What is the Silent E Rule?
If you add the suffix ing to a base word ending in silent e, you will drop the e and add ing to make a new word. This is called the Silent E Rule. For example:
Drive + ing = Driving
Ride + ing = Riding
Love + ing = Loving
Hide + ing = Hiding
The Silent E Rule Trick
Here is the Silent E Rule trick in action. Watch our favorite teacher, Miss Renee demonstrate how to teach it:
How to Make it:
For this Silent E Rule activity you will need:
- 1 Whiteboard or a piece of paper
- Popsicle/Craft Sticks
First, write “ing” on the popsicle sticks. Feel free to have your students decorate or color them for more fun!
Next, write the root word (or words) on the whiteboard that the students will be practicing. Here are some root words you can use to get started:
| write | hope | come | have | make |
| use | change | manage | shave | joke |
| type | slide | bounce | choose | judge |
| debate | vote | skate | smile | race |
How to Use the Silent E Rule Activity
You will have your student first read the root word provided by you on the whiteboard or piece of paper. Then you will have your student take the popsicle stick and place it over the silent -e to create a new word.
This activity will work really well 1:1 or in small groups in a classroom literacy center. You can have students work with partners as well.
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More Options for Silent E
You can also write the words with the ing added on the whiteboard and ask the student to write the words without – ing. For example:
waking – wake
being – be
dining – dine
shaking – shake
I Have a Resource For You:
Thank you so much for reading my post today. You might also enjoy reading my previous posts:
My Favorite Multisyllabic Word Activities
Please don’t leave without checking out the PRIDE Reading Program. The PRIDE Reading Program is an Orton-Gillingham curriculum that is used by teachers, tutors, and homeschooling parents worldwide with great success.
Karina Richland, M.A., is the author of the PRIDE Reading Program, a multisensory Orton-Gillingham reading, writing and comprehension curriculum that is available worldwide for parents, tutors, teachers, and homeschoolers of struggling readers. Karina has an extensive background in working with students of all ages and various learning modalities. She has spent many years researching learning differences and differentiated teaching practices. You can reach her by email at info@pridereadingprogram.com or visit the website at www.pridereadingprogram.com