Simplified -ED endings
There have been a couple suggestions about teaching -ed endings, and I have to say, it doesn't have to be so complicated:
It is essential to teach students when to use an extra syllable and when to use a simple consonant (t or d). however, it is NOT necessary for students to distinguish between /t/ and /d/. There are no minimal pairs - that means it will never affect the meaning of the word or the students ability to understand/be understood.
Therefore, the simple and completely sufficient way to teach -ed endings is to end up with a rule like this: If the -ed ending is immediately preced by 't' or 'd', the ending is pronounced as an extra syllable. Otherwise it is produced as /t/ or /d/ (whichever is easiest!)
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