top of page
Search

How the C-le Syllable Changed My Life (and My Spelling!)

  • allison1441
  • Aug 26
  • 2 min read

Updated: Aug 28


Download


How the C-le Syllable Saved My Spelling Life

Confession time: My entire life, until I started studying Orton-Gillingham, I was a terrible speller. Not just bad. Not just “spell check is my BFF” bad. I mean the worst speller in the class bad. The kind of kid who could ace a reading comprehension test but would spell friend as “frend” and bubble as “bubul.”

When I enrolled at Fairleigh Dickinson University to become certified in Orton-Gillingham, my noble motivation was to help my first graders become stronger readers.

But what I didn’t expect? That I would suddenly stop spelling like a distracted goldfish.


The “Aha!” Syllable Moment

Out of all the Orton-Gillingham magic, the piece that flipped my world upside down was… syllables.

And not just any syllables. Nope. It was the mighty, underappreciated, life-changing C-le syllable type.

Picture me in class, a full-grown adult, blurting out loud:“Why didn’t anyone ever tell me this before?!”

Seriously. There should’ve been fireworks. A parade. At the very least, someone handing out celebratory waffles (ironically, another word I used to misspell).

 

My Spelling Woes (a.k.a. Bubble Trouble)

Words like bubble, bugle, and waffle were my kryptonite. Do you double the consonant in the middle? Do you not? I was basically playing spelling roulette.

I didn’t know the pattern. I didn’t even know there was a pattern.

Enter the C-le rule.  Count back three letters. Divide. Look at the vowel before the consonant.

  • If it’s short → double the consonant.

  • If it’s long → leave it single.

It’s like a neat little dance. And once you know the steps, you stop tripping over words.

 

 From Shame to “Syllable Nerd”

I used to keep my terrible spelling a secret. (Imagine being a teacher who couldn’t spell waffle without looking it up.) It was mortifying.

But now? When people ask me why I’m so obsessed with syllables, I spill the beans. Because the truth is, syllables saved my spelling life.

And the C-le pattern? That’s the GOAT of syllable types.

So yes, when I tell kids (and parents) to count back three, I mean it. It’s as easy as one, two, three—literally.


Takeaway: If your child is struggling with spelling, especially those pesky doubled consonants, don’t panic. There’s a system. There are patterns. And sometimes, all it takes is one little syllable type to make the lightbulb click.

 

Helpful add-ons (free tools)



Next Steps and Resources:

The following websites are incredibly helpful when navigating the Special Education world. · www.wrightslaw.com


Need help personalizing a letter or planning next steps? I offer one-on-one support—virtual anywhere in the U.S. and in-person across NY/NJ. Work with me.


About the Author

Allison Rosenberg Meyerson is a special education advocate with 30+ years in the classroom and as a literacy specialist. She is Orton-Gillingham Certified, a COPAA SEAT 1.0 graduate, and a Dyslexia Advocate. Based in Warwick, NY, she supports families across NY, NJ, and virtually nationwide through The IDEA Ally.


Contact: 

 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page