Phonics: Syllables

Listen to the following words: "cap" and "cape." Explain how you can tell which word has a long vowel sound and which has a short vowel sound. Choose the best explanation.

• "Cap" has a long vowel because it is a short word, and "cape" has a short vowel because it is longer.

• "Cap" has a short vowel sound because the 'a' is pronounced quickly, while "cape" has a long vowel sound because the 'a' says its name.

• Both words have the same vowel sound because they both have the letter 'a'.

• "Cape" has a short vowel because it ends with 'e', and "cap" has a long vowel because it does not.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.2E

CCSS.L.K.2D

CCSS.RF.1.3C

CCSS.RF.2.3A

CCSS.RF.2.3B

You are given the words "hop" and "hope." Using your knowledge of vowel sounds, explain how you would help a friend figure out which word has the long vowel sound. What evidence would you use?

• "Hop" has a long vowel because it is a shorter word.

• "Hope" has a long vowel sound because the 'e' at the end makes the 'o' say its name, while "hop" has a short vowel sound.

• Both words have the same vowel sound because they both have the letter 'o'.

• "Hop" has a long vowel because it rhymes with "mop."

Tags

CCSS.L.1.2E

CCSS.L.K.2D

CCSS.RF.1.3C

CCSS.RF.2.3A

CCSS.RF.2.3B

You see the word "rabbit" in a book. Using your knowledge that every syllable must have a vowel sound, explain how you would figure out how many syllables are in "rabbit."

• Count the number of letters in the word.

• Count the number of vowel sounds you hear when you say the word out loud.

• Count the number of times you clap when you say the word.

• Count the number of consonants in the word.

Tags

CCSS.RF.1.3D

CCSS.RF.1.3E

CCSS.RF.2.3C

CCSS.RF.K.2B

CCSS.RF.K.2C

Imagine you are reading the word "sunset." How would you use your knowledge about syllables and vowel sounds to determine how many syllables are in the word?

• Look for the number of 's' letters in the word.

• Find and count each vowel sound in the word to determine the number of syllables.

• Count the number of letters in the word.

• Guess based on how long the word looks.

Tags

CCSS.RF.1.3D

CCSS.RF.1.3E

CCSS.RF.2.3C

CCSS.RF.K.2B

CCSS.RF.K.2C

You come across the word "ship" while reading. Explain how you would use your decoding skills to figure out what the word says.

• Guess the word based on the first letter.

• Sound out each letter and blend the sounds together to read the word.

• Skip the word and move to the next one.

• Only look at the last letter to decide.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.2D

CCSS.L.K.2C

CCSS.RF.2.3E

CCSS.RF.K.3A

CCSS.RF.K.3D

If you see the word "frog" in a story, describe the steps you would take to decode the word and explain why each step is important.

• Look at the word and guess what it might be.

• Break the word into its sounds: /f/ /r/ /o/ /g/, then blend them together to read "frog."

• Only say the first and last letters.

• Ask someone else to read it for you.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.2D

CCSS.L.K.2C

CCSS.RF.K.3A

CCSS.RF.K.3B

CCSS.RF.K.3D

You see the word "basket" in your reading. Explain how you would break the word into syllables and use basic patterns to decode it.

• Read the word as one long word without stopping.

• Break the word into "bas" and "ket," then decode each part by sounding them out.

• Only read the first part of the word.

• Guess the word based on the picture.

Tags

CCSS.RF.1.3D

CCSS.RF.1.3E

CCSS.RF.2.3C

CCSS.RF.K.2B

CCSS.RF.K.2C

When you find the word "sunset," how would you use your knowledge of syllables to help you read the word correctly?

• Say the word quickly without thinking about the parts.

• Break the word into "sun" and "set," then read each syllable separately before blending them together.

• Only read the first syllable.

• Ignore the word and move on.

Tags

CCSS.RF.1.3D

CCSS.RF.1.3E

CCSS.RF.2.3C

CCSS.RF.K.2B

CCSS.RF.K.2C

You are helping a friend read the word "plan." What reasoning would you use to help them decode the word correctly?

• Tell them to guess the word based on the picture.

• Help them sound out each letter: /p/ /l/ /a/ /n/, then blend the sounds together to say "plan."

• Only say the first and last letters.

• Skip the word and move to the next one.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.2F

You see the word "kitten" in a story. Explain how you would use your knowledge of syllables and decoding to read the word.

• Read the word as one long word without stopping.

• Break the word into "kit" and "ten," then sound out each part and blend them together to read "kitten."

• Only read the first syllable.

• Guess the word based on the first letter.

Tags

CCSS.RF.1.3D

CCSS.RF.1.3E

CCSS.RF.2.3C

CCSS.RF.K.2B

CCSS.RF.K.2C