Alternative spellings

Alternative spellings are the different ways to spell a sound.For example, the English sound /k/ can be written  with the graphemes c, k, the diagraph ck and very few times with ch. 
If we are not sure how to spell a word, best guesses become very interesting.

Short vowels

(they don't have alternative spellings)

Sound	Spelling	Example
/æ/	a	cat
/e/	e	pen
/i/	i	chin
/o/	o	top
/ʌ/	u	cup

Long vowels

Sound	Spelling*	Example
/eɪ/	ai, ay, a, a-e, ae, ey, eigh, ea	aim, clay, angel, cake, sundae, grey, eight, great
/i:/	ee, y, ea, e-e, e, ey, ie, ine	bee, funny, beach, compete, be, donkey, belief, sardine
/aɪ /	ie, igh, y, i, i-e	bright, dry, pie, child, drive
/əʊ /	oa, ow, o, o-e, oe, ough, eau	boat, blow, fold, hope, toe, although, beau
/ju/	ue, ew, u, u-e, eu	rescue, few, music, cube, neutral
/u:/	oo, ue, ew, u-e, u, o, ou, ough, ui	broom, blue, chew, flute, super, move, group, through, fruit

Other important sounds

Sound	Spelling*	Example
/ʃ/	sh, ch, ti, ci, sci, ssi	shape, chef, celebration, delicious, conscious, expression
/tʃ/	ch, tch, ture	chair, pitch, future
/θ/ /ð/	th	thumb, this
/kw/	qu	queen
/ŋ/	ng, nk	king, monkey
/ɑ:/	ar, al	arm, half
/ɔ:/	or, aw, au, al, augh, our, oar, oor, ore, ough, ar, a	born, draw, saucer, talk, caugh, door, four, aboard, more, bought, warm
/ɜ:/	er, ur, ir, or, ear	perfect, curl, girl, learn, worm
/aʊ/	ou, ow, ough	found, flower, plough
/ɔɪ/	oi, oy	soil, boy
/eə/	air, are, ear, ere	chair, hare, bear, there

Rest of the English sounds

Sound	Spelling*	Example
/b/	b, bb	cab, rubber
/k/	c, k, ck, ch	cap, kick, character
/d/	d, dd, ed	dog, addition, loved
/f/	f,ff, ph, gh, lf	fit, cuff, philosophy, laugh, half
/g/	g, gg, gu, gh	grapes, agglomerate, guitar, ghost
/h/	h, wh	hot, who
/dʒ/	j, g, dge	jam, gym, judge
/l/	l, ll, le, al, el, il	lip, doll, cuddle, animal, camel, pencil
/m/	m, mm, mb, mn	mum, mummy, lamb, autumn
/n/	n, nn, kn, gn	can, sunny, knot, gnome
/ŋ/	ng, nk	sing, monkey
/p/	p, pp	pin, puppet
/r/	r, rr, wr	red, carrot, write
/s/	s, ss, ce, ci, cy, -ce, -se, sc, ps, st	sand, class, central, circus, cycle, dance, horse, science, listen, psychologist
/t/	t, tt, ed	top, letter, jumped
/v/	v, ve	van, give
/w/	w, wh, gu	wig, whale, penguin
/x/	x	box
/j/	y	yacht
/z/	z, zz, -ze	zip, buzz, freeze

*Depending on the percentage of usage of each alternative spelling, we can decide if we teach the alternative spelling or we teach those few words as non-decodable words (tricky words). Find in grey the ones that I consider tricky words.

And what if we have to spell a word that has a sound with different spellings? Knowing the best guesses will help you.

More ideas

Floppy's phonics reading books
Letters and sounds
Phonicsplay
Bogglesworldesl
Sparklebox
FlashCardFox