Grades 3–5
Double, Drop or Just Add -ed?
Twelve verbs to sort by how they take -ed, the doubling and drop-the-e rules, then the past tense to write.
Writing worksheet · Spelling and word sorts
Spelling Sort: -ge or -dge?
Twelve words to finish with -ge or -dge and sort, a short-vowel rule like -ck and -tch.
- Grade level
- Grades 3–4
- Time
- About 20 minutes
- Answer key
- Yes, page 2 of the PDF
- Kids practice
- Spelling patterns, Word study, Spelling rules and generalizations, Self-checking spelling
What kids do
“Use -dge right after a short vowel (badge). Use -ge after a long vowel or a consonant (cage, large). Finish and sort each word.”
Printed on the sheet:
- Write a sentence with one -ge word and one -dge word.
Teacher tip
Point out it works just like -ck and -tch: -dge comes right after a short vowel.
How to use it
- Read each word aloud and have kids repeat it before they write.
- Introduce the pattern with a short list on the board and underline it.
- Let early writers draw first, then talk, then write.
Watch for
Kids who memorize words without the pattern. Ask them to spell a new word with it.
Talk about it
- What pattern did you notice?
- Which sentence on your sheet are you proudest of? Why?
Take it further
Have kids hunt for the pattern in a library book and list what they find.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More spelling and word sorts
Grades 4–5
Spelling Sort: -able or -ible?
Twelve words to finish with -able or -ible and sort, with the whole-word tip for upper grades.
Grades 4–5
Spelling Sort: -er or -or?
Twelve people words like teacher and sailor to finish with -er or -or and sort.
Grades 3–5
Prefixes: dis-, mis- and pre-
Nine words to build with dis-, mis- or pre- from their meanings, like misspell and preheat.
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