Common Letter Patterns ei or ie spellings

Guess the spelling rule! i before e except after c? We all learned this in primary school. But it is wrong! Copy these words down and try and work out the rule: Eight ceiling height neigh Believe field friend receipt Piece wield shield niece CLUE - Think about sounds/rhymes

ie or ei Rule Here is a new rule to copy into your jotter and learn: i before e if it rhymes with me. (believe, field) i AFTER e when it doesn’t rhyme with me. (eight) i AFTER e when after c. (receive) There are exceptions to the rule though: Seize, protein, weird, caffeine, neither, counterfeit, either, science, ancient, and names, such as Keith, Neil or Sheila.

Another ie or ei Rule If any suffix or plural is being added to a word ending in y, even if there is a c, add –ie. Example: Fancy = fancied, emergency = emergencies If the cie in a word sounds like ‘sh’ then the i comes before the e. Example: ancient, species, sufficient If the i and the e are two separate sounds, ignore all the above rules! Spell it as it sounds! Example: sci ence con ven i ent

Extension Work Rhymes with me Doesn’t rhyme with me After c Sh sound Two separate sounds Copy and fill in the table with the following words: Brief, siege, cashier, deceive, fierce, fiend, wield, grievous, pierce, perceive, weight, forfeit, shield, field, heiress, veil, freight, mischief, audience, society, their, conscience, rein