K vs. -CK Spelling Rule + Free Printables

Help your students learn the K vs -CK spelling rule for spelling /k/ at the end of a word! Plus, get 6 FREE worksheets instantly to practice reading and spelling.

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Purple graphic entitled "All About the K vs -ck spelling rule" with graphics. — 🌟 Get the **6 FREE printables** at the bottom of this post!

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The 3 Spellings of the /k/ Sound

Students learn an important and surprising fact early in Kindergarten: both c and k make the /k/ sound, like cat and kite.

Even if they don’t realize it yet, this is often their first glimpse into an important truth about the English language: The same sound can be spelled in more than one way, and that can make spelling really tricky!

As kids move into first grade, they discover there’s yet another spelling for /k/: the digraph -ck.

So now the question becomes: How do we know which spelling to use? The answer is that spelling the /k/ sound depends on where you hear it.

Spelling Rules for /k/

This is where spelling rules come in. Rather than memorizing random patterns, students can learn that English is actually organized.

Graphic showing K or CK with rules, examples, and explanations.

These rules help them notice predictable patterns, and the /k/ sound is a perfect example.

At the beginning of a word: Students learn the C vs. K Rule (often called the Cat-Kite Rule), which explains when to use c or k to spell /k/.
At the end of a word: students learn the K vs. -CK Rule (sometimes called the Long Spelling Rule), which explains how to spell /k/ at the end of a word. ⭐️ Keep reading to learn all about this!

K vs. -CK Spelling Rule

There are two common ways to spell the /k/ sound at the end of a one-syllable word in English.

k
-ck

How do we know which one to use?

Just pay attention to the sound that comes right BEFORE the /k/ sound! This sound will help you determine how to spell the /k/ sound accurately.

📝 Rule:

Use -ck immediately after a short vowel sound.
Use k after any other sound. This can be a consonant sound or any other vowel sound, like a long vowel or r-controlled vowel.

Graphic showing words and pictures with -k and -ck endings.

When to Use -CK

In a one-syllable word, use –ck immediately after a short vowel sound.

-ck Examples:

tack
rock
duck
stick
track
struck

⬆️ Notice how all of these words have a short vowel sound immediately before the /k/ sound. That’s why the /k/ is spelled with the digraph -ck.

When to Use K

In a one syllable word, use k after any other sound that is NOT a short vowel. This can be a consonant sound or any other vowel sound (e.g. long vowel, vowel team, or r-controlled vowel).

k Examples:

bike
shark
peak
book
whisk

⬆️ Notice how all of these words have a consonant or another vowel sound (not short) right before the /k/ sound. That’s why the /k/ is spelled with the k.

📏 Long Spelling Rule

To help students remember this, you can use a simple jingle: “Long spelling right after short vowel.”

What does this mean? Well when you compare the graphemes, –ck has two letters while k only is one. This follows the “Long Spelling Rule.”

The digraph -ck is literally the longer way to spell the sound. That’s why this jingle makes sense, and it’s a fun way to make the ‘rule’ easier to remember! I usually have my students pound the jingle on their desk (they LOVE this!).

👉🏻 Read more about the long spelling rule and see how it also applies to other spelling choices: ge vs. -dge and ch vs -tch.

Teaching Tips

You can introduce the K vs. CK rule once students know short vowel sounds, the digraph -ck, and common ending blends. With that knowledge, they can practice spelling words like:

k = elk, desk, bunk, ask
-ck = stuck, rock, Jack, pink

Once students learn the VCe syllable type (Magic E words), this spelling generalization needs to be revisited.

In VCe (Silent E) words, the /k/ sound at the end will be spelled with the letter k, followed by the final silent e. Now they can practice spelling words like:

back & bake
lack & lake
snack & snake
lick & like

Note: In VCe words, the /k/ sound will never be spelled with the letter c.

That’s because the final silent e makes c say /s/, like in face, rice, and truce. Read more about Soft C to learn why.

Later on, as you introduce the Vowel Team Syllable and the R-Controlled Syllable Type, kids should be able to apply this knowledge to spelling words like:

nook
sneak
mark
stork
cheek
hawk

You should also teach that in many two-syllable words, the /k/ sound is usually spelled with the letter c (e.g. logic, picnic, classic, plastic).

Free Worksheets

Read our teaching tips and get 6 free worksheets for targeted and meaningful practice.

Our worksheets are designed for introducing this rule, so almost all the words and pictures are closed syllable words with short vowel sounds.

📑 Decoding Practice Worksheets

Three printed and completed /k/ sound reading worksheets. — ✨ Download the **FREE worksheets** at the bottom of this page!

Decoding words that end in /k/ usually isn’t too tricky, so students probably won’t need to spend a lot of time reading them in isolation.

However, reading words with these patterns—and seeing the two spelling choices side by side—is very helpful for students so they internalize the spelling patterns in words.

You can use targeted word lists and word sorts for this.

📄 Get 3 Free Worksheets (download below!) focused on decoding words with the /k/ sound.

Reading /k/ Words Worksheet: Kids will highlight the /k/ spellings in each word. They’ll then practice reading words with k and -ck.
/k/ Sort Worksheet: Kids will read words. Then, they’ll cut out and sort the words into k and -ck columns.
Read & Represent Worksheet: Kids will read word sets, then appropriately appropriate represent each word with a picture. It does include VCe words with long vowel sounds.

🔡 Encoding Practice Worksheets

Three printed and completed /k/ sound spelling worksheets. — ✨ Get the FREE worksheets below!

Because this is a spelling rule we’re talking about, encoding practice is essential. So once kids can read words with both k and -ck rather effortlessly, it’s time to teach the long spelling rule for spelling.

Be sure to provide direct, explicit instruction and lots of examples. Use our Google Slides Presentation for instruction! Then, kids should practice spelling with support and eventually independently.

📄 Get 3 Free Worksheets (download below!) for spelling words with the /k/ sound.

Spell the /k/ Sound Worksheet: One-syllable words are included with the initial letters written out. Kids will complete the words by spelling with either a k or -ck, applying the rule.
Spell & Sort Worksheet: Kids will look at pictures, apply the spelling rule, and then sort words according to k and -ck spellings.
Word Mapping with Sound Boxes Worksheet: Following a true speech-to-print format, kids will look at pictures and spell the words using sound boxes.

Graphic showing 38 Spelling Rules & Patterns Posters. — 👆🏼 Grab ALL our Spelling Rules Mini-Posters 👆🏼

🖨 Download & Print

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