Word study: physical to recognise

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.

physical: relating to the body or material things. Physical starts ph for the f sound and ends ical. Read: 'We compared a physical model with a drawing.'

prejudice: an unfair judgement made without enough knowledge. Prejudice begins pre and ends dice; keep u after j. Read: 'The story challenges prejudice by showing characters learning about one another.'

privilege: a special right or advantage. Privilege ends ilege; do not add d before g. Read: 'The narrator recognised the privilege of having a well-stocked library nearby.'

profession: work requiring particular training or expertise. Profession has one f and double s before ion. Read: 'The visitor described teaching as her profession.'

programme: a planned series of activities in this sentence. For this meaning, the British spelling programme ends with double m and e; computer program is different. Read: 'The festival programme listed talks and performances.'

pronunciation: the way a word is spoken. Pronunciation has nun in the middle, not noun as in pronounce. Read: 'The dictionary offered help with the word's pronunciation.'

queue: a line of people or things waiting. Queue is spelt q-u-e-u-e; keep all five letters. Read: 'A short queue formed outside the exhibition.'

recognise: to identify something met or seen before. This spelling uses recognise with s and keeps g after reco. Read: 'I recognise that symbol from the map key.'

2 · Worked example

To learn physical, I connect its meaning, relating to the body or material things, with this spelling detail: Physical starts ph for the f sound and ends ical. 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 'an unfair judgement made without enough knowledge'. Check it against the model. Write your own sentence using prejudice 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.