lesson
The a in ball and walk
Read with an adult. You can say, point, draw or write your answer.
1 · Learn
Say ball and all with an adult. In many accents, their a sound is like the sound in saw, not the short a in cat. The spelling still uses a before ll.
Walk and talk also use a before l. Pronunciation varies between accents, so listen to your adult's natural voice. We learn the written words without saying that one familiar accent is wrong.
2 · Worked example
I write 'We walk to the hall.' I notice a before l in walk and a before ll in hall.
3 · Your turn
Complete these words with a: b__ll, t__lk, h__ll. Read them with an adult.
Check your answer
Ball; talk; hall.
4 · Apply your learning
Say a sentence about a ball and one about a walk. Write them, then highlight the a before l or ll.
Adult guidance and safety
Read instructions and shared texts aloud when needed. Independent reading must match taught sound-spelling knowledge; do not ask children to guess unknown words from pictures. Accept spoken answers before writing and revisit with more books and examples.
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