The Kids’ Club Rule for Spelling
Why is camp spelled with a C instead of a K? And why is kitchen spelled with a K? After all, both words start with the sound of /k/. Is it completely random, or is there a method to this madness? Fortunately, there is—and we call it the Kids’ Club Rule!
This spelling rule is an easy way to figure out when to use C and when to use K at the beginning of a word.
Check out the Kids’ Club Rule in this video and then read on for a sample lesson and a set of free printable spelling rule posters!
Why Do We Call It the Kids’ Club Rule?
The rule states that C says /s/ before E, I, and Y and /k/ before everything else. For the sound of /k/, try using a C first. If that doesn’t spell a real word, use a K.
The words kids and club are great examples of this rule, so we call it the “Kids’ Club Rule.” And after your kids learn this rule, they’ll be part of the club, too!
Tips and tricks like this one are taught throughout the All About Spelling program. Want to see more? Check out these free resources to see just how easy teaching these spelling rules can be.
Download All About Spelling Level 1, Steps 16 and 17.
These Level 1 spelling lessons show how we teach the Kids’ Club Rule—when to use C and when to use K to spell the initial sound of /k/.
Watch as Linda teaches Oliver AAS Level 1, Lesson 16.
This video demonstration from Level 1 shows how we use letter tiles to teach important spelling rules like the Kids’ Club Rule.
Download our free Spelling Rules Posters.
This handy resource will help make learning three important spelling rules fun and easy to remember for your children.
Has the Kids’ Club Rule helped your child? I would love to hear about it in the comments below! And check out our other spelling rules, too!
Amanda
says:Thank you for sharing these rules. My son is just beginning to spell words. He was confused and asked me how to know if he should use a c or k. This video and the rule posters will really be a help to him.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceAmanda,
Yes, I think this video and poster will help your son to master when to use C and K. However, if he still has trouble, let me know so I can help you help him as much as needed.
Jenny
says:This is something I will try!
Valerie
says:Great memory device for this rule!
Patricia Vanderploeg
says:Do you have videos for all the letters of the alphabet?
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceGreat question, Patricia. We do not. However, we have a number of videos for spelling rules, skills, book reviews, and other things. Check out all of our videos on our All About Learning Press YouTube page!
Alicia
says:I love how this is broken down so simply!
Lynette Williams
says:My children enjoyed this video. Thanks for another memorable way to review the rule!
Shelley D
says:I think that this may have just helped me change my spelling curriculum.
Noemi P.
says:We love your program! First year we are using AAR and our son enjoys it and has learned so much already. Thank you for making our homeschool teaching more proficient and easier!
Traci
says:Very simple to understand! Thank you!!!
Kim
says:I learned something new with this rule – and it’s so easy for my daughter to remember. Thank you!
Sharon
says:Love the downloadable posters as a fun visual to help my kids remember the rules! Thank you!
Cassandra D
says:Great information.
brittany doerfler
says:Great explaination , bookmarking this!
Mandy
says:Very helpful information.
Cathy
says:That’s really neat.
Cheyenne Wilkerson
says:That;s pretty awesome! I don’t remember a lot of these rules unfortunately so I’m for sure looking into AAS and AAR for my girls to help them learn and remeber, and for myself too!
CRM
says:I like this!
Sasha
says:Love your program! Truly has helped my kids! And gives me a nice refresher on some stuff too!!!
Hannah
says:That’s wild. I’m so glad there are clearly defined rules I can teach my children in regard to spelling. Thanks!
Joy H
says:Great resource!
Rebecca
says:This is one of the rules I learned while teaching my kids AAR and AAS. I have learned quite a few things alongside them! I am loving the AAR and AAS curriculums.
Shana
says:We are doing all about reading level 4 and my son is actually asking to do the spelling program!
Joyce Barker
says:These are great. I look forward to trying out more.
Penny
says:love this!
Cindy
says:These are terrific books! Sweet stories and lovely illustrations. The text is controlled with no surprises. Thanks for these great books!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceI’m glad you are enjoying our Readers, Cindy. It is important for reading confidence for students to find no surprises in the stories!
Linda
says:Very excited to have discovered this program! I don’t recall if I ever learned some of these rules as a kid, and I’m loving them! It is creating a higher sense of confidence that my children are learning things effectively, especially since you involve different learning styles. Thank you for the posters and lesson videos – these are VERY helpful!!! Looking forward to getting the books and tools and having fun spelling in our Homeschool studies!!!!
Joanna
says:What a great resource!
Tami Taulborg
says:Thank you for the great video. We were just dealing with this problem last week!
Shannon
says:This is genius and you just sold me on this program! My daughter will understand so much better now!
Ashlee
says:What about Celtic and cello?
Lynette Williams
says:Aren’t both of those exceptions because they started out as another language and were adopted into English? (Cello was Italian, where the “c” is often a “ch” sound.)
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceGreat question, Ashlee!
Exceptions to the Kids’ Club Rule are very rare and are almost always limited to words that aren’t of English origin. Cello is Italian, where C says /ch/ before E, I, or Y. Celtic has a less clear origin, but please note that dictionaries list /sel/-/tic/, with a soft C, as an acceptable alternative pronunciation.
However, there are literally thousands of words where the Kids’s Club Rule holds true and is completely reliable. All About Spelling does cover Italian words in level 7, as well as French and Spanish words and Latin and Greek word part studies.
I hope this helps. Please let me know if you have further questions.
Jennifer
says:This was such a fun and helpful video. We loved watching it.
Kristina
says:Love these posters! Thank you for these resources. The spelling rules are so helpful for my kiddos.
Marcie
says:I’m so excited to have found this!! Can’t wait to go back through more posts. This is my first year HSing my kids. I’m hungry for info!
Kelli Becton
says:Awesome! Thank you for providing such great resources.
Jill
says:Love the kids club rule! Soooooo helpful when teaching children!
Nicole
says:Great tips, they are so helpful and easy for my daughter to recall. She’s learning so much on the AAR program. I recommend it to everyone who asks about reading curriculum.
Thanks
Nicole
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceThank you for recommending All About Reading, Nicole!
Michelle
says:These look like really great resources! Will definitely try them out. Thank you.
Beth
says:I love the spelling rule posts. So informative!
Carri Seifert
says:So glad you offer so many resources! This will really helps the posters are great! I think I’m learning along with my kid!
Tara Troness
says:Love these helpful tips!
Laura
says:We loved level one, but I never knew all the additional posters existed. I love the simplicity!
Carrie
says:Thank you for such a fantastic product. We love all about Reading.
zubayr
says:thanks for keeping them affordable and sometimes even free!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Zubayr! 😊
Nicole
says:Love this. It is so helpful!
Karlene
says:Thanks for all the info
S Galuffo
says:Great tip!
Sarah Smith
says:Yay! This is so helpful!
Leah Ehrichs
says:Really helps my kids learn in a easy and fun way!
M kukreja
says:Just having a video to show my kids is so helpful to talk about this point in another way. Thanks!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome! I hope your kids enjoy the video. 😊
Deborah Shalosky
says:Love this, thank you!
Candace Turner
says:I think these would also be helpful glued into Spelling journals.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceWhat a great idea, Candace! I think having this and our other spelling rules posters right at your fingertips would be super helpful for students.
Mary
says:Thank you
Janet Lovoy
says:Loving this!
Lynn Bailey
says:Thank you these posters will be helpful
Lisa Dorsett
says:Thank you for sharing tbis information. I will be using these rules for teaching spelling to my youngest.. Great info!
Mary mcclintock
says:I love the rules in AAS are taught in a fashion my son can “get it”. We are just wrapping up level 1 and I can see tremendous difference in his confidence and his spelling skills.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceMary,
It’s so wonderful that you are seeing such a difference in his spelling skills and confidence already! Keep up the great work.
Glenn Gordon
says:The fact that the poster is split into 2 pieces that have to be taped together really doesn’t help.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceI understand your frustration, Glenn. But there is a lot of information on the poster and if we make it small enough for a single page, it’s pretty small. I will pass along the suggestion to look into the possibility of a single page. Thank you.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceGlenn,
We listened and adapted the posters so that the Kid’s Club Rule and the Floss Rule posters now print on a single page. The Making Words Plural poster still needs two pages, but it has been adapted so that it should be easier to put the two pages together. Enjoy!
Amy Bryant
says:Love this tip! Thanks for the great info!
Sherry
says:My little guy is a visual learner I am sure this little video will help him out! Thank you!
Ray
says:Thank you! I’ve been using a different reading programme with my 4 year old. Would AAS be too challenging for her at this point. So far she’s been spelling CVC words and some CCVC word by herself.
I don’t to put her off spelling. When would it be a good time to start a spelling programme?
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceThat is a great question, Ray.
Is your 4-year-old reading yet? We recommend waiting to begin All About Spelling 1 until the child has finished All About Reading 1 or the equivalent reading level. While learning to read, students pick up basic skills that will enable them to spell more easily. If your 4-year-old is reading, then even though she is young she could begin All About Spelling. Just be sure to keep the daily lessons very short and move as slowly as she needs to keep it enjoyable and light. Children this age usually love repetition, so it is fine to review a lot if that is what she enjoys. Here are 10 Great Ways to Review Spelling Word Cards to help make it fun.
However, it is also fine to hold off for a while until your daughter is more of a typical age to begin spelling. That is usually around 6 or 7-years-old for most students. Our blog post The Right Time to Start Spelling Instruction details some of the considerations.
I hope this helps. Please let me know if you have more questions.
Humberto Gurrol
says:I NEED This
Carrie
says:I love how the letters are manipulated in the video. It really makes an impact to see the changes!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceCarrie,
Yes! The letter tiles often make all the difference between not understanding a concept and being able to see it clearly.
Janet K
says:I really wish I knew these rules when I was younger. I don’t think I would have had such a difficult time spelling!
Shelley
says:Thanks for the great tips and video!
Melissa
says:Thanks for the printables. They really help drive the lesson home.
Donald Knight
says:Fun! And it makes it easy to remember.
Sara Sharer
says:I can’t wait to show this to my public school reading intervention student. Thank You AAR!
Kristie
says:This is great!
Nicole
says:This is brilliant!
Kris
says:Thanks for this!
Meri Porowai
says:I always find your blog most helpful. I teach in Solomon Islands in the South Pacific and often find it hard to access such great tips as your blogs provide.
raqyno
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceMeri,
I love that the internet allows us to help even those in so far from us, such as the Solomon Islands! Thank you.
Petrina
says:Thanks for the great tip! Looking forward to sharing with my students.
Desiree
says:Thanks for sharing this rule! The rules are so helpful to all my children—readers and pre-readers. I recommend your curriculum to everyone who inquires about a reading program!
Jill Messenger
says:What great way to remember how to use the “c” and “k” in spelling!
Hollis Letterman
says:I am glad to have found the AAR and AAS programs. I am using them with a kindergartner and a fourth grader. They both love doing our lessons and they seem to be sticking. I have found them easy to work through at your own pace. The staff is very helpful if you get stuck somewhere and lots of great free resources!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceThank you for your kind note, Hollis. I especially love that you have found our staff to be helpful!
Julie Hofer
says:Looking forward to browsing through this. Thanks
Staci Moses
says:I just love how you are always finding great teaching examples I can use to teach these language points to my kiddos! Thanks for all the hard work you put into these resources. We appreciate them!!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceThank you, Staci. I’m pleased to know that we are helpful to you in your teaching!
Sarah
says:We love AAS. These rules help make remembering easier.
Emily
says:My daughter has a hard time spelling. Looking forward to sharing this with her.
Jeniver
says:Love these rules! They help SO much!
Mandy
says:I never thought of it this way!
Jennifer Sloan
says:We just started All About Spelling and we love it!
Molli Glowacki
says:Thank you! This will help my new readers so much!
Irene Durante
says:Thank you!
Lorraine
says:Thanks for sharing. The rules are so helpful to my young learners.
Catherine B
says:Love these clearly stated rules! They have helped my struggling students have confidence in their spelling!
Kristen W
says:I love that I can feel confident to introduce this spelling rule + even use the video to help reinforce it to my kiddos! I am so grateful for AAS!
Edith
says:That a sweet way to introduce spelling rules..
Deb Dell
says:Love your download on spelling rules!
Teresa Suck
says:This is awsome!! I could actually use the video during small group.
Carrie Burgett
says:This is awesome! We love All About Reading and All About Spelling!!
Anna
says:Absolutely love this! Thank you! I’m scared to homeschool my kids especially reading and spelling because English is my second language, but this site offers so much practical help. So glad I found this program!!!
Nubia
says:This is really helpful! I love it!
Jessica
says:I recommend this program to all my friends and family to instill a love of reading with excellent proficiency!
Kari
says:I like the visual and tactile approach to teach spelling rules!
Samantha N
says:This is so helpful and I think my kids will like them.
Kami
says:Our family LOVES “All About Spelling.” The lessons are simple and make sense. I have learned along with my children. My favorite part is that my children are able to spell words by understanding the rules and concepts instead of memorizing lists of words. Spelling is easy and enjoyable now!!
Stephanie
says:This is great! Thanks!
Rose
says:This is really helpful.
heidi
says:This is so helpful! I never knew any rules surrounding C and K.
Christy S
says:Love these spelling rules posters!
Cherie
says:Love , AAR and AAS
MeganM.
says:I don’t think I’ve ever seen this written out like this. So helpful!
Kristi Larsen
says:Thank you for this!
Rebekah
says:My son would love the posters!
Lizette
says:Love All About Spelling and the added bonuses we get through the emails and blog.
Erica Dorsett
says:This was very helpful!
Paula
says:This sounds like a fun way to help my children feel more empowered with their learning.
Ginger
says:I absolutely love these spelling rules. Wish someone had taught these rules when I was in school. So glad that my kiddos will benefit from these great tips and rules!!! Thank you for sharing!
Erin Campbell
says:This is a great resource! Thank you :)
Rhonda
says:I learned something new!
Amy Bishop
says:Firm believer in this curriculum! I’ve personally seen the successful outcome from using AAR!
Keira
says:We have been loving all about spelling! Thank you!
Abby
says:I just love it when all about learning emails pop into my inbox – always full of insightful tips and tricks to help me help my budding readers out!
Kathryn
says:As a full-time homeschool mom and part-time tutor, I really appreciate this website and your ideas! I have found it great for students with dyslexia and all types of learners!
Christine
says:I love these graphics! I’ve been having to remind my son of this rule lately. Maybe some cool pictures will do the trick!
Sherry
says:Love the graphics!
Samantha Bedel
says:i love your AAR program, and i love that you dont just sell us a program and leave us hanging on all the extras, theres so much in the way of freebie and blog articles that are actually something people want and can use. such a womderful program that really cares about the students and parent/teachers
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceThank you for your kind note, Samantha! We’re always glad to help. I’m so glad you are enjoying the fun “extras” too!
Kelsey Frost
says:Love the posters, such great visuals!!
Kori
says:I will have to use this with my 4 year old! She is just learning the difference between the hard C and soft C.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceI hope this helps your little one easily master C and K, Kori! 😊
Robin
says:All About Reading and All ABout Spelling have been such a joy to use! I’m on my second child now and its so nice to go through the same program again!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceAwww, thank you, Robin! I love that you are enjoying All About Reading and All About Spelling as much the second time through.
Tamra Parsons
says:My son and I just did this lesson today and the tools provided really helped him to understand the rule. Thank you!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceTamra,
I’m excited to hear that this lesson went well for you and your son today! It’s a simple rule, initially taught with simple words, but it applies to very complex words like concentrate and kinetic too.
Kathleen Morris
says:I love AAR so far! I am excited to eventually get AAS soon!
Meshia Horn
says:Thanks for the free spelling posters!!
Bethany
says:I learned to teach it:
K before e, i or y
C before a, o, u or any consonant.
But I like how this gives further explanation about why this rule works.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceBethany,
How you learned this spelling pattern is, of course, correct, but focusing on E, I, and Y and trying C first minimizes how much memorization young students have to do. A couple of my kids really struggled with memorization, so I appreciated the simplicity of this rule!
EJ Blohm
says:Thanks!
Lorri
says:Very helpful!
Crystal Abel
says:Thank you for providing these resources! I would love to win this! Thanks!
Allison
says:I never knew this rule! So cool!
Christi
says:When we taught this rule, it taught me something! I didn’t realize there was a rule for this.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceI experienced this too, Christi! I kind of knew intuitively when to use which letter, but I loved being able to teach my children such a simple and very reliable rule. No intuitive guessing needed!
Angela
says:Thank you so much for providing great video tips for us to use in teaching our kids to read and spell!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Angela!
Donna Bonjour
says:Love these resources!
Shellie
says:Very cool trick!
Rebecca Harris
says:Loved AAR
Elaine Tipton
says:This is a great one!
Ashley
says:Awesome, thank you for this!!!
Erin Heidrick
says:Thanks for the printable posters, these will be nice to hang up for reminders for my children.
Katie
says:Thanks for this!!! We love AAR and AAS!
Christy
says:This seems like a great program!
janae
says:Very helpful!
Kelsey Callahan
says:Love this video my daughter will enjoy this!!!
Amelia
says:I love this video! I can’t wait to share it with my daughter tomorrow.
Christie Thabet
says:Such an easy memorable way for children to remember when o use ‘c’ or ‘k’. I have a child tomorrow who will lap up this seemingly solution to the desperately confusing problem.
Claudia Blumrick
says:Loved it. I haven’t seen this rule before. Thank you SO much.
PAULA MARTIN
says:Thank you! Great tip!
Zikhona Tefu
says:I’m so glad I stumbled across this! Thanks for this post.
Milly
says:What is the rule for the K? Why can’t i spell car, cat, cab, crab with K? What if I like to spell them with a K? Is there a rule for K?
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceMilly,
K is simply not used at the beginning of a word unless the /k/ sound is followed by an e, i, or y which would make the C say it’s soft /s/ sound. So, the rule for K is not to use it at the beginning of a word unless C won’t work.
Then, at the end of a word or syllable, CK is used immediately after a short vowel and K is used otherwise.
But, people do use K where it probably should not be all the time. Names tend to be free to break the rules, and we have very popular rule breaker names in Karen, Kayla, Kate, Kurt, and Koby.
Lindsey Stone
says:This a great visual! I am going to print the posters and put in our school room! :) my kiddos love the phonics & spelling rules.
Amanda Durst
says:How does this rule apply to kangaroo? Are they other exceptions?
Robin E. at All About Learning Press
says: Customer ServiceAmanda,
This is a great question!
According to The ABCs and All Their Tricks by Margaret Bishop, 904 words use a K for the /k/ sound and only 40 of them have the K followed by A, O, U, or L. All 40 are borrowed from other languages (sorry, the book doesn’t list the exceptions).
Kangaroo is among those 40, but really when you look at the history of the word it shouldn’t have ended up spelled with a K. Apparently, the botanist Joseph Banks that sailed with Captain Cook coined the English form of the word in 1770. The Australian Aborigine language it came from (Guugu Yimidhirr) didn’t have a written language, so Banks was free to use whatever spelling he wanted. I wonder if he used a K because didn’t know the English rule on when to use K over C.
Tania
says:As an ESL mom I appreciate these tips. Thanks :)
Mindy Shearer
says:I love these rules. I wish someone had taught them to me when I was learning to read!
mickey
says:Thanks for the tip
Stacy
says:Great tip!
Jennifer
says:This is a nice graphic. I think my daughter is finally getting this right almost all the time, but it took awhile. I’ll be showing her this if she has trouble again. Thanks!
Avis
says:I always love these tips, and have loved all the blogs and info I’ve seen on your product, but have never had enough funds for them. 4 girls, different levels, that’s a lot of curriculum cost on one subject.
Heidi Schwake
says:Love the All About Products very easy to open, go, and be productive. We are near the beginning and haven’t gotten to the c/k Kids Club Rule yet. I am confused by #3. How do you explain to your child when it works and doesn’t work? Thanks.
Merry
says:Hi Heidi,
#3 is based on #’s 1 and 2. So, C “works” for the K sound if the next letter is not E, I, or Y. Check out Lesson 16 (or this PDF file) to see how the demonstration works–the letter tiles really help!
http://www.allaboutlearningpress.com/content/downloads/AAS-L1-Steps16-17.pdf
Let me know if you have additional questions.
Jillian @ Hi! It's Jilly
says:Huh! What a great “trick”! I’ll have to show this to my kiddos! Thanks! :)
Corrine
says:We have really enjoyed All About Spelling. We’re in our fourth level. These tips and tricks pages are awesome!
Madison
says:I really love this approach to teaching spelling. It is so much better than just memorizing words. It really gives children the power to understand the reasons behind the spelling, which gives them to power to spell words they have never even seen before! I didn’t even know this rule, I just knew from memorization that those words were spelled that way.
Katie L
says:I love the graphic for the rule, it’s a fun way to visually see it and make it easier to remember. :)
Erica Danforth
says:That’s an awesome tip!!! I have been racking my brain for an easy way to teach my daughter the difference.
Nicole Smith
says:I love this idea! My kids would really enjoy this. Learning made fun.
Liz H.
says:Great tip!
Michelle Drake
says:Wow, this is clever. We were just talking about this today because our daughter was trying to figure out what letters different words started with which is a favorite game of hers right now (she is 4). We spend a lot of time with her saying “what does____ start with” and me sounding out the word for her to figure it out. The hard C always throws her off! I wish I had know this trick earlier today, but glad I know it now! Even I learned something. Thanks.
Shellie Contos
says:I never knew this! I always just memorized spelling words but I have one child that does not pick them up easily. Bet this is what he needs.
Lise
says:There is actually a rule for this?! Awesome!
Jessica P.
says:Love these tips!
haley ward
says:Love this! I still find myself shocked we learned all this as kids!
Jennifer
says:This is such a great way to help kids remember this rule! Thanks for the mnemonic.
Amanda H
says:I am amazed at what I am still learning as an adult!
Dave
says:This is a very helpful rule for my students.
Abigail Carpenter
says:This is a great idea. My kids do a LOT of memory work so the title of this rule will really help me (ehem) them remember it.
Brenda King
says:My son has been learning the c/k rules in Level 2, and will love this graphic.
Leelannee
says:This is great when your’e talking about the /k/ sound at the beginning of a word. It gives the child a visual and reminds them of the different steps to take when spelling a word with /k/ at the beginning. But what about in the middle or at the end, and better yet at the end of a 1st syllable? Take the word success. How do you explain why the /k/ sound at the end of the 1st syllable is a “c” instead of a “ck” or “k”? I’m not sure how to do this since the /k/ sound follows a short vowel my child thinks it should be “ck”.
Merry
says:Hi Leelannee,
Great question! This is a more advanced concept–we actually teach this in Level 6, with a few other “cc” words. So, if you are using AAS, don’t worry–you’ll get there!
A look ahead:
First, build the word for the student with tiles (or write the word, if your student has moved beyond tiles).
Ask your student to divide the word (which we also teach in levels 2 and 3).
suc-ceed.
Point to the first C and ask what sound it makes. /k/
Point to the second C and ask what sound it makes. /s/
Then ask why each C makes a different sound. (The first C is followed by a consonant, so it says /k/. The second C is followed by an E, so it says /s/.)
Then you’ll take out word cards that follow this pattern for your student to read and note special patterns like this one (in the upper levels of All About Spelling, we teach kids how to analyze and study words, and to know what strategies to apply when learning how to spell those words.) They’ll note how many C’s each word has, and then practice spelling the words with the strategies they find helpful (phonetic, rules-based, visual, morphemic and others).
I hope this helps!
Robyn Huffman
says:My boys and I have been learning this one in Level 1. Love the program!
Stacey C
says:I love the “poster”! Is it possible to get a pdf of it to print out for my home school class room?
Merry
says:Hi Stacey,
We don’t have posters of these unfortunately. We’ve had a number of requests for a printable version, so we’ll be looking at what we might be able to do in the next few months. I’ll email if we come up with something. Thanks for your interest!
Merry at AALP
says:I emailed, but for those who might be reading this now–we do have posters available! The posters are available for download here:
http://info.allaboutlearningpress.com/spelling-rules-posters
Sara S.
says:These are such fun and cute ways to teach my kids. I wish they had these when I was a kid. Would have made learning a lot more fun and interesting.
Vi
says:These tips came along just in time for my son to study Lesson 16. The graphic is so cute too! Is there a link to a PDF to print out the Kids Club graphic?
Merry
says:We don’t have posters of these unfortunately. We’ve had a number of requests for a printable version, so we’ll be looking at what we might be able to do in the next few months. I’ll email if we come up with something. Thanks for your interest!
Merry at AALP
says:Here you go:
http://info.allaboutlearningpress.com/spelling-rules-posters
Sf
says:I did not know this great rule. Thanks for sharing!
cher tea
says:That seems like a fun way to remember spelling rules. Thanks.
Sally Thompson
says:Very helpful–even for adults!
Denise
says:Wow, this is a rule that I never learned. It seemed random to me, just one of these things you memorize.
Lesley Riendeau
says:It is helpful. I think I need to print it out for him! I think this would be better than the cards.
Anita
says:I like the clue for remembering to try “c” before “k”, because “c” comes before “k” in the alphabet.
kristi thomas
says:We need to work on this one. I need to just quit thinking and make the invest in the full program.
Kirsten
says:I look forward to teaching spelling to my daughters each week, because of All About Spelling! I have nothing negative to say about this program. I can guarantee that there will be plenty of giggles during each lesson and a bit of healthy competition! I enjoy the creative aspects of how spelling rules are taught, as the “Kids’ Club” spelling rule is shown above. Thank you!
Sharon Moreno
says:I love this!
Michaela Cooper
says:This is such a fantastic resource! It is such a logical & systematic approach, which I think is extremely important for children who find this area challenging.
Dawn Purdy
says:I love this rule! My almost 7 year old is constantly asking, “Should I use a ‘c’ or a ‘k’ for this word? He’s done all of AAR 1 and half of AAR 2, and we plan to begin AAS 1 after Christmas. I will show him this graphic. Thank you!
Amanda
says:I never really learned rules for spelling, so it’s interesting to see the patterns I picked up codified.
Emma
says:Thank you for the tip, we have just been having trouble with this.
Laura
says:I love using AAS and love the helpful tips. I have always enjoyed spelling, and find it fun to learn easy tips and tricks that I had not previously known.
Amy Pikalek
says:Thanks for the tips! 1st year homeschooling and everything helps!
Leslie
says:This is a really good tip. My daughter catches on really quick with the AAS system, but has been having issues with this sound. Now I know what to tell her to help her understand.
Kimberlee
says:We will definitely be using this!
Julie
says:My son is very visual and this graphic with the rules about spelling with “c” is helpful. All the information is in one spot.
Laura Stephenson
says:I love sharing these tips with my kids. Everything just seems to click when they see the visual. We have just finished Level 1 and are looking forward to the next level.
Leslie
says:This is one of my favorite rules! I remember reading it as a sample and being hooked on AAS! My kids enjoy all of the tips and tricks, and look forward to this subject daily!!
Kati
says:Thanks for keeping things simple. My kids have had an easy time catching on to your tips and tricks and are also having fun with it.
Joesette
says:I’m a great speller, but both of my kids struggle with it. Thanks for the tips.
Kristen
says:I have trouble teaching spelling and remembering the rules since I can see a word and know if it looks right. I printed this off so I can post it for my son to use. I had to go over each one myself to see how the rules applied. My oldest son is a natural speller and never needed help, my middle son has great difficulty with spelling so this program is a godsend!!! More of these posters would help me (as teacher) as well as my son (as student).
Amy F
says:I’m a naturally great speller, but I don’t know the rules. This was a great explanation and one I will be using for the boys. Thanks!
Rebecca
says:This spelling rule would make a great little poster.
Rachel Henneberger
says:Sharing with my daughter. Thanks!
Karen Hopkins
says:I’m so glad I found this site! These. Books will soon be in my home!
Janey
says:So simple! Thanks!
Shannon
says:My daughter is learning the letter C this week, and keeps asking me about this exact thing! I’m glad I clicked on this, because I was having a hard time figuring out a helpful way to explain C!
Cindy
says:While I don’t remember the “Kid’s Club” portion of this from our work in Levels 1 and 2, the “c says s before i, e, or y” has been very helpful for my daughter. It helps to have a reason to explain common spelling patterns.
Joy Slater
says:Hi there, I just showed this to one of my children, age 11, and this rule was new to her. I think this would be really helpful for her writing.
Sarah Ter Maat
says:These are great! I need to start using these with my girls, especially my oldest. She never learned proper spelling rules in public school, and now I am trying to kind of undo the damage. She is in 6th grade and it’s almost as if I have to start over from the beginning. Hopefully at some point in the near future I will be able to afford the AAS/AAR curriculum.
Cathy Duhm
says:I have been schooling my kiddos for 7 years now and in the last 2 years I have had to dive into spelling rules and understand them for my youngest. I love these little hints and tips to help remember the rule.
Amber
says:I’ve always been a good speller, mostly related to reading a lot and having a good memory. It’s so nice to finally understand why words are spelled the way they are, and being able to explain it to my kids. Telling them “because it looks right” would not be very effective!!
Cassie
says:This is great! We are actually doing this lesson in two weeks, I’m so glad I found this :). It should be a big help in explaining these rules.
A C
says:These rules have helped my girls tremendously!
L Hollingsworth
says:I’m so glad you shared this rule. This is my older daughter’s first grade year, our second year of homeschooling. She is doing a wonderful job with decoding, but her encoding skills need some work. I had planned on simply compiling a list of words that she had worked on from each week’s phonics lesson to use as spelling words & was going to go about things a little…”old school” (the way I remembered spelling from school). Although I am an excellent reader, I am not always the best speller. Because I love to read, I often try to visualize a word in order to spell it, which is sometimes difficult or wrong. So, I decided to read more about your program since some of our other homeschooling friends use it. When I stumbled upon this rule, I realized that there are probably a lot rules/tip/tricks that my daughter COULD be taught that might make spelling much easier for her…easier than it was for me since my spelling was based upon memorization. My spelling is so dependant upon my visual recongnition that I often have to write down a word to make sure if I’m right…to see if it “looks right”. Thank you for posting this.
Merry
says:You’re right! Visualizing is a good strategy, but only one of several that good spellers tend to use. There are definitely more rules that can help one not have to rely solely on visual cues. You might like this article on effective spelling strategies: http://www.allaboutlearningpress.com/effective-spelling-strategies
kristen
says:This will help my second grader a lot! Thanks!!
Sara M
says:This is a really cool idea. Thanks so much for posting this.
Katrina
says:Thanks for your contribution to education!
Danielle
says:The rules that we have learned through All About Spelling have been so helpful for my struggling 4th grader. She has really been enjoying spelling this year (which is quite different from years past.) I have been enjoying learning the Why’s behind everything. Thank you!
Sarah
says:Spelling has always come easily for me, and I never remember learning rules like this as a kid. So for my 4th grade son who struggles with spelling these are very helpful! And it’s also great for me to know the rhyme and reason behind the way we spell words.
Lisa Hershman
says:My boys have been struggling with spelling, and neither have a good visual memory – this rule is incredibly user friendly. Thank you!
Tara
says:great tips and glad I found this website!
Cami
says:This is great! So many rules and it can be hard to keep them straight. Thanks for this.
Nathania
says:Wow, I was just thinking about this today. I have a four yr old and we are just starting to sound out words. I had no idea there was a resource like this to help kids in a fun way!
Leigh O
says:Very cute! In Barton we call it the Kiss the Cat Rule. I have Ben eyeing AAR for my “less-dyslexic” son who I feel doesn’t need quite the rigor of Barton. Very curious.
L
says:This is a great rule reminder — we like this spelling program a lot!
Stephanie Boyd
says:I love this! Great graphics, easy to understand!
Jamie Arthur
says:I did find that spelling rule helpful. I am very interested in the All About Spelling curriculum. I just started homeschooling my two children this year and I have definitely found that spelling is definitely challenging. I fully plan on purchasing and implementing this curriculum soon!
K Kruse
says:Thanks for your products!
Autumn Jones
says:We love AAS! My son needed concrete rules to help him, and he is spelling so much better now. We are nearing the end of level 1, and I have already bought level 2!
Stephanie Ross
says:Love the spelling rules! They have been so helpful.
Mary Flanders
says:I found the spelling rule very helpful as did my children.
Julie
says:I love AAS! My kids are finally truly learning to spell. Teaching spelling rules is so much better than teaching s list of words.
M
says:Love this. I never realized there is a rule, I just spelled them the way I was taught. So much easier to have something concrete to answer the “why”!
mia
says:I was just wondering how to teach my son this.
Andra
says:It took me a minute to figure out the c and k rule from the graphic but once I did it made sense. I am looking forward to using this program.
Michelle T
says:I think I have learned just as many new rules as my kids as we go through the lessons. I learned how words are spell, but not why when I was in school.
Nicole b
says:I couldn’t believe there was a rule for this we are enjoying this program.
Jacqui
says:Love this program!
Kristin
says:I, like many others, was never taught many spelling rules. When my kids asked me about how to spell a word, I could tell them how to spell it, but couldn’t tell them why or give them anything to help them know how to spell it later or how to spell similar words. This program has been great for my kids as well as helping me understand why words are spelled the way they are.
Laura Blackman
says:I like the spelling rule and the presentation on the blog. I don’t recall learning more than a couple of spelling rules when I was young. I am grateful to have access to AAS because of the logical, comprehensive, and multisensory approach. it helps me feel so much more confident as a homeschool teacher.
Julia Daniels
says:Why did no one ever teach me this rule? Hope to use this with my daughter.
Joyce M.
says:I love this! Very cute, and helps kids remember the spelling rule. :)
Jessica
says:This is a great idea!
Linda S. Waldman, PhD
says:I wonder if this is my sons issue…. Just bought the spelling program… I hope it helps with my son.
Angela Hollingsworth
says:I’m excited to learn more about all the programs you all offer!
For my kindergartners.
Cyndi
says:Another awesome lesson from our fave spelling program….definitely makes learning when to use c/k a breeze!
Karen from CO
says:We love AAR and AAS! It has made a world of difference for my 3rd child, and I’m seeing how my 2nd child is really starting to understand spelling rules (and why he needs to include vowels in the words!).
Nicole D.
says:Thank you!! We love this program!!
Liza
says:Thanks for the AAS. It has made my teaching a lot easier and my children loves to do their spelling lessons..they are especially excited to do the spelling done quick so they can shade the step number right away :).
Marti
says:Thank goodness for programs like this to help along with learning.
Stefani
says:Why couldn’t I learn this rule in school? It makes so much sense. Glad I can teach it to my kids with AAR. :)
Melissa S
says:Forget the kid. She will get it. Thanks for letting this 43 year old Mom understand it. :-)
Marie Rippel
says:You’re welcome, Melissa! :)