Read a diphthong spelling

Supplied materials

• Paper and pencil, or a browser text area. All named people/events/records are fictional learning inputs.
• Worked case: oo target: pool. r-word: car. Glide target: coin. Compound: sunlight.
• Primary check: oo target: foot. r-word: corn. Glide target: toy. Compound: raincoat.
• An adult may read every direction and answer choice aloud; learners may respond by speaking, pointing or drawing.

Learn the idea

Some vowel sounds glide from one mouth position to another. Coin, toy, cloud and cow show common diphthong spellings, though English spellings can have exceptions.

Locate the stated target’s vowel spelling, pronounce the word and identify which letter pair is present.

Example to read or listen to: oo target: pool. r-word: car. Glide target: coin. Compound: sunlight. The answer is oi. The relevant input states: oo target: pool. r-word: car. Glide target: coin. Compound: sunlight. This fits oi. Some vowel sounds glide from one mouth position to another. Coin, toy, cloud and cow show common diphthong spellings, though English spellings can have exceptions. Snow uses ow with a different sound from cow.

1. Read or listen to the worked example. Say what the reading or writing task asks you to find. An adult can help with unfamiliar words.
2. Locate the stated target’s vowel spelling, pronounce the word and identify which letter pair is present.
3. Check the worked solution: oi. The relevant input states: oo target: pool. r-word: car. Glide target: coin. Compound: sunlight. This fits oi. Some vowel sounds glide from one mouth position to another. Coin, toy, cloud and cow show common diphthong spellings, though English spellings can have exceptions. Snow uses ow with a different sound from cow.
4. Try the question and the practice questions. Point to the words that helped you choose before checking the feedback.

Check your reasoning

Your answer is temporary and is not saved to an account. Download your current answer before leaving or reloading. Written work on paper or in another app stays in your own file.

Take it further

Optional extra practice: Decode this original sentence: In moonlight, I put my raincoat in the car and point at a cloud. Identify oo, the compound moon + light, ar, oi and ou. Write a new sentence contrasting food and foot. Practice this lesson’s skill as you complete the task. Use this idea to check your work: Some vowel sounds glide from one mouth position to another. Coin, toy, cloud and cow show common diphthong spellings, though English spellings can have exceptions.

Nothing here is saved to an account or sent to a teacher. The answer download includes your current choice and any checked feedback. It does not include choices from the separate More practice section. Download that section separately.