Tricky Words Parent Letter
CKLA Skills & Phonics • Family Literacy Guide
Date: ____________________
Tricky Word Champions
Partnering together to build confident, fluent readers at home
Student: ______________________
Dear Families,
In our classroom, we are learning to read using the CKLA (Core Knowledge Language Arts) program. Most words your child encounters follow predictable phonics rules they can sound out letter by letter. However, some of the most common words in English have parts that don't follow regular rules yet—we call these "Tricky Words."
The CKLA Secret: Don't Just Memorize—Spot the Trick!
Tricky Words are not mystery shapes your child must memorize blindly. In almost every Tricky Word, most letters play by the rules! We teach students to sound out the regular sounds and watch out for the one part that plays a trick.
Example: said s and d play fair; 'ai' says /e/!
Example: was w plays fair; 'a' says /u/, 's' says /z/!
3 Fun Ways to Practice in Just 5 Minutes a Day
Quick • Low-Stress • High-Impact
1
Trap the Trick!
Write a word on paper. Have your child circle or underline the tricky letter with a yellow crayon and explain what trick it's playing.
Prompt: "Which part is tricky?"
2
Arm Tap & Spell
Say the word together. Tap each letter down your child's arm from shoulder to wrist, then slide your hand down while saying the whole word.
Multi-sensory memory builder!
3
Bedtime Detective
While reading bedtime stories, give your child a "magnifying glass" (finger circle). Whenever a target tricky word appears, let them read it!
Connects practice to real books!
CKLA Tricky Word Bank to Reinforce
Cut-Out Flashcards on Page 2
the
a
of
to
do
two
was
one
said
you
your
they
have
were
there
what
who
could
This Week's Focus Words:
Weekly Fridge Tracker (5 Mins / Day)
Check off each day your child practices their Tricky Words:
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
With appreciation & excitement,
___________________________________
Teacher Signature & Contact Info
Cut-Out Practice Toolkit • Page 2
Keep on a ring or in a practice pouch!
CKLA Tricky Word Flashcards
Cut on the dashed lines. Hole-punch the top corner (⭕) to place cards on a binder ring.
Amber underline: Tricky sound!
Sound clue: Helps parents coach
⭕ CKLA #1
the
sound: /th/ + /u/
⭕ CKLA #2
was
sound: /w/ + /u/ + /z/
⭕ CKLA #3
said
sound: /s/ + /e/ + /d/
⭕ CKLA #4
of
sound: /u/ + /v/
⭕ CKLA #5
you
sound: /y/ + /oo/
⭕ CKLA #6
to
sound: /t/ + /oo/
⭕ CKLA #7
do
sound: /d/ + /oo/
⭕ CKLA #8
one
sound: /w/ + /u/ + /n/
⭕ CKLA #9
they
sound: /th/ + /a/
⭕ CKLA #10
have
sound: /h/ + /a/ + /v/ (no long 'a')
⭕ CKLA #11
were
sound: /w/ + /er/
⭕ CKLA #12
what
sound: /w/ + /u/ + /t/
⭕ CKLA #13
two
sound: /t/ + /oo/ (silent 'w')
⭕ My Focus Word
Write & underline tricky part
⭕ My Focus Word
Write & underline tricky part
⭕ My Focus Word
Write & underline tricky part
Quick Flash Drill: Show a card, ask: "What word is this? Which letter is playing the trick?" Celebrate each victory!
5 Minutes a Day Builds Fluency
