Fancy Faces, Gentle Cindy, and the Soft C/G Rule
You know how Beyonce has an alter-ego? Well if she can have one, why can’t the rest of us!?! Mine would be Gentle Cindy. I should say one of mine because I have a few in order to make learning FUN. Also, as I have mentioned my mind is sometimes like it’s own musical complete with characters and songs to go with what I am teaching. Maybe it is all the sweet tea...hmmmm.
Gentle Cindy and Giant Cyrus (in general, not necessarily my versions) are pretty common in the literacy community. If you are not familiar, allow me to introduce you. Gentle Cindy and Giant Cyrus are visuals to help students remember the rule that goes along with soft c and g. So here are the rules that usually apply. I say usually because without fail your kiddo will find the exception -- and yes there are some.
g says /j/ when followed by e, i, or y (GEntle and GIant)
c says /s/ when followed by e, i, or y (CIndy and CYrus)
I sometimes will include props and costumes to help make the material more memorable. Gentle Cindy, although having gentle in her name, in my mind is genuinely fancy, nice, has lots of energy, and likes to dance (see what I did there?). I have had a lot of fun (and embarrassment) over the years with Cindy. For instance, once I was presenting in front of a training class with my fancy get up. I went to swing my pink boa around my neck and a pink feather flew into my mouth. I proceeded to cough, sputter, and choke in front a group of professionals. It was quite humbling to say the least. Another instance, I was homeschooling my daughter and her friend. It was Gentle Cindy day. I put on a little bit of blush and lipstick for the occasion to which my toddler says, “I like your fancy face mom.” Thank you, bud…. I think.
I introduce one concept at a time. I will begin with soft c and then follow up in an upcoming lesson with soft g. I usually use Cindy for soft c and Cyrus for soft g.
I begin by introducing the letter as one that they know and discuss how we will learn another sound for it. I will show the visual of the letter and give the rule. The students will repeat the rule. I then have them trace the letter saying the sound and giving the checkpoints for the rule. The students will write the letter three times while saying the sound and the checkpoints for the rule. I move through a new information page that provides words/sentences to read and spell that reinforce the new learning. You can find a sample for those coming soon to the Resource Center.
A great way to recap the rule, is to use a template like the one pictured below. I have the student verbalize the rule and fill it in as they go. If they had only learned one (soft c or soft g), I would only have them fill in one “earring.”
One time I was recapping the topic with students and when I asked what the rule was a young man beaming with confidence correctly gave me the rule followed by “like Miley Cyrus!” Nooo pal!!!! Let’s just stick with Cindy!
In one of my whims, I wanted a pair of earrings to top off my Cindy costume. My genius friend Jessie at @clayby_jess helped me come up with the beauties that I got to wear for the picture. You will see where the c says /s/ and g says /j/ - complete with sound bars! If you are a fellow #wordnerd then check out her instagram page for these and many more wonderful pieces.
Maybe you are not a pink boa or fancy face kind of reader. That is ok! At least now you have two new friends to help your learners remember the rule.
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