Syllables

This is one section of a Phonics Kit that you can create. Many of the resources are provided by the websites below for personal or classroom use. See the full post for more resources!

Syllables are simple, one for every vowel sound, so there are lots of syllables around. You can clap or tap, or feel your mouth drop! Hearing syllables is a part of phonemic awareness that can be practiced with a syllable sort mat and animal flashcards.

Open and Closed Syllables

WATCH:

When a vowel is followed by at least one consonant, it is closed in. It often makes a short sound, as in pin. (the vowel stops short)

A vowel is open with no consonant behind. Open syllables are often long, you will find. (the vowel can go long)

Note that Silent e and Vowel Teams are more powerful. For example, the words cake and  team both have the long sound. WATCH this video from Jessie Ketchum. Bossy R & Diphthongs also follow their own guidelines, so car is not short, but makes a new sound, and so does bound.

WATCH Syllables (5:07) from Scratch Garden, Open/closed (1:38) Open/closed (6:29)

Please note that many online games require Flash and may not work well on some tablets and smartphones. It can be helpful to download the Puffin browser.

PLAY Online Games: word jumbler game at bbc.co.uk. syllable games at learninggamesforkids.com. syllable factory game at skillswise

Examples of words with open and closed syllables at sightwordgames.

Syllable Division

WATCH: Syllable division from Nessy

Open & Closed Vowels in Two Syllable Words

After learning about how to divide syllables, notice that two syllable words with one middle consonant can divide after the first vowel. This leaves the first syllable open, which often has the long vowel sound. Examples: pa|per, be|gin, ti|ger, ro|bot, mu|sic. Note that there are exceptions: about 40% of the time the word splits after the middle consonant, making the first syllable closed and short. Examples: cam|el, ped|al, vis|it, rob|in. Learn more at More Ways That Vowels Can Be Long.

Syllable Types

Bookmarks and posters from ThisReadingMama

Poster from MakeTakeTeach:

We’ve learned about: Silent e, Bossy R, Vowel Teams, Diphthongs, and Open & Closed Syllables. Learning the different syllable types helps makes sense of the different vowel sounds in the English language. The final syllable type to learn about is Consonant -le.

Consonant -le is an unaccented final syllable that contains a consonant and -le. The e at the end is silent, and creates a new sound: “ul”

WATCH Kids vs Phonics le (1:58), Consonant -le plus review of all syllable types (2:46)

Please note that many online games require Flash and may not work well on some tablets and smartphones. It can be helpful to download the Puffin browser.

PLAY Printable Consonant -le Go Fish from Hattie Knox

At Teachers Pay Teachers: Turtle Trouble Game & Nice Dice practice for the Consonant -le pattern.

Teach reading skills using hands-on, fun activities: memorable introductions to patterns with fun rhymes, 16 games,  24 worksheets, 11 word sorts and more. Learn more about the Phonics Toolkit and get your copy today!

For even more resources, check out my reading Pinterest board.