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Words Ending in -ing: A Comprehensive Spelling List

Teaching students to spell words that end in -ing is a fundamental part of early literacy instruction. These words represent ongoing actions and are essential for students to master as they develop their writing skills. The -ing ending, also known as the present participle, is one of the most common and regularly used suffixes in the English language.

Understanding the -ing Pattern

When adding -ing to base words, students learn important spelling patterns. Some words require dropping the final 'e' (like in 'make' becoming 'making'), while others need doubling of the final consonant (as in 'run' becoming 'running'). This list focuses on straightforward -ing additions that help students build confidence in their spelling abilities.

Common Core Standards Alignment

This collection of -ing words aligns with several Common Core Standards. Particularly relevant standards include:

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.2.2.D: Generalize learned spelling patterns when writing words
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.2.E: Use conventional spelling for high-frequency and other studied words and for adding suffixes to base words
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.2.F: Use spelling patterns and generalizations in writing words

These standards are particularly applicable because they focus on pattern recognition and the application of spelling rules, which are crucial skills when learning to add the -ing suffix to base words.

Complete List of -ing Words

Here's our comprehensive list of words ending in -ing:

being, going, doing, acting, resting, meeting, painting, pointing, counting, fixing, ending, sending, landing, standing, needing, speeding, reading, playing, saying, staying, keeping, sleeping, helping, camping, teaching, matching, asking, thinking, singing, hanging, raining, cleaning, feeling, spelling, fishing

Teaching Tips

When introducing these words to students, consider grouping them by their base word patterns. For example, words like 'being' and 'seeing' can be taught together as they follow the same pattern of dropping the 'e' before adding -ing. This helps students recognize and internalize spelling patterns more effectively.

Practice Activities

Regular practice with these words helps students internalize the spelling patterns. Consider activities such as:

  • Word sorting exercises
  • Fill-in-the-blank sentences
  • Spelling games focusing on -ing endings
  • Writing activities using present progressive tense

Assessment Suggestions

To evaluate students' mastery of these -ing words, consider:

  • Weekly spelling tests
  • Writing samples
  • Dictation exercises
  • Interactive online quizzes

Create a worksheet using words from this list

Additional Resources

Looking for more ways to practice these words? Our worksheet creator can help you generate custom spelling activities tailored to your students' needs. You can create word searches, fill-in-the-blank exercises, and other engaging activities using these -ing words.

Remember that consistent practice and exposure to these words in various contexts will help students become more confident spellers and writers.