Today's phonics lesson brought to you by the letters "N," "C," and the number "17."
The scene:
I am sitting on the sofa next to Michael, age 6. We are looking over a list of words containing the vowel sets of {a}, {a_e}, {ai}, and {ay}; Michael is telling me if each word uses a "short A" or a "long A."
ME: *points* What is this word?
MICHAEL: Lllllll...lll...lack....llllaaaaake. Lake! It's lake!
ME: That's right. Is "lake" a short A word or a long A word?
MICHAEL: Long A! 'Cause it sounds like aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay.
ME: Very good. *points* Now try this word.
MICHAEL: *furrows brow* Rrrrrrrrrrrrr...rrraaaaaaaaaaaaac...raaaaaaaaack...no, that's not right. Rrrrake? Rake?
ME: Yes! That word is 'rake.' Is 'rake' a short A word or a long A word?
MICHAEL: Shhhhh...long. *brightens* Hey! Shhh-long! Schlong!
ME: *giggles*
MICHAEL: Schlong, schlong, schlong, schlong! That's my answer for everything!
ME: *gives up, falls off sofa laughing*
I am sitting on the sofa next to Michael, age 6. We are looking over a list of words containing the vowel sets of {a}, {a_e}, {ai}, and {ay}; Michael is telling me if each word uses a "short A" or a "long A."
ME: *points* What is this word?
MICHAEL: Lllllll...lll...lack....llllaaaaake. Lake! It's lake!
ME: That's right. Is "lake" a short A word or a long A word?
MICHAEL: Long A! 'Cause it sounds like aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay.
ME: Very good. *points* Now try this word.
MICHAEL: *furrows brow* Rrrrrrrrrrrrr...rrraaaaaaaaaaaaac...raaaaaaaaack...no, that's not right. Rrrrake? Rake?
ME: Yes! That word is 'rake.' Is 'rake' a short A word or a long A word?
MICHAEL: Shhhhh...long. *brightens* Hey! Shhh-long! Schlong!
ME: *giggles*
MICHAEL: Schlong, schlong, schlong, schlong! That's my answer for everything!
ME: *gives up, falls off sofa laughing*