aims
PronouncedAYMZ
nounThings that someone wants to achieve or accomplish.
nounPoints that someone is trying to hit or reach with a weapon or object.
nounThe ways someone points a weapon or object to hit a target.
verbTries to hit or reach something by pointing a weapon or object at it.
verbTries to accomplish or achieve something.
verbPoints or directs something, such as words or criticism, at a particular person or thing.
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: AI Vowel Team
Sound“ay”·/eɪ/
When A and I are together, they say long A, like in 'rain' and 'train'.
The vowel team 'ai' makes the long A sound “ay”. It usually appears in the middle of a word. At the end of a word, the same sound is usually spelled 'ay'.
Tip
AI in the middle says long A — rain on the train!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Letter M
Sound“m”·/m/
The letter M makes the /m/ sound, like in 'map', 'mud', and 'mop'. Both lips press together with voice through the nose.
M is a voiced bilabial nasal — both lips press together while the voice hums through the nose. Double M (mm) makes the same /m/ sound.
Tip
M hums like mmm — press your lips and hum!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Plural -S (/z/ sound)
Sound“z”·/z/
After a buzzing sound or a vowel, the plural ending says /z/ — like 'dogs' and 'shoes'.
Put a finger on your throat and say 'zzzz' — you feel a buzz. When the word ends in a buzzing (voiced) sound or a vowel, the plural ending buzzes too and says /z/. This happens whether the word is spelled -s (dogs) or -es (shoes, trees), because in shoes the e is silent and only the s is sounded. Most people never notice they are doing this.
Examples
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