lab
Name:
Rule: 1 Sound = 1 Box
Model Example Look how letters team up to share ONE sound box:
seed →
s
ee
d
(3 sound boxes = 1 word)
Word 1
speech
1 clap • 4 sounds
Map Each Sound
ee
Write Full Word
Word 2
screech
1 clap • 5 sounds
ee
Word 3
asleep
2 claps: a • sleep
a
•
ee
Word 4
retail
2 claps: re • tail
e
•
ai
Word 5
meter
2 claps: me • ter
e
•
er
Word 6
secret
2 claps: se • cret
e
•
Word 7 (Soft C)
cedar
'c' sounds like /s/
c
e
•
ar
Word 8 (Star)
follow
Split twin L's!
•
ow
My Sound-It-Out Self Check Check off each step after you finish!
I tapped the sounds 1 sound in each box Checked the vowel Read it back aloud
Sound sleuth secret: Practice saying the sounds smoothly as you slide your finger across! Page 2 of 2 • Mapping Practice
Sound Sleuths Spelling Test
Spelling Assessment Long /ē/ Patterns & Challenge Words
Sound Sleuths Spelling Test
Name:
Date:
Score: / 10
Directions: Listen as your teacher says each word. Tap the sound dots below, then write the word neatly.
Tap • Sound • Write
1
Tap sounds:
6
Tap sounds:
2
Tap sounds:
7
Tap sounds:
3
Tap sounds:
8
Tap sounds:
4
Tap sounds:
9
Tap sounds:
5
Tap sounds:
10
Tap sounds:
Star Challenge Words (Bonus)
Remember your syllable chunks!
Word 11 (Challenge) 2 syllables
Word 12 (Challenge) 2 syllables
Accommodations: Read aloud Extra time Sound taps used
Sound Sleuths Assessment
Sound Sleuths Dictation Key
Teacher Dictation Key Callout Scripts & SPED Scoring
Sound Sleuths Dictation Key
Scoring Scale: 10 Core Points (+2 Bonus)
Dictation Routine: 1. Say word clearly → 2. Read context sentence → 3. Prompt finger tapping → 4. Repeat word.
10 Words • 1 Pt Each
Core Spelling Words (1–10 • 1 Point Each)
Target words are bolded in callout sentences.
1. seed (/s/ /ē/ /d/ • 3 sounds)
"Plant the apple seed in warm soil."
Watch: sede
6. retail (re • tail • 2 claps)
"The grocery store is a retail shop."
Watch: retale
2. speech (/sp/ /ē/ /ch/ • 4 sounds)
"The mayor gave an inspiring speech."
Watch: speach
7. meter (me • ter • 2 claps)
"The ribbon measured one meter long."
Watch: meetur
3. screech (/scr/ /ē/ /ch/ • 5 sounds)
"Car tires made a loud screech."
Watch: screach
8. secret (se • cret • 2 claps)
"Can you keep our clubhouse secret?"
Watch: seekrit
4. asleep (a • sleep • 2 claps)
"The tired baby was fast asleep."
Watch: uhsleep
9. cedar (ce • dar • soft 'c')
"A tall cedar tree smells wonderful."
Watch: seedar
5. agreed (a • greed • 2 claps)
"Both friends agreed on the game."
Watch: agrede
10. scenic (sce • nic • silent 'c')
"We took photos on the scenic trail."
Watch: seenic
Star Challenge Words (Words 11–12 • Bonus Points)
Optional extra credit or differentiation
11. except (ex • cept)
"Everyone cheered except Sam."
Diagnostic: prefix ex- + soft c
12. follow (fol • low)
"Please follow the school hall rules."
Diagnostic: twin 'll' split + ow
SPED Error Diagnosis & Reteaching Strategies
Vowel Team Error (e.g. 'sede' for seed)
Prompt: "Remember the double 'ee' team walking together! Tap both letters into one sound box."
Open Syllable Error (e.g. 'meetur' for meter)
Prompt: "Scoop the syllable: 'me-ter'. The first syllable ends in 'e', so the door is wide open!"
Soft C Confusion (e.g. 'seedar' for cedar)
Prompt: "The letter C is gentle before E, I, or Y. It borrows the /s/ sound!"
SPED Progress Monitoring Benchmarks (Scale: /10): Target benchmark: 8/10 (80%) demonstrates pattern mastery.
9–10: Mastered
7–8: Approaching
0–6: Needs Reteach
Sound Sleuths Spelling Series • Aligned to 10-Point Student Assessment Teacher Reference Only