Heart words: find the surprising little part

When a child meets said, it is tempting to say, “You just have to remember the whole thing.” There is a more informative conversation available.

The s and d can represent familiar sounds. The vowel spelling needs an explanation: in this word, ai represents the sound heard in bed. Identifying both parts gives the child something concrete to attend to.

What is a heart word?

“Heart word” is a teaching term for a word with a sound–spelling connection that needs special attention. A spelling can be temporarily unfamiliar because a child has not learned its pattern yet, or unusual even after the usual patterns are known.

The heart is a reminder about the unexpected portion. It is not a label that means all the letters must be memorised as an unanalysed shape.

Try a grown-up-led word conversation

Say said and use it in a sentence: “Mum said hello.” Help the child notice the sounds. Write the word and connect s and d to the sounds they know. Explain the vowel spelling and, if it helps, draw a small heart above ai.

Then read the word together and use it in a new sentence. Invite the child to write it while talking about the spelling.

This example is a teaching suggestion. Pronunciation varies with accent, so use the natural pronunciation in your own family or classroom.

Keep the explanation kind and brief

If the child offers a plausible decoding, acknowledge the reasoning: “That would fit a pattern you know. This word has a different vowel sound.”

Provide the word rather than making them guess repeatedly. A correction can be clear without making the learner feel they have failed.

Match what is being taught

Ask a teacher which words and patterns the class is exploring. You may not need to mark a spelling as tricky once the relevant pattern has been taught.

Use a few carefully chosen words in meaningful reading. A decorated worksheet is optional; the explanation and the sound–spelling connections are the useful part.

Source & further reading

UFLI: irregular “heart” words activity and cards. The linked resource explains the teaching approach. Our activity wording and site illustrations are our own; we do not reproduce UFLI's card designs or imply endorsement.

These examples provide general educational information. They do not assess a child's reading needs.