Word study: interfere to muscle

1 · Learn

Practise a small number of words over several days. First explain the meaning, then inspect the spelling. Look for a familiar root, a changed ending or letters that are hard to hear. Cover the model, write from memory and check. Use the word in your own writing so it is more than a memorised list.

interfere: to get involved in a way that disrupts something. Interfere ends fere; keep both e letters in that part. Read: 'Background noise can interfere with a quiet recording.'

interrupt: to stop or break into something before it is finished. Interrupt has double r and ends upt. Read: 'Please do not interrupt while your partner explains.'

language: a system of words or signs used to communicate. Language contains gua in the middle and ends ge. Read: 'The writer adapted the language for a younger audience.'

leisure: time free from work or duties. Leisure has ei before sure. Read: 'During her leisure time, the character enjoyed drawing maps.'

lightning: a sudden electrical flash in the atmosphere. Lightning keeps light followed by ning; lightening has an extra e and a different meaning. Read: 'The story described lightning flashing beyond the hills.'

marvellous: wonderful or extremely good. This British spelling has double l and ends ous. Read: 'The reviewer called the puppet show marvellous and explained why.'

mischievous: playfully causing trouble. Mischievous has ie and ends vous; do not add another i after v. Read: 'The mischievous character hid a paper crown under the chair.'

muscle: body tissue that can contract to produce force. Muscle contains sc and ends le; the c is not separately pronounced. Read: 'A muscle can pull when it contracts.'

2 · Worked example

To learn interfere, I connect its meaning, to get involved in a way that disrupts something, with this spelling detail: Interfere ends fere; keep both e letters in that part. I write it from memory, compare it and identify exactly which letters need attention. I then use it in a new sentence and check whether the meaning fits.

3 · Your turn

Without looking, write the studied word meaning 'to stop or break into something before it is finished'. Check it against the model. Write your own sentence using interrupt and explain the spelling feature you needed to remember.

4 · Apply your learning

Choose two words for a personal practice list. Ask a partner or adult to dictate one supplied sentence after you have discussed its meaning. Proofread the result, then try a new sentence of your own. Revisit the words after a delay and note whether you can use them accurately without the model.