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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.
Thanks for this and I found it very helpful for our kids! However, I am abit lost at the C rule, as you stated if any letter coms apart from i,e,y it should sound like /K/. Here how about words like child, cheap, chair etc…! The rule obviously doesn’t apply and isn’t that confusing and how to go about it please?
The Kids’ Club Rule applies to the phonogram C. The words child, cheap, chair, and such begin with the phonogram CH, not C alone. The phonogram CH has three possible sounds. They are /ch/ (as in chair), /k/ (as in chemistry), and /sh/ (as in chef). The /ch/ as in chair sound is by far its most common sound. Its /k/ sound is used in words that come to English from Greek, and the /sh/ sound is not common at all and is only used in words to come to English from French.
I think you may find our How to Teach Phonograms blog post helpful. It includes a free app that shows the 72 basic phonograms of English, many of which are spelled with two or more letters.
Let me know if you have further questions or need anything else.
Tracy,
The rule for when to use OW or OU isn’t straight forward except that OU is not used at the end of words. The rule for that is English words don’t end in I, J, U, or V. (Note, the words you and thou are the exceptions for words of clear English origin. There are a few other words that end in U that we have borrowed from other languages, like caribou and bayou.)
Another thing to know is that OW says the sounds /ow/ as in cow and /ō/ as in snow. OU says /ow/ as in cloud, /ō/ as in pour, /oo/ as in soup, and /uh/ as in cousin. So, if the sound is /oo/ or /uh/, it must be OU and cannot be OW.
As for using the OW phonogram to spell the /ow/ sound in the middle of a word, there is a pattern. OW is very often used before a final L, N, EL, or ER. So, a word like howl or crown has a final L or N (l or n is the last letter) and uses OW. The word count does not because the final letter is T. But some students just get confused by trying to remember all of that, and it may be best to just learn the words visually.
I hope this helps some. I’m sorry there isn’t a single clear-cut rule for when to use one or the other phonogram.
I am incredibly thankful and blown away by the amount of free resources you make available. Thank you so much for providing amazing educational resources to all!!!
Linda certainly had a multisensory experience but what about Oliver? This is not multisensory teaching, more multisensory demonstrating. How are Oliver’s neural pathways being strengthened if he uses only 2 senses; hearing and seeing?
Great observation, Catherine. Lesson 16 of All About Spelling level 1 introduces the Kids’ Club rule and how to know when to use C or K at the beginning of a word. What the video shows is the beginning part of the lesson when the concept is introduced.
If you look in our All About Spelling level 1 sample, you can see the rest of Lesson 16 and Lesson 17. The next part of Lesson 16 has the teacher build words with the tiles using a blank blue tile for the beginning /k/ sound. The student is then asked to replace the blue tile with the C or the K tile and reminded, if necessary, to try C first and if it doesn’t work, try K. Lesson 16 ends with the student doing written dictation, reviewing previous concepts.
Lesson 17 asks the child to use the tiles to build entire words using the rule just learned. Then the child is asked to spell the words on paper and finally do written dictation of phrases with some words using this rule and some not.
Does this clear it up for you? Please let me know if you have additional questions.
Modelling first is very good practice. I am pleased to hear that subsequent lessons involve the pupil in a more multisensory experience. As a specialist teacher I am always striving to provide a personalized multisensory experience for pupils.
This post was the reason that I started my son on All About Spelling. Despite me bending over backward to help him learn his assigned spelling words in school, his spelling was extremely inconsistent. He knew his phonemes, but he would choose different ways to spell things each time. His teacher was concerned because he would spell the same word three different ways in one paragraph, and all ways would be wrong.
I saw this post, watched the video of Linda demonstrating this lesson, and then purchased AAS level 1. Wow! I can’t believe it, but my son is able to retain the rules and apply them to new words! He still needs continual reminding, but now that he has rules to remember, spelling is no longer the guessing game that it used to be.
We just started level 2 and we love the course. I just recommended that a friend whose daughter is having a very hard time reading check out this and AAR, too!
Wow, Elisa, congratulations to you and your son on his progress! That’s wonderful! I’m so glad the concepts are sticking and that he’s really starting to understand. And what a blessing that you can work with him too. Keep up the good work! ⭐
Meredith,
No, we don’t have a poster for when to use CK or K, but that is a great idea.
In the meantime, let your students know that that CK is used immediately after a short vowel. Otherwise, use K. Back uses CK because the /k/ sound is right after the short A. Ask uses K because there is an S between the short vowel and the /k/ sound. Bake uses K because the vowel is long.
I hope this helps a little, but let me know if you need anything else.
We love this rule! After this lesson in AAS my son went crazy going through all the words he could think of that start with a /k/ sound and then figuring out if they started with C or K. He was almost always correct!
Ree H
says:This will be great to use with my daughter as we work on school at home! Perfect and fun to watch!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceThank you, Ree! I’m glad this will be useful for you and your daughter.
Krystal Austin
says:We just started all about spelling level 1 and my daughter loves it especially with the color discs and sliding them down for sound in the word
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceI’m pleased to hear that All About Spelling Level 1 is working well for your daughter, Krystal! Thank you.
Natasha
says:Very helpful! Thanks.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Natasha!
Harvinder Singh
says:Excellent
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceThank you, Harvinder.
Ghalia
says:That’s beneficial
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceThank you, Ghalia.
Jacqueline Patrick
says:Very good except
Terro Kiffe
says:Very classical and helpful
Vicent kisakye
says:Thank you so much its helpful, keep it up please!!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Vicent! I’m glad you found this helpful.
Omar
says:Hi there!
Thanks for this and I found it very helpful for our kids! However, I am abit lost at the C rule, as you stated if any letter coms apart from i,e,y it should sound like /K/. Here how about words like child, cheap, chair etc…! The rule obviously doesn’t apply and isn’t that confusing and how to go about it please?
Thanks in advance from Iraq.
Best wishes,
Omar
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceGreat question, Omar.
The Kids’ Club Rule applies to the phonogram C. The words child, cheap, chair, and such begin with the phonogram CH, not C alone. The phonogram CH has three possible sounds. They are /ch/ (as in chair), /k/ (as in chemistry), and /sh/ (as in chef). The /ch/ as in chair sound is by far its most common sound. Its /k/ sound is used in words that come to English from Greek, and the /sh/ sound is not common at all and is only used in words to come to English from French.
I think you may find our How to Teach Phonograms blog post helpful. It includes a free app that shows the 72 basic phonograms of English, many of which are spelled with two or more letters.
Let me know if you have further questions or need anything else.
Omar
says:Hello Robin,
I do very much appreciate your detailed reply and what a wondeful teacher you are! Now it makes sense to me and for that I must thank you again.
Wish you all the best!
Omar
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Omar! I’m glad my reply was helpful.
Ella Obiegbu
says:This is the best thing that has happened to my child
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceI’m pleased to hear the program is working out so well for your child, Ella! Thank you.
தனலெட்சுமி
says:Yes definitely. Thank you so much for sharing. We expect more from you in future.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceThank you.
fagbemi dorcas
says:thanks
Ada
says:Wow ???
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceGlad you like it, Ada! ?
Tracy Mixon
says:What is the rule for ow or ou spelling?
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceTracy,
The rule for when to use OW or OU isn’t straight forward except that OU is not used at the end of words. The rule for that is English words don’t end in I, J, U, or V. (Note, the words you and thou are the exceptions for words of clear English origin. There are a few other words that end in U that we have borrowed from other languages, like caribou and bayou.)
Another thing to know is that OW says the sounds /ow/ as in cow and /ō/ as in snow. OU says /ow/ as in cloud, /ō/ as in pour, /oo/ as in soup, and /uh/ as in cousin. So, if the sound is /oo/ or /uh/, it must be OU and cannot be OW.
As for using the OW phonogram to spell the /ow/ sound in the middle of a word, there is a pattern. OW is very often used before a final L, N, EL, or ER. So, a word like howl or crown has a final L or N (l or n is the last letter) and uses OW. The word count does not because the final letter is T. But some students just get confused by trying to remember all of that, and it may be best to just learn the words visually.
I hope this helps some. I’m sorry there isn’t a single clear-cut rule for when to use one or the other phonogram.
Ahmad sha'aibu
says:Wow! here we go now I found it
Thanoja
says:I had many questions in english spelling. I learnt a lot from your explanations. It will be useful to my kids a lot. Thank you so much.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceI’m glad this was useful for your kids, Thanoja. Let me know if you have further questions.
Sara
says:I am incredibly thankful and blown away by the amount of free resources you make available. Thank you so much for providing amazing educational resources to all!!!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceYou are very welcome, Sara! We are happy to be able to be helpful.
Dianne
says:Thank you for your tips and posters, very much appreciated
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceYou are very welcome, Dianne!
momma
says:this site was very helpful
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceThank you!
Reema
says:The Kids’ Club Rule has been explained well.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceThank you, Reema!
Catherine
says:Linda certainly had a multisensory experience but what about Oliver? This is not multisensory teaching, more multisensory demonstrating. How are Oliver’s neural pathways being strengthened if he uses only 2 senses; hearing and seeing?
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceGreat observation, Catherine. Lesson 16 of All About Spelling level 1 introduces the Kids’ Club rule and how to know when to use C or K at the beginning of a word. What the video shows is the beginning part of the lesson when the concept is introduced.
If you look in our All About Spelling level 1 sample, you can see the rest of Lesson 16 and Lesson 17. The next part of Lesson 16 has the teacher build words with the tiles using a blank blue tile for the beginning /k/ sound. The student is then asked to replace the blue tile with the C or the K tile and reminded, if necessary, to try C first and if it doesn’t work, try K. Lesson 16 ends with the student doing written dictation, reviewing previous concepts.
Lesson 17 asks the child to use the tiles to build entire words using the rule just learned. Then the child is asked to spell the words on paper and finally do written dictation of phrases with some words using this rule and some not.
Does this clear it up for you? Please let me know if you have additional questions.
Catherine
says:Modelling first is very good practice. I am pleased to hear that subsequent lessons involve the pupil in a more multisensory experience. As a specialist teacher I am always striving to provide a personalized multisensory experience for pupils.
Missandrew
says:This is very resourceful thank you
christine
says:yes it did thank you
Janette Teodoro
says:Could you please make a video from A to Z
Really enjoyed watching! And i learn how to use the c sound!
Kashif
says:Very very much thanks sir
Elisa Llamido
says:This post was the reason that I started my son on All About Spelling. Despite me bending over backward to help him learn his assigned spelling words in school, his spelling was extremely inconsistent. He knew his phonemes, but he would choose different ways to spell things each time. His teacher was concerned because he would spell the same word three different ways in one paragraph, and all ways would be wrong.
I saw this post, watched the video of Linda demonstrating this lesson, and then purchased AAS level 1. Wow! I can’t believe it, but my son is able to retain the rules and apply them to new words! He still needs continual reminding, but now that he has rules to remember, spelling is no longer the guessing game that it used to be.
We just started level 2 and we love the course. I just recommended that a friend whose daughter is having a very hard time reading check out this and AAR, too!
Merry
says: Customer ServiceWow, Elisa, congratulations to you and your son on his progress! That’s wonderful! I’m so glad the concepts are sticking and that he’s really starting to understand. And what a blessing that you can work with him too. Keep up the good work! ⭐
Michelle
says:These rules are helping my son with his writing so much , it’s also been a great tool for me to use when explaining things to him
Irma
says:I love these resources. Thank you so much.
Meredith
says:Do you have a poster for when to use ck vs k?
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceMeredith,
No, we don’t have a poster for when to use CK or K, but that is a great idea.
In the meantime, let your students know that that CK is used immediately after a short vowel. Otherwise, use K. Back uses CK because the /k/ sound is right after the short A. Ask uses K because there is an S between the short vowel and the /k/ sound. Bake uses K because the vowel is long.
I hope this helps a little, but let me know if you need anything else.
Kate
says:We love this rule! After this lesson in AAS my son went crazy going through all the words he could think of that start with a /k/ sound and then figuring out if they started with C or K. He was almost always correct!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceKate,
I love that your son took this rule and ran through all the /k/ words he knew! That sort of excitement with learning always warms my heart. ?