Classzone: The Language of Literature, Grade 7

Lesson 31 Silent gh

1. ought 11. slight

2. although 12. delightful

3. throughout 13. sightseeing

4. thoroughly 14. frightened

5. thoroughbred 15. copyright

6. doughnut 16. height

7. fought 17. weighed

8. brought 18. eightieth

9. bought 19. freight

10. thoughtless 20. neighborhood

Self-Correcting the Pretest and Discovering the Generalization

1. Write ought and although on the board, a chart, or an overhead projector. Ask what the words have in common. Underline the letter combination ough in each word. Have students pronounce each word to help them recognize that the letters gh are silent in each word. Direct students who have misspelled ought or although on their pretests to cross the word out and to rewrite it correctly.

2. Write the remaining eight words spelled with ough, underline the ough, and have students pronounce each word. Point out that gh is silent in each of these words. Allow time for students to correct their pretests.

3. Next write slight and delightful, and ask what the words have in common. Underline the letter combination ight in each word. Have students pronounce each word to verify that the letters gh are silent in the letter combination ight. Continue the procedure with sightseeing, frightened, and copyright as students correct their pretests.

4. Display the remaining five words, and ask what they have in common. Underline the eigh in each one; have students pronounce each word to verify that gh is silent in the letter combination eigh. Students should also note that eigh has the sound of long a in every word but height, where it has the sound of long i. Also point out the word eight in height, eightieth, and freight.

Checking for Understanding

To verify students' understanding of the lesson generalization, direct them to read the spelling words and to answer the questions on the student page. Discuss the answers with them. Then have students read the lesson generalization and discuss it.