Skip to content

Study Hub

Study Guides

This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.

Year 2 - English

Applying the new 'ee' spellings, including 'e', 'y', 'ie' and 'ey'

Alternative GPCs for long vowels

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils learn new GPCs (grapheme phoneme correspondences) for long vowel sounds.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to apply four new spellings for the 'ee' phoneme: 'e', 'ie', 'y' and 'ey'.

Key Notes

  • 'e' is a representation of the 'ee' phoneme that is often found in short high frequency words.
  • 'y' is a representation of the 'ee' phoneme that is often found at the end of a word.
  • 'ey' is a representation of the 'ee' phoneme that is often found at the end of a word.
  • 'ie' is a representation of the 'ee' phoneme that is often found in the middle of a word.
  • How to spell the common exception words: class, grass and pass.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • high frequency words: Words that appear in texts and writing frequently, often with a non-phonetic spelling
  • adjective: An adjective is a word that describes or gives more information about a noun or pronoun, such as "happy," "big," or "blue."
  • adverb: An adverb is a word that describes or gives more information about a verb, adjective, or other adverbs.
  • noun: Nouns are words that name a person, place, thing, or idea, such as "cat," "school," or "love."

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • The 'ee' sound can also be spelt 'ei' as opposed to 'ie' e.g. receive. This is far less common.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

'e' is a representation of the 'ee' phoneme that is often found in short high frequency words. 'y' is a representation of the 'ee' phoneme that is often found at the end of a word.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'high frequency words'

Words that appear in texts and writing frequently, often with a non-phonetic spelling.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: The 'ee' sound can also be spelt 'ei' as opposed to 'ie' e.g. receive. This is far less common. Correction: Children will learn the 'i before e except after c' rule later, but there are other exceptions. e.g. caffeine, protein, either.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 2 English guide library.