What specific skill does a student need to be instructed in if they confuse "wedge" with "wej"?

The correct answer highlights the significance of understanding the grapheme -dge, which is integral for decoding words ending with this particular spelling pattern. The confusion between "wedge" and "wej" suggests that the student is not recognizing the presence of the grapheme -dge, which affects their ability to accurately pronounce and spell words containing that ending.

In English, the -dge combination represents a specific sound that is crucial for maintaining the correct pronunciation and meaning of words. By focusing on this grapheme, students can learn to recognize when to use -dge, particularly after a single vowel that is typically short. This understanding helps them differentiate between words that are spelled similarly but have different endings, reinforcing the connection between letters and their phonetic sounds.

This targeted instruction on the -dge grapheme ultimately supports the student in improving their phonemic awareness and spelling accuracy, allowing for better reading fluency and comprehension.