Nk words

How do you teach nk words?

Teach ank, ink, onk and unk as chunks after the student knows ng. "Ng says /ng/. When k comes after it, we write just n, and the n says /ng/." Build words from the chunk: ink, pink, sink, think. Say the chunk, then add the onset. Word chains work well: bank, tank, tink, think, thank.

What mistake do students make with nk words?

Students spell bank as bak or bangk. In the first case they missed the nasal sound; have them hum through the word. In the second they heard /ng/ correctly; praise that and show that before k we write n alone. Reading errors are rarer once the chunks are known.

Where do nk words come in the sequence?

Nk is usually taught right after ng. Some programs teach the welded chunks (ang, ink, unk and so on) as a set at this point. In the sequence we use, the pattern is taught in Lesson 52.

Exceptions worth knowing

In a few words n and k belong to different syllables, as in unkind, where n says /n/. Uncle and ankle keep the /ng/ sound but the next letter is c or k in a new syllable.

Decodable sentences

Every word in these sentences can be read at Lesson 52 or earlier, or is a heart word taught by then.

• The pink ink is in the tank.
• I think the skunk can stink.
• Thank you, Mom. I will drink it.