Phonics Decoder Spelling Guide
Unit 2 • Adolescence
Spelling & Sound Decoder Guide
Phonetic breakdowns, spelling trap warnings, and handwriting practice
Name:
Date: Pd:
Sound Routine:
1. Clap Chunks • 2. Spot Traps • 3. Root & Suffix • 4. Say & Write
1. adolescence (noun) growing into an adult
Parts: adolesce + -ence
Syllables & Sound ad • o • LES • cence Say: /ad-uh-LES-uhns/
Spelling Trap & Rule
• The sc team makes one soft /s/ sound.
• The ending is noun suffix ence with silent e (not -ance).
Practice Writing (Write 2 Times):
2. ambition (noun) strong drive to achieve
Parts: ambit + -tion
Syllables & Sound am • BI • tion Say: /am-BISH-uhn/
Spelling Trap & Rule
• The /shuhn/ noun suffix is spelled tion (never "shun").
• The vowel before tion is short i: bi-tion.
Practice Writing (Write 2 Times):
3. assure (verb) to tell firmly; promise
Parts: prefix as- + sure
Syllables & Sound as • SURE Say: /uh-SHOOR/
Spelling Trap & Rule
• Double ss is required! Do not drop an 's'.
• Prefix as- attached to base sure creates the /sh/ sound.
Practice Writing (Write 2 Times):
Unit 2 Spelling Decoder Guide Page 1 of 5
Unit 2 • Adolescence
Phonetic Decoders (Words 4 – 6)
Name:
4. belittle (verb) to make someone feel unimportant
Parts: prefix be- + little
Syllables & Pronunciation be • LIT • tle Say: /bih-LIT-uhl/
Spelling Trap & Rule
• Prefix be- + base word little.
• Keep the twin tt in the middle and end with consonant-le: tle (not -tel).
Practice Writing (Write 2 Times):
5. destiny (noun) the events that will happen; fate
Parts: root destin + -y
Syllables & Pronunciation DES • ti • ny Say: /DES-tih-nee/
Spelling Trap & Rule
• The final long /ee/ sound on 2+ syllable words is spelled with y.
• Connected to destined; drop -ed and add y.
Practice Writing (Write 2 Times):
6. influence (noun/verb) capacity to affect character or behavior
Parts: in- + flu + -ence
Syllables & Pronunciation IN • flu • ence Say: /IN-floo-uhns/
Spelling Trap & Rule
• The middle syllable is flu (not "flew" or "floo").
• The noun suffix is ence with a soft c and silent e.
Practice Writing (Write 2 Times):
Unit 2 Spelling Decoder Guide Page 2 of 5
Unit 2 • Adolescence
Phonetic Decoders (Words 7 – 9)
Name:
7. prominent (adjective) important, famous, or easily seen
Parts: pro- + min + -ent
Syllables & Pronunciation PROM • i • nent Say: /PROM-uh-nuhnt/
Spelling Trap & Rule
• The middle vowel is a short i chunk.
• The adjective suffix is ent (not -ant). Think: promin-ence to promin-ent.
Practice Writing (Write 2 Times):
8. recede (verb) to move back or further away
Parts: prefix re- + cede
Syllables & Pronunciation re • CEDE Say: /rih-SEED/
Spelling Trap & Rule
• Root trap: Spelled c-e-d-e (from Latin cedere = to go/withdraw).
• DO NOT write "ceed" (like succeed) or "sede" (like supersede)!
Practice Writing (Write 2 Times):
9. resigned (adjective/verb) having accepted something difficult
Parts: re- + sign + -ed
Syllables & Pronunciation re • SIGNED Say: /rih-ZYND/
Spelling Trap & Rule
• Silent letter alert: The g is completely silent!
• Base word is sign. The silent g gives i its long sound (/eye/).
Practice Writing (Write 2 Times):
Unit 2 Spelling Decoder Guide Page 3 of 5
Unit 2 • Adolescence
Phonetic Decoders (Words 10 – 13)
Name:
10. routine (noun) fixed regular sequence
Parts: route + -ine
rou • TINE Say: /roo-TEEN/
• Vowel team: ou makes the /oo/ sound (like soup).
• Ends in ine with silent final e making /een/.
Practice Writing (Write 2 Times):
11. temporary (adjective) lasting for only a limited time
Parts: tempor (time) + -ary
TEM • po • rar • y Say: /TEM-puh-rair-ee/
• 4 syllables! Do not drop middle o or rar.
• Ends in y for the final /ee/ sound.
Practice Writing (Write 2 Times):
12. triumphant (adjective) victorious; proud rejoicing
Parts: triumph + -ant
tri • UM • phant Say: /try-UHM-fuhnt/
• Greek digraph ph makes the /f/ sound.
• Suffix is ant (not -ent). Base is triumph.
Practice Writing (Write 2 Times):
13. variation (noun) a change or difference in condition
Parts: vary + -ation
var • i • A • tion Say: /vair-ee-AY-shuhn/
• Base word is vary. The 'y' changes to i.
• Suffix is ation (makes /AY-shuhn/).
Practice Writing (Write 2 Times):
Unit 2 Spelling Decoder Guide Page 4 of 5
Unit 2 • Independent Practice
Mastery Workout & Sentence Application
Apply your phonetic decoding skills independently.
Name:
Score: / 10
Section A: Syllable Chunk Assembly
Put the syllable chunks together and spell the complete word.
1. [ cede ] + [ re ] Clue: to move back / withdraw
2. [ tion ] + [ am ] + [ bi ] Clue: strong drive to achieve
3. [ phant ] + [ tri ] + [ um ] Clue: victorious feeling
4. [ ence ] + [ flu ] + [ in ] Clue: power to sway others
Section B: Spelling Detective (Spot & Correct)
Circle the misspelled word and rewrite it correctly on the line.
-
During early adelesence, middle schoolers experience many changes.
-
She felt resined to the difficult choice she had to make.
-
No classmate should ever beletle someone else's hard work.
Section C: Independent Sentence Construction
Write an original, meaningful 7th-grade sentence for each word.
8. Write a sentence using temporary: (Clue: not lasting forever)
9. Write a sentence using prominent: (Clue: well-known or easily noticed)
10. Write a sentence using routine: (Clue: daily regular pattern)
Unit 2 Spelling Decoder Guide Page 5 of 5 • Independent Practice
