Phonics pattern

ck, tch and dge

Right after a short vowel at the end of a one-syllable word, /k/ is usually spelled ck, /ch/ is usually spelled tch, and /j/ is usually spelled dge: duck, catch, badge. Like FLSZ, the vowel decides the spelling.

Spellings: ck, tch, dge

How to teach it

Show pairs that show the rule: back and bake, match and much, edge and age. Ask what comes right before the ending: a short vowel.
Read a list, then sort words by spelling of the ending sound, and note common exceptions (rich, much, such) as heart words.
Dictate words and have the student say why they chose ck, tch or dge before writing. Finish with a sentence.

Practice words

Read them across, then down. Point under each word as it is read.

pack
sack
kick
tick
luck
puck
match
hatch
batch
pitch
itch
sketch

Decodable sentences

Jack can catch the ball.
The duck sits on the dock.
Mitch has a patch on his pack.

Spoken warm-ups

No print. Say the prompt; the student answers aloud. Sounds are written between slashes.

Spoken warm-ups for ck, tch and dge
You say	The student says
Listen: /d/ /u/ /k/. What word?	duck
Say ‘patch’. Say each sound.	/p/ /a/ /ch/
Say ‘pitch’. Change /p/ to /d/. What word?	ditch

Common errors

Spelling /k/ with c or k alone after a short vowel (duk for duck). Ask: short vowel right before? Then ck.
Reading the t in tch as its own sound. Treat tch as one unit, the same sound as ch.
Using dge after a long vowel or a consonant (cadge for cage). The rule only applies right after a short vowel.

Which lessons teach this

If you teach UFLI Foundations, this pattern comes up in these 4 lessons. Teach from your own manual.

Literacy Trail is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the University of Florida Literacy Institute. It contains no UFLI lesson content, only lesson names and order.

Questions people ask

Are these words from an assessment?

No. The practice words, sentences and warm-ups here are written for teaching and are kept separate from the words in the Literacy Trail assessments, so practicing never teaches the test.

When is a student ready for ck, tch and dge?

When they read and spell the pattern before it (beginning blends) accurately and without prompting, most of the time. Keep reviewing earlier patterns for two minutes a session while the new one settles.

How long should practice take?

A few minutes a day beats one long session a week. Read the word list once or twice, dictate three or four words, and read a sentence or two. Rate how it went and bring the pattern back on a short schedule if it is shaky.

Plan sessions for this pattern automatically

Start the 15-day free trial and add a student. When they reach ck, tch and dge, Literacy Trail plans the sessions for it automatically, and a Needs support or Developing rating brings it back for review.

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