Second Grade English: Irregular Non-Decodable Sight Words
Most words in the English language follow dependable phonics rules that you can sound out step by step. However, there is a small, elite group of words that do not follow standard phonics rules. These words are known as irregular non-decodable sight words, or "heart words." Because you cannot sound them out completely using standard letter sounds, you must learn to recognize them by sight and memorize their tricky parts "by heart." In this chapter, you will explore why irregular words exist, learn the Heart Word strategy, and master second grade's most famous irregular words.
The Science of the "Heart Word" Strategy
For many years, people thought that non-decodable words had to be memorized as random shapes. Modern reading science has revealed a much smarter method: identifying the regular parts versus the "heart" parts of a word!
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| ANATOMY OF A HEART WORD |
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| |
| Word: SAID (Sounds like /s/ /ɛ/ /d/) |
| |
| [ S ] + [ AI ] + [ D ] |
| | | | |
| Regular Sound: /s/ TRICKY HEART PART: Regular Sound: /d/|
| (Decodable!) Makes short /ɛ/ sound!(Decodable!) |
| (Learn by heart!) |
| |
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Almost Every Irregular Word Has Regular Parts
When you look closely at an irregular word like said, notice that two out of the three sounds are completely normal! The letter s makes /s/, and the letter d makes /d/. Only the middle team ai does something unexpected by making a short /ɛ/ sound instead of long /eɪ/. By noticing the parts that follow the rules, your brain only has to memorize one tiny puzzle piece!
Second Grade's Most Essential Heart Words
Let us examine the most common irregular words you will meet in books, mapping out their regular sounds and their special heart parts.
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| ESSENTIAL HEART WORD DIRECTORY |
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| Word | How It Sounds | Regular Parts | The Tricky Heart Part |
+---------+---------------+---------------+-----------------------+
| said | /sɛd/ | s, d | ai sounds like /ɛ/ |
| they | /ðeɪ/ | th | ey sounds like /eɪ/ |
| was | /wʌz/ | w, s | a sounds like /ʌ/ |
| were | /wɜːr/ | w | ere sounds like /ɜːr/ |
| what | /wʌt/ | wh, t | a sounds like /ʌ/ |
| where | /wɛər/ | wh | ere sounds like /ɛər/ |
| who | /huː/ | none! | wh sounds like /h/, |
| | | | o sounds like /uː/ |
| two | /tuː/ | t | wo sounds like /uː/ |
| one | /wʌn/ | n | o makes /wʌ/ sound |
| does | /dʌz/ | d, s | oe sounds like /ʌ/ |
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The Shifting Sounds of ere: were vs. where
Notice how the exact same letter string ere makes completely different sounds in different words! In were ("We were excited"), ere makes the /ɜːr/ sound, rhyming with her. In where ("Where is my hat?"), ere makes the /ɛər/ sound, rhyming with bear.
The Number Puzzles: one and two
The numbers one and two are among the oldest words in English: In one, the letter o makes the starting sound of /w/ followed by short /ʌ/, rhyming with sun. In two, the letter w is completely silent, making it sound identical to to and too!
The Royal Family of they, their, and there
The word they ends in ey making a long /eɪ/ sound. The word their shows ownership ("their dog") and spells the /ɛər/ sound with eir. The word there points to a place ("over there") and spells the /ɛər/ sound with ere.
Strategies for Memorizing Heart Parts
To remember tricky spellings, use multisensory memory strategies that combine your eyes, your voice, and your hands.
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| MULTISENSORY HEART WORD ROUTINE |
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| 1. LOOK & SAY: Look at the word and read it aloud clearly. |
| 2. SOUND TAP: Tap each sound you hear on your fingers. |
| 3. HEART SPOT: Point directly to the letter that breaks rules. |
| 4. SKY WRITE: Write the letters in the air with two fingers, |
| saying each letter name aloud as you draw it. |
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Why Sky Writing Works
When you trace large letters in the air using your whole arm, your brain engages gross motor muscle memory. Saying the letters aloud at the same time links the physical movement to the visual letters and the spoken sounds.
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Read the following four heart words and identify which letters make the unexpected sound in each word: said, was, they, does.
Exercise 2: Choose between there, their, and they're to complete each sentence: "The children hung ___ coats on the hooks." "Look over ___, the rainbow is appearing!"
Exercise Solutions
Solution to Exercise 1: In said, the letters ai make the unexpected short e sound. In was, the letter a makes the unexpected short u sound. In they, the letters ey make the long a sound. In does, the letters oe make the short u sound.
Solution to Exercise 2: In the first sentence, the correct spelling is their ("The children hung their coats on the hooks" showing ownership). In the second sentence, the correct spelling is there ("Look over there, the rainbow is appearing!" indicating a place).