Helping Your Child Master Spelling with the “Double Consonant” Tip

As parents, supporting your child’s spelling development is crucial, and understanding key spelling generalizations can make all the difference. One important concept is knowing when to double a consonant at the end of a word. This is often taught using the “1-1-1 Rule,” which states that if a word has one syllable, one short vowel, and ends in a single consonant, you double that consonant when adding a suffix like “-ing” or “-ed.”

For example, the sentence “Jeff will pass Buzz” can be a fun way to help kids remember this generalization. In this case, the word “pass” follows the rule because it has one syllable, a short vowel, and ends in a single consonant (s). When we add a suffix like “-ing,” the word becomes “passing,” doubling the final consonant. Similarly, with “run,” we get “running.”

It’s also important to note the exceptions to this generalization. Words like “of,” “is,” “has,” and “was” don’t double the consonant, and one clue is that their final “s” sounds like a “z.” These are short function words that break the pattern, but they’re essential to learn upfront to prevent confusion.

The key takeaway for parents is that spelling generalizations like these are invaluable in helping children understand how words are constructed, especially when distinguishing between short and long vowels. Helping your child grasp this concept can make them more confident spellers and strengthen their literacy skills overall.

Want to see a fun demonstration of this in action? Watch Nicole’s video here as she walks through the “1-1-1 Rule” with a helpful example.