1. “i” before “e” except after “c” or when it sounds like “a” as in neighbor or weigh

2. “i” before “e” except after “c”- what does that even mean?
MOST of the time, if you’re confused whether a word is “ei” or “ie”, use this rule:
MOST of the time put “IE” (like relief, chief, achieve)
UNLESS “IE” is going to come after the letter “C” (receipt, ceiling) THEN switch to “EI”

3. "I" Before "E" Except After "C" By Duncan McKenzie
It's a rule that is simple, concise and efficeint. For all speceis of spelling it's more than sufficeint. Against words wild and wierd, it's one law that shines bright Blazing out like a beacon upon a great hieght, It gives guidance impartial, sceintific and fair In this language, this tongue to which we are all hier. 'Gainst the glaceirs of ignorance that icily frown, This great precept gives warmth, like a thick iederdown. Now, a few in soceity choose to deride, To cast DOUBT on this anceint and venerable guide; They unwittingly follow a foriegn agenda, A plot hatched, I am sure, in some vile haceinda. In our work and our liesure, our homes and our schools, Let us follow our consceince, sieze proudly our rules! Will I dilute my standards, make them vaguer and blither? I say NO, I will not! I trust you will not iether.

4. Copy this chart into your notes.
“I” before “e” (says long e)
Except after “c”
Sounds like “a”
Exceptions
chief
field
belief
piece
brief
relieve
thief
priest
ceiling
deceive
receive
their
eight
reign
freight
sleigh
neighbor
seize
weird
leisure
species

5. Add the word to the chart in your notes
Add the word to the chart in your notes. Try to base your decision on the “rules”; if no rule seems to apply, add it to the exceptions column. (Pencil only!)
foreign
fierce
siege
reindeer
veil
caffeine
protein
beige
surveillance
pie
forfeit
friend
yield
hygiene
glacier
receipt

6. Answer Key “I” before “e” Except after “c” Sounds like “a” Exceptions
fierce
siege
pie
friend *
yield
hygiene
receipt
reindeer
veil
beige
surveillance
foreign
caffeine
protein
forfeit
friend (or “I” before “e”)
glacier

7. Practice it!
Write a rhyming poem ONLY using “ie” words OR “ei” words. Highlight the words you used. It should be 6-8 lines.
Write all the “ei” words in alphabetical order (exceptions, too!)
Write a short story using all the “ie” words. Highlight them within the story. (Use the exceptions, too!)