Lexia Lessons - Word Study - Level 8 - Spelling Rule: Changing

Sep 28, 2026

Spelling Rule: Changing teaches Level 8 students how to form correct spellings when a base word ends in a consonant followed by final y. Instruction introduces an Anchor Chart and the Changing Rule Checkpoints, then models pattern detection using examples such as happily, flies, emptied, and pennies. Learners read and categorize words, then complete reading and writing practice by identifying base words, choosing appropriate suffixes, and spelling whole words correctly in sentences. An Answer Key is provided for teacher reference.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Concept

Teacher Tips

Instruct

Anchor Chart

Practice: Reading Words

Practice: Writing Words

Practice: Reading Sentences

Answer Key

Lexia Lessons® Word Study LEVEL 8 Spelling Rule: Changing | PREPARE | | | --- | --- | | CONCEPT When a base word ends in a consonant and finaly, change y to i before adding a suffix that does not begin with i (e.g., as in the word happiness). This is the Changing Rule. Learning spelling rules like this one helps students spell words that are not spelled exactly as they sound. | TEACHER TIPS
•The Changing Rule Checkpoints in the Anchor Chart help students remember when to apply the Changing Rule.
• Provide more examples to demonstrate the concept as necessary.
• Review unfamiliar vocabulary.
• Read the directions with students.
• Refer to the Anchor Chart as necessary throughout. | INSTRUCT ANCHOR CHART [Display Reproducible page 1.] • Introduce the Concept of this lesson. (See above.) • Refer to the Anchor Chart to review the Changing Rule. • Review the Changing Rule Checkpoints, and explain that the checkpoints help students decide when to change y to i before adding a suffix that does not begin with i. • Refer to the At A Glance section. Prompt students to use the checkpoints to help them notice the pattern in the word happily: Why is the final y changed to i before the suffix? Let’s look atthe checkpoints. Does the base word end in y? (yes) Is there a consonant before y? (yes) Does the suffix begin with a letter other than i? (yes) Change the y to i before adding-ly. Discuss flies in a similar way using the checkpoints. Note that they changes to i even when the suffix begins with a vowel unless that vowel is i. • Have students read the example words and explain why the finaly was changed to i before adding the suffix. (We can mark three checkpoints.) Note: Students may need support reading words in which the suffix-ed is pronounced /d/ or /t/, as in emptied, applied, and dried. • Read the words at the bottom with students. Have students explain why the non-example words do not need finaly to change to i before adding the suffix. Have them refer to the checkpoints. PRACTICE [Display Reproducible page 2, Reading Words, Part A.] • Students read the words in the box. • Have students read each word, notice if finaly was changed to i or not, and then write the base word and suffix on the lines. If helpful, discuss how these words relate to the checkpointson the Anchor Chart. [Display Reproducible page 2, Writing Words, Part B.] • Dictate the following words, using each in a sentence. Students use the Changing Rule Checkpoints to complete the chart and spell each word correctly. Sometimes the first column will need to be filled in before applying the checkpoints and writing the whole word. o copied, luckily, fireflies, spraying, sleepiness, ladies continued on next page Lesson page 1 Lexia Lessons® Word Study Level 8 Spelling Rule: Changing • Model the process using the example word copied: Does the base word copy end in y? Yes. I will mark that box. Is there a consonant before y? Yes. I will mark that box. Does the suffix begin with a letter other than i? Yes. All the boxes are marked. That means that the y in copy needs to change to i before adding the suffix-ed. • Have students fill in the chart for the remaining dictated words. [Display Reproducible page 2, Reading Sentences, Part C.] • Students read the words in the box and write them in the sentences. Then students read each sentence aloud. ★ Note that an Answer Key is available for teacher reference below. ANSWER KEY FOR TEACHER REFERENCE [Blank student copies are found on Reproducible page 2.] | [Reproducible page 2, Reading Words, Part A]
1. babies = 2. cries = 3. planted = 4. replied = 5. beetles =
6. handily = |
Base Word
baby
______________
plant reply beetle
______________
cry
handy | +
+
+
+
+
+ |
Suffix
es
______________
es
ed
ed
ly
______________
s | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Reproducible page 2, Writing Wo

FAQs

When should a student change final y to i in this spelling rule?

Change final y to i when the base word ends in a consonant before the final y and the suffix does not begin with i.

How do the Changing Rule Checkpoints help with words like happily and flies?

Students use the checkpoints to confirm the base word ends in y, that a consonant comes before y, and that the suffix begins with a letter other than i, then apply the change to i before adding the suffix.

What practice do students complete to apply the rule?

Students read and write base word + suffix combinations, then use dictated words and sentence writing to spell the whole words correctly while relying on the checkpoints.

Sep 28, 2026

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