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The CK Spelling Rule is an easy way to determine when to use the letters ck or the letter k in a word that has the /k/ sound.
Mastering this useful rule makes words that have a /k/ sound easier to spell, eliminates guessing, and reduces dependence on whole-word memorization.
Bumble’s video does a great job of explaining this rule in a fun and entertaining way.
The CK Rule is this:
CK is only used right after a short vowel.
When the /k/ sound is preceded by a short vowel, use ck.
Examples: back, neck, block, and stick
Also: duck, cracker, bucket, necktie, and Mack
It is when the /k/ sound is preceded by a consonant, a long vowel, or a vowel team that students should use a k for the /k/ sound, as in bank, like, and look.
Here are examples of the types of words that use the letter k for the /k/ sound.
Many tips and tricks such as the CK Rule are taught in the All About Spelling and All About Reading programs. Check out these free resources for additional support when teaching the CK Rule.
Your students will enjoy this fun multisensory activity for practicing the CK Spelling Rule.
Everyone loves posters! Display this colorful Bumble poster in a prominent place to reinforce your student’s learning and add fun to your home school.
Has the CK Rule helped your student? We would love to hear from you in the comments below. And check out our other spelling rules, too!
Victoria
says:I would say that I’m an ok reader. I graduated from college and have two degrees. Now I’m home schooling two littles and learning all of these reading rules that I never knew with them. It’s exciting to me that I get to teach my child to read with an easy program that I am learning from as well.
Robin
says: Customer ServiceVictoria,
We hear all the time that parents are learning along side of their children with All About Reading and All About Spelling! It’s the way many of us wish we had been taught!
Virginia
says:I just found your web sight and hope to use your curriculum in teaching our daughters. I was impressed with the quality of teaching content here!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceThank you, Virginia! Let me know if you have questions about placement or anything else. I’m always happy to help!
Mel
says:I’m shocked at how simple this seems. As someone that doesn’t spell well and is now needing to teach it, I’m super grateful and eager to learn myself!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceMel,
I know what you mean. I, too, was shocked by how simple many of the rules and patterns of English were, yet I had never learned them before. I’m a better speller now after having taught All About Spelling!
Nicole R
says:I always appreciate the free lessons and downloads that you share, especially when homeschooling on a budget!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceThank you, Nicole!
Shannah
says:Anything that helps teach the different rules is always helpful! The poster is also wonderful!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceGlad it’s helpful, Shannah! Thank you!
Jana
says:Thank you for your many spelling and reading resources. They are always helpful and encouraging.
Robin
says: Customer ServiceYou’re so welcome, Jana!
Carly
says:These mini lessons are such great refreshers for my kids. Thanks for posting!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Carly!
Leticia Bailey
says:My son loves All About Reading! He is a rules kind of guy and wants to know the ‘why’ of all the things English language so this fits perfectly!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceLeticia,
So wonderful to read that your son is enjoying All About Reading! Thank you!
Jessica Kutzler
says:Thank you for this article! This has been a confusing lesson for my daughter.
Robin
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Jessica. I’m sorry that the CK Rule was confusing for your daughter. If she still has difficulties, please let us know. We’re happy to help you so that she can master this rule.
Jessica
says:Thank you so much for posting mini lessons like this. They’re so helpful.
Robin
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Jessica! I’m glad this is helpful!
Kristi Holman
says:We just went back and revisited this rule! Thank you for the great ideas!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Kristi! Glad this is helpful!
Amber
says:My son had been using both All about Spelling and All About Reading. We love both programs. The colored version wasn’t out yet when we started AAS level 1, so I like getting the free rule posters that we missed on these posts. He is almost done with level 2 and ready to move on to level 3!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceSo great to hear that All About Spelling and All About Reading are working out well for you and your son, Amber! Great work nearing the end of Level 2!
Theresa
says:All about spelling looks like such a good program. I’ll plan on keeping this in mind for future use.
Robin
says: Customer ServiceThank you, Theresa.
F
says:How do we explain the word ‘hiccup’, i’s preceded by a short vowel so why isn’t it ‘hickup’ please?
Robin
says: Customer ServiceGood question!
Way back in history, hiccup did have a CK (“hickop”). However, it’s been pretty firmly hiccup since the late 1700s. Why? I don’t know. Maybe because it is an onomatopoeia?
The CK Rule holds true 95+% of the time, but it does have exceptions and hiccup is one of them.
Mary
says:Love the free resources!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceThanks, Mary!
Jane
says:What about multi-syllable words? Picnic, static, shellac… versus attack?
Robin
says: Customer ServiceGood question, Jane!
All About Spelling teaches music and other words that end in the /ik/ syllable near the end of Level 4. The syllable /ik/ at the end of a multisyllable word is always spelled -ic.
The -ic syllable is a suffix turning words into adjectives, but often the formation of the word is far back in history that we don’t see them as base words with a suffix any more. We see it with some words, such as acrobatic is acrobat + ic. However, with other words it is less clear. Static is stat + ic. We don’t really see “stat” any longer by itself, but it does show up in things like thermostat and statistics. Music was formed from the word muse + ic (with the silent E dropped, of course).
Picnic is just odd, and seems to have been a slang or trendy term when it first started, which could explain it’s spelling. It meant basically what we call a potluck today, with the “pic” part referring to “pick.” It was much later that it changed to mean in outdoor meal. Anyway, you can read about it here.
The -ac syllable is also a suffix, but one that is much less frequent. All About Spelling doesn’t address these words because they aren’t common. Other than shellac, most all the others tend to be medical terms, like cardiac and insomniac.
I hope this clears this up for you some. I really enjoy these kind of questions!
Zahia
says:Very helpful and crystal clear
I love the way to explain
Amazing
Robin
says: Customer ServiceThank you, Zahia!
Zahia
says:Awesome
Y
says:Thanks for the “Should I Quack” activity!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome! Enjoy!
Cassie Finchum
says:Thanks!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Cassie!
Jessica
says:This poster has been super helpful for our kids!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceI’m glad this is helpful, Jessica! Thank you.
Julia
says:Very helpful and informative! Thank you!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceThank you, Judy!
Judy Kranzler
says:This is really terrific BUT-bUT-but… This is one of the dozens of spelling PATTERNS in English that kids can figure out themselves so we are teaching them critical thinking skills with the major spelling patterns in English instead of memorizing rules!! I put on the Pink Panther music, put them in groups of 2-4 kids and give them words on cards to sort… if needed I give them hints but I make it fun. They have a cut out cardboard magnifying glass and if they have an idea of the pattern they put it in the answer jar before the 10 minute bell. Then if they are not discovering the pattern, I give them a hint, like…;”I wonder if it has to do with the preceding vowel sound…. and kids love this and remember the pattern because they “discovered” it! The same with words that end with a k or c, or when words start with a c or k….- There are more than a dozen major spelling PATTERNS in English for them to “discover!” Of course kids also love to find the exceptions, especially with words we “took” from other languages…
Robin
says: Customer ServiceJudy,
Yes, there are many patterns in English. We teach the patterns that are true greater than 95% of the time as rules. Other patterns that are lesson reliable, we teach as patterns or generalizations.
While discovery learning works well for many students, there are many others who don’t do well with it. Some prefer and others require explicit, incremental teaching to be successful with a subject.
All About Reading and All About Spelling are based upon the Orton-Gillingham approach. Please our blog post or download our free e-book called The Power of the Orton-Gillingham Approach to learn about the hallmarks of the OG approach and how these research-proven methods are incorporated in All About Reading and All About Spelling. Additionally, our programs incorporate the findings of the National Reading Panel (2000) (Teaching children to read: An evidence-based assessment of the scientific research literature on reading and its implications for reading instruction. Washington, DC: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.)
sherman
says:Very impressive tutorial on rules. I wrote many books on rules and teach adults who speak everything but English, how to read, spell, and talk fluent English. I think I have covered all the rules and more and use in my training. Still, I like your tutorials for kids. Great animation! Done very well! I would recommend you to anyone with kids that could greatly benefit from your works!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceThank you, Sherman!