Understanding the CH vs TCH Spelling Rule
Reading & Phonics
The science is clear! Teaching children to read and spell through a structured literacy approach is the most effective way to equip them with the skills they need to write and read for a lifetime.
👩🏫 And it’s exactly what we do here at The Reading School.
As phonics and spelling instruction has declined in schools over recent decades, not only are today’s children less likely to be equipped with these skills, you yourself might have received less phonics instruction than your own parents’ generation.
We present a simple series on our blog explaining the science of spelling rules. Refreshing your memory on the rules of spelling and phonics can help you assist your child in homework or during a “teachable moment” such as a handwritten grocery list or even a text message with your tween.
Why Does Spelling Matter?
While we tend to think of spelling as something we memorize, in fact it’s more like learning formulas in math. We don’t need to memorize individual words so much as learn the rules and patterns that govern 90% of English words.
👉 Check out this post to learn more about how the science of spelling can help equip your child with the powerful ability to read and write almost anything, in time.
The CH vs TCH Rule in Spelling and Phonics
The CH vs TCH rule is as such:
If the /ch/ sound is at the end of a syllable AND it is immediately preceded by a short vowel, it is spelled tch.
If the /ch/ is preceded by a vowel team or consonant, it is spelled ch.
The tch spelling never comes at the beginning of a word.
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Spelling takes a lot of practice and patience.
👩👦👦 You can help by reinforcing the rules of spelling and phonics while reading with your child or assisting them with homework.
👩🏫 We can help by teaching them the rules and helping you uncover any underlying conditions which might be affecting their learning.
Send us a quick note to learn more about how we can help!
English
French
The word,CH Give the sound tech and K when it give The sound tech and K ?
My partner just fielded a question from his cello student in Kenya regarding why the composer’s name is spelled “Tchaikovsky” and now I know the answer is that there is no reason.
Thank you for your observations. How would we handle the two words … rich and witch … phonologically they both end /ĭch/ (short vowel i)?
And what about the words much and clutch…phonologically they both end with /ŭch/ (short u sound).
In teaching this, the explanation becomes muddled because of words like rich. It doesn’t fit your explanation.
Please can you explain why the words much and such sounds ch but not tch even though u comes before the ch
Help me understand “which” and “witch.”
Also, tchotchke is a word that starts with “tch.”