Browse topics

Curriculum

Explore all 1,590 open curriculum concepts.

Advanced filters 2
EnglishSpelling & Word StudyAges 9–12

Silent Letters in Words

Spell words containing silent letters that are remnants of earlier pronunciation or etymology, recognising common silent-letter patterns and using word origins to remember them

Lesson

Set out your lesson

Remember silent letters while recognising that spellings have different histories.

Before teaching

Use this short check, then start teaching.

Activity

Inferred, not a taxonomy edge: learner can access the supplied prompt with agreed support and can explain or mark a response. If earlier skills are unfamiliar, use the prerequisite topic for teaching; an authored prerequisite is not proof this learner is ready.

Printer, credit, and teaching notes
Sequence
  • Keep the two adult-only cards off the learner screen. Have a pencil and scrap paper if useful; oral pointing/typing/AAC can replace handwriting unless spelling or composition is the target. No printing, cutting, account or purchase is required.

  • Open Show first, read the explanation together, and pause to check the central idea. Then do Guided Try together.

  • For Try, close earlier models and the adult keys unless the task explicitly supplies a reference. Record any hints, read-aloud help or model reopening; do not call supported work independent.

  • Use only the active learner card. Keep the private key closed until an attempt is recorded. Stop or take a break on request; practical claims stay not observed unless actually done.

No Printer

Use on screen; read aloud or recreate a tactile model only with declared support. No printer or purchased kit.

Privacy

Never display adult keys or dictation spellings with a learner task; no family financial, identity or conflict disclosure.

Use the complete materials on screen or print only the current sheet. Keep adult guidance out of learner view.

Next: Show

Share teaching feedback

Continue learning
Share and support
Family records and proof options

Keep a record of your learning

Save photos, notes, and attendance. Export a proof packet for compliance or portfolio reviews.

Learning resources

Extra practice links — they do not replace Gakuva’s teaching approach.

UF Literacy Institute · Practice link — not the full lesson

Lessons 111–118 Resources

Open practice (new tab)
Before you open · source notes

Free UFLI Foundations toolbox materials for low-frequency spellings, including silent-letter patterns. Adult picks one set; not every Greek root.

Free university page, no sign-in for these materials. An adult chooses the activity.

Before you open

Ask the learner to spell or read one silent-letter word from an adult-chosen card.

Opening this link does not save learning or assess mastery.

Source, access and review notes

Public UF Literacy Institute Foundations toolbox page for Lessons 111–118 (Low Frequency Spellings). An anonymous GET on 2026-11-12 returned HTTP 200 with no login or payment prompt for this page. Printable and slide links on the page were not downloaded in this check. Opening the link does not save practice or assess mastery. The paid UFLI Foundations manual is separate from these free toolbox materials.

UF Literacy Institute. “Lessons 111–118 Resources.” External page; Gakuva does not copy, host, embed, or redistribute it.

Unknown — link only

Check understanding

  • Identify and spell words with silent initial consonants: knight, know, write, wrap, gnaw, psalm, applying knowledge that these letters were once pronounced
  • Spell words with silent internal letters: doubt (b), island (s), muscle (c), solemn (n), using etymological connections to aid memory (e.g. doubt from Latin dubitare)
  • Use word families and etymology to remember silent letters, e.g. sign is related to signal where the g is pronounced
“When your child writes words that have silent letters — like "knight," "wrap," or "lamb" — do they remember to include the silent letter even though you can't hear it?”

Curriculum record

Type
Procedural
Subject
English
Domain
Spelling & Word Study
Age range
Ages 9–12

Standards

acara-v9:AC9E5LY09acara-v9:AC9E6LY08uk-nc-2013:Eng.UKS2.Write.Trans.Spell.2uk-nc-2013:Eng_App1_Sp_Y56_10