Teaching phonics is an essential part of literacy instruction and it doesn’t have to be boring. Mastering words with soft c and g can sometimes be super tricky for young readers and writers. Let’s explore teaching hard and soft g and c words in phonics using explicit teaching, also called explicit instruction. These teaching materials are not only engaging, they’ll make the learning process smoother for you and your students!
What is the rule for soft G and C?
How do you know when they make a hard or soft sound? Usually, the letters g and c will make a hard or soft sound depending on the vowel following it. The soft c and g rules are that when g or c is followed by the vowels e, i or y they will make their soft sound. The soft g sound is /j/ as in giant, gentle and gym. The soft c sound is /s/ as in city, cent and cycle.
How To Teach Soft G and C Words With Explicit Instruction
Explicit teaching means there is a high level of student interaction with targeted feedback from the teacher. Lesson plans must include engaging activities. Simply put, explicit teaching or instruction is showing students what to do and how to do it. Explicit teaching is a strategy that is founded in the science of reading research. Keep reading for fun and engaging ways to apply the soft c and g rule!
Soft and Hard C and G Word List
This resource also includes a word list of words with hard and soft g and c. This comprehensive list of words is invaluable to have at your fingertips. If you’re like me, in the moment it’s hard to come up with words to practice.
This ready made list allows for targeted instruction and focused practice for words with hard and soft c and g. Easily integrate these soft c and g words into various lessons throughout the day or week to help students keep practicing this phonics skill!
Soft C and G Anchor Charts to Support All Learners
One way to use explicit teaching in words with soft c and g is to use visual aids like anchor charts. This anchor chart states the soft g and c rule and gives examples of words with soft g and c. Phonics anchor charts serve as great memory aids for all students, especially our struggling readers and spellers.
Project the digital anchor chart on your interactive whiteboard for whole group teaching. Display the large anchor chart on a phonics bulletin board. Print out the small sized anchor charts to glue into interactive notebooks so that students can locate the rules for words with soft c and g any time during independent work sessions. It even comes in black and white for easy printing.
Soft C and G Worksheets to Apply New Skills
Soft C and G worksheets are so versatile for learning words with soft c and g. I’ve included a range of difficulty so you can differentiate to meet every student’s needs or use them in progression for your phonics unit. Here are some ways you can use these worksheets to enhance student success!
Whole Group Teaching Words with Soft C and G
Use them as whole group practice by completing a few words with hard and soft g and c together. Then have students complete the rest of the soft g and c worksheets with a partner or individually. This is called the gradual release of responsibility or I do, we do, you do. This type of research based teaching strategy helps scaffold students understanding of the new phonics concept.
Staple the worksheets together with the soft c and g anchor chart on top to make a packet. I don’t know about you, but packets just seem like more fun than single worksheets. The worksheets all have page numbers at the bottom to help students navigate the packet! And teachers know packets are harder for students to lose!
Small Group Reteaching Words with Soft C and G
Sometimes a little extra attention goes a long way. Reteach words with soft c and g in a targeted small group for RTI or special education students. This personalized approach will make sure that every student gets the support they need to master this essential phonics skill.
My favorite worksheet for small groups is the word sort. We don’t glue our words until we’ve sorted them a few times. The first couple of times we sort words with soft c and g, we use the top part of the worksheet to help students organize the words. Then students practice sorting the words without this framework for added difficulty. This gives students multiple opportunities to read words with soft c and g.
Teaching Words with Soft C and G With Technology
These engaging slides activities are perfect for teaching words with soft c and g. These phonics slides are designed to make practicing hard and soft g and c words a breeze. With drag and drop movable pieces, these are not just your average worksheets translated to Google Slides. They bring a level of fun and novelty to practicing words with soft c and g.
Project them on the whiteboard for whole class participation or quickly assign them in Google Classroom. These interactive slides lend themselves well to partner work or no prep literacy centers on student devices. They’re also great for emergency sub plans that are meaningful and relevant! Students can always use practice reading and spelling words with soft c and g!
This digital format adds an element of gamification to phonics practice and is sure to get your students motivated.
You’ve Got This!
Adding these teaching materials to your soft g and c phonics lessons can transform your explicit instruction. Remember the key is to make learning engaging, interactive, and aligned with the science of reading with research based teaching strategies. Your students will soon master reading and spelling words with hard and soft c and g!
