The note
How schools teach it now
This isn't taught in primary school, but it builds on spelling and phonics work. The 11+ strategy: try each letter of the first word in turn, check the word left behind is real, then try that letter in every gap of the second word.
5-minute kitchen-table activity
Spell a short word in fridge magnets or Scrabble tiles, such as CLAMP. Take one letter away at a time and read what is left (LAMP, CAMP). Then add each removed letter to another word, like HAT, to see if it makes a new word (CHAT).
Worked example
Which letter moves from the first word to the second to make two new words? (beat rush)
- Try each letter of beat: without b it is eat, a real word.
- Now put b into rush: b + rush = brush, also a real word.
- Check the others: without e, a or t, beat doesn't leave a word that also works with rush.
Answer: b (beat becomes eat, rush becomes brush)
Common mistakes to watch for
- Changing the order of the other letters, which isn't allowed.
- Checking only the first word and forgetting the second must be real too.
- Only trying letters at the ends, when the middle letter is often the one.
Encouragement
- Try saying
- “Let's test every letter, one at a time. Patience finds it.”
- Rather than
- “It's obvious, just look at it.”