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O (want) Sound Word List with the “a” Spelling

By Rodney Everson

Four of the five basic code vowel sounds, /e/, /i/, /o/, and /u/, have one or two alternative spellings. The /o/ sound has only one, a.

Of the 7,000 words in the database constructed from a popular children’s dictionary, 42 of them are one-syllable words in which the vowel sound /o/ is not spelled with an "o".

In some regions, the letter "a" in words like wash is pronounced with an /aw/ sound quite distinct from the /o/ sound in hot. In those areas, try to pronounce the words on this list with the /o/ sound for spelling purposes. In other regions, the /aw/ sound in words like draw sounds like an /o/ sound. In those areas, it's best to treat the /aw/ spellings as alternative spellings of the /o/ sound and the /aw/-list spellings should be added to this list.

Also for spelling purposes, words such as what and was on this list should be taught as having an /o/ sound rather than an /u/ or schwa sound. Just pronounce them with emphasis in a sentence to make the point.

Otr wordlists cover digital

Comprehensive Word Lists

Features over 100 word lists built from 7,000 words input from a children's dictionary. Lists are organized by vowel and consonant sounds and cover most common spellings. Useful in the classroom for building curriculum aids such as short stories that emphasize specific sounds and spellings. Multisyllable words are also included, chunked according to the method taught in the OnTrack Reading Advanced Code Phonics Workbook.