I forgot to mention that when he does remember the rules he has little physical helps that he does. He says SHHH when he realizes there is a silent e and then trys it again. But the best one is how he gets all excited and makes muscles when he explains to me that the N is stronger than the K. And then he tells me there are invisible letters I can't see....but they are silent so it's okay.

That's so exciting! Don't let his teachers sit on him either...have them in a reading group right away...if that means pushing him into a first grade class for reading, and he's ready for it, then so be it. Yay!

Tutoring an 8 year old in the 3rd grade, I expected his teachers to have taught him some of the simple rules that most children learn in KG and 1st grade. (he is esl).  ONce I realized they had not, I started teaching them to him.  So any tips (like the kn one), I appreciate.

So any tips (like the kn one), I appreciate.

When I was a kid, I beat my big brother up till he taught me how to read. Unfortuantely he didn't know the phonics or rules. I read before kindergarten so I was immediately placed in a 1st grade reading group.....never learned the rules there becuase i coudl already read. I never quite caught on to which is a long vowel sound and wich is a short. but I read so much that I just figured it out. Now with my son, I am actually trying to learn with him...but most of the time I just make up rules to fit the trends that I have noticed and put it in a way that will make sense to him.

Here are the one's I know, feel free to enlighten me....anything to help my boy.
When 2 vowels go walking, the first one says it's name.
If the E is silent, the vowel says it's name (What's the rule on if an e shoudl be silent or not? I can tell just by looking but is there a rule for beginning readers?)
Ns are stronger than Ks so if they stand together, you hear the N.

Is there a rule on ought/aught/ight or anything else that might help him as he progresses?

When I was a kid, I beat my big brother up till he taught me how to read.

My sister did not have to beat me up.   I just took my books home and taught her how to read cause I thought it was so neat!

But to add to your list, WR and KN are the same (the mightier one wins), A vowel will say its name if Ms. E comes at the end (and she will be silent).  If there is no E and 2 vowels are not together, then the vowel does not say its name.  Except when followed by a gh, etc.   I am surprised I can remember these things 45 years later!