Have you ever wondered why some words like fluff, buzz, kiss, or pill have double consonants at the end while others don’t? These words follow the “Floss Rule.” In this blog post, we’ll talk about some things I’ve learned about teaching floss rule words in my 19 years of being in the classroom.
What’s the Floss Rule?
The Floss Rule is a spelling generalization in phonics that tells us when to double the final consonants in words. We double the final consonants of words with a short vowel that end with the single consonant sounds /f/, /l/, /s/ or /z/. It’s called the “Floss Rule” because the word floss contains most of the letters included in the spelling generalization.
In the Orton Gillingham approach, the consonants that are doubled are called bonus letters. I’ve also recently heard this phonics rule called the “Frizzle Rule.” No matter what you call it, be consistent in your classroom so the kids aren’t confused. When introducing the Floss Rule to my students, I mention that it’s called all these different things. But in our classroom, we’ll call it the Floss Rule.
Why does the Floss Rule matter?
Knowing floss rule words helps kids spell correctly and avoid mix ups when reading. It gives them a helpful tool to decode new words and understand why some words are spelled a certain way. Like in this case, they know why some words have double consonants at the end and some don’t.
By explicitly teaching this spelling generalization in an engaging way, you’re laying a solid foundation for reading and spelling success!
Easy Strategies for Teaching Floss Rule Words
Start with Explicit Teaching
The best way to introduce floss rule words is with examples. Write some words on the whiteboard to show how the rule works. Point out the short vowel sound, then the doubled consonants at the end of each word.
In Orton Gillingham, or Wilson Language Reading System, students mark any bonus letters they’ve written with a star.
Get Hands-On with Letter Tiles
Use letter tiles to let kids build floss rule words. It’s super engaging and lets them see these words in action.
Letter tiles are a fun way to include multi-sensory teaching into your lesson plans. Engaging multiple senses is a key approach in the Science of Reading research and the Orton Gillingham methodology. By engaging as many of the five senses as possible, kids are creating more pathways in the brain to connect and reinforce this phonics concept in a concrete way.
Try Word Sorts
Word sorts are a great way to help kids learn floss rule words. Word sorts promote active engagement in spotting this phonics pattern. Give kids a set of word cards with double consonants and have them sort the words into categories based on their spelling rules.
Then have the kids read the floss rule words to a partner. If you’re short on time, students can read aloud one category to their partner. Then the partner would choose a different floss rule word category to read aloud.
Practice Floss Rule Words in Context
Floss Rule worksheets are a valuable tool for practicing reading and spelling floss rule words or bonus letter words in meaningful contexts.
These floss rule worksheets include a variety of structured approaches to reinforce the floss rule. Activities include word searches, fill in the blank sentences, add the bonus letters to finish spelling the words, cut and paste to match words with pictures, find the correct spelling and more!
These floss rule worksheets are great for teaching bonus letter words.
Use them in small group reading interventions by completing the practice together.
Print out or assign the Google Slides for literacy centers for students to complete individually or in pairs.
Introduce floss rule words by projecting the floss rule anchor chart poster on the interactive whiteboard and then completing a couple slides whole group. Using technology to help teach phonics rules can turn a boring lesson into a more engaging one!
Give Immediate Feedback
Feedback is a crucial element when learning something new. As kids work through practice material, offer immediate feedback to make sure they’re practicing correctly. If they make a mistake, correct it on the spot. If they get it correct, have them explain how they knew to read it the right way or explain the floss rule.
Wrapping It Up
Empowering your students with explicit teaching of floss rule words or bonus letter words boosts their reading and spelling confidence. By using multi-sensory activities and providing meaning practice in context this floss rule becomes a lot less confusing. Your students are on their way to becoming proficient readers and spellers!
Read about teaching the glued sound NG & NK words, silent letters mn, gn, kn, and wr, soft g and c words, or reading fluency.
