Short Vowel / Closed Syllable Definitions:
– Short Vowel refers to a vowel saying its short sound (not its name) as in hat, bed, sit, off, up. Short vowels are represented:  /ă/  /ĕ/  /ĭ/  /ŏ/  /ŭ/ 
– Long Vowel refers to when a vowel says its name as in she, and bike. Long vowels are represented: /ā/  /ē/  /ī/  /ō/  /ū/
– CVC is short for Closed syllable. The closed syllable has one vowel and ends in a consonant. The vowel says its short sound like in the words fan, pet, it, on, and luck. The Closed syllable is the most common syllable, and the only syllable where the vowel says its short sound.

Teaching Videos:

Written Stories:

• Written Story: AE I O U a Kiss Story as told in Teaching Video
• Written Stories: Vowel Stories 
• New Written Stories matching videos above: Vowel Stories for i and e

• AE IOU a Kiss, Y?
• Short Vowel Sounds Poster
• Short Vowel Sounds Individual Posters

Activity

Make an AE pipe cleaner and beads

For the formatting of PowerPoints to be correct, click FILE, then DOWNLOAD, and download in Microsoft PowerPoint.

How to make the vowel sounds PowerPoint from instructional video All 5 vowel PowerPoint slides are in the PowerPoint, so we recommend you come back multiple times to teach one new vowel sound at a time.  Use the up and down arrows to navigate through the PowerPoint.

Google Slides Short a /ă/ Family intro -at -an -ap -am -ag
Google Slides Short e /ĕ/ Family intro -ell -eg -ed -en -et
Google Slides Short i /ĭ/ Family intro -in -ill -it -ig -id -ip
Google Slides Short o /ŏ/ Family intro -og -od -ot -op -ob -oss
Google Slides Short u /ŭ/ Family intro -um -up -ut -ub -un -ug

Good readers do not read letter by letter, they read in chunks.  Start this habit early by reading closed syllable words from the vowel to the end of the word, then add the first sound(s).  By clicking through this PowerPoint the student should be saying “ot” “pot” “ot” “hot”.  To make this even more effective, do it to a beat (you can use a free online metronome) so the student gives a response every other beat.  There is a lot of research going on about how beat and rhythm helps learning in lots of ways.
PowerPoint CVC Beginning word families reading in chunks 1
PowerPoint CVC Beginning word families reading in chunks 2

PowerPoint Flash Beginning Word Families
In this PowerPoint the 4h words are flashed. This helps students learn to take a quick look and make an image of the word in their heads. See Flashing Words for more information on this strategy.  Download the PowerPoint and use the up and down arrows to  arrows to go through it.

PowerPoint All Syllable Types with Practice  (Directions in notes section on each slide) Use only slides that are relevant to where you are in the steps.

TEACH ALONG THE WAY ●●●

Big Sounds Pack: Print and and add the relevant sounds, (the 21 consonants, 5 vowels, -ck, and -all) to practice daily. Add more sounds each step of the way.

Work on mastering the first sets of beginning sight words.

– qu, the /kw/ sound, counts as one consonant: q is always followed by u and together they count as one consonant. Together they say /kw/. I tell students “The queen broke her leg (hence the backwards bend in the lowercase q in most fonts) and so the u wheels her around in a wheelbarrow. This is all the u can do – it does not say anything. Saying “Quiet queen, work on your quilt!” emphasizes the /kw/ sound.

– ck: The /k/ sound after a short vowel is spelled ck. The /k/ sound after any other sound is almost always spelled with a k.

– ffsszzll: The “fizzle” rule. These letters are usually doubled after a short vowel in a one syllable word. This comes up in words like bell and fizz.

– all: The word all and the ending -all is pronounced as if it were spelled with an /ŏ/, making it a cheater chunk.

** If questions about Magic e (vce) words present themselves, we have Beginning Magic e Pyramids, stories, and games Packs to use.

TIP: To be consistent with pronunciation say key word before vowel sound (apple /ă/, elephant (or Ed) /ĕ/, igloo (or icky) /ĭ/, octopus /ŏ/, umbrella /ŭ/).  Without training, most adults say vowel sounds incorrectly when trying to pronounce a vowel by itself (without being in a word).

Being automatic with the basic skills is key to reading. Learners need to read and write with automaticity. Consider the following strategies when working towards automaticity:
See Working on New Words or Sounds with Flashcards
See Flashing Words
See Highlighting Word Lists
See Timing Students

Map Sounds to Letters

Map the sounds in the word to the letter(s) representing the sounds, even if it is not a letter combination that has been taught yet. Only an unusual sound/letter combination needs to be remembered “by heart.” Mapping the sounds to the letters is how we remember what words look like. See example below:

Be sure to reinforce what you know and are learning about words, for example:
Schwa Sound: Any vowel might say /ŭ/. Point out that this happens in many common words like: the, of, was, some, from…

KEY:
K-1 Beginning
1-2 Growing
Intervention/Challenge

Bundle: Multiple types of materials (games, activities, stories…) bundled together.
Pack: Multiple pieces of the same type of material, for example a pack of books.

Directions for everything else:

More on the Directions Page

• Highlighting Lists
• Working with Flashcards
• Flashing Words with flashcards
• Games with Picture Cards
• Games with Words/Phrases on Game Board
• Game I Have, Who Has
• Game Bang!
• Game Bingo
• Spelling help found on the Spelling Page in the Teach Along The Way section
• Small Book 8 page Assembly Directions 
• Small Book 4 page Folding Directions
• Syllable Sort Directions
  • Syllable Sort Headings
  • Strategy for Splitting Syllables

Sample Bundle

Beginning Reader Short Vowel Bundles

Short Vowel Bundles
About CVC Bundles
CVC /ă/ Bundle: words, phrases, pyramids, games -at -an -ap -am -ag /ă/ BUNDLE
CVC /ĕ/ Bundle: words, phrases, pyramids, games -ell -eg -ed -en -et /ĕ/ BUNDLE
CVC /ĭ/ Bundle: words, phrases, pyramids, games -in -ill -it -ig -id -ip /ĭ/ BUNDLE
CVC /ŏ/ Bundle: words, sentences, games -og -od -ot -op -ob -oss /ŏ/ BUNDLE
CVC /ŭ/ Bundle: words, sentences, games -um -up -ut -ub -un -ug /ŭ/ BUNDLE

CVC Mixed Bundle: words, sentences, games Mixed BUNDLE

Beginning Reader Short Vowel Packs

Short Vowel Word Family Lists Packs
(also in Bundles above)
INDEX for Short Vowel Word Family List Packs: Read, Draw, Write
CVC Pack /ă/ Lists /ă/ Word Families
CVC Pack /ĕ/ Lists /ĕ/ Word Families
CVC Pack/ĭ/ Lists /ĭ/ Word Families
CVCPack /ŏ/ Lists /ŏ/ Word Families
CVC Pack /ŭ/ Lists /ŭ/ Word Families

Look Alike Words Pack
CVC Pack mixed vowel Look Alike Words

Short Vowel Pyramids Pack
*CVC Pack CVC Mixed vowel PYRAMIDS Pack includes sight words: the, to

Short Vowel Word Family Game Packs
INDEX for CVC Short Vowel Word Family Game Packs

CVC Pack /ă/ Games /ă/ Word Families
CVC Pack /ĕ/ Games /ĕ/ Word Families
CVC Pack /ĭ/ Games /ĭ/ Word Families
CVC Pack /ŏ/ Games /ŏ/ Word Families
CVC Pack /ŭ/ Games /ŭ/ Word Families

Short Vowel Story Packs:
CVC Mixed Small Book Pack CVC 4 PAGE MIXED VOWEL BOOK Pack: 20 Four Page mixed short vowel books, all horizontal format. Sight words needed include: the, she, he, me, we, I, go, hi, my, and in the last books fly, say, to, too. (also below)
CVC Pack Full Page Stories with Lists ALL

Have students highlight each vowel, say the vowel sound, then read the words.  (dig: learner says /ĭ/ /dig/) This helps students train their brains to automatically notice the vowels. An option is to have students highlight the end word chunk – the vowel to the end of the word and read word end chunk, then whole word. (dig learner says /ĭg/ /dig/) See Highlighting Word Lists.

Short Vowel Word Family Lists Packs
(also in Bundles above)
INDEX for Short Vowel Word Family List Packs: Read, Draw, Write
CVC Pack /ă/ Lists /ă/ Word Families
CVC Pack /ĕ/ Lists /ĕ/ Word Families
CVC Pack/ĭ/ Lists /ĭ/ Word Families
CVCPack /ŏ/ Lists /ŏ/ Word Families
CVC Pack /ŭ/ Lists /ŭ/ Word Families
Word Lists:
CVC Beginning ffsszzll words list SEEING DOUBLE 1
CVC word lists by vowel a, e, i, o, u
CVC mixed word lists with reference pics
CVCC ffsszzll(a few 4h and blends) word lists SEEING DOUBLE 2
CVC mixed vowel(4h and blends) drill words with reference picts
VC automaticity with short vowel endings *Being automatic with common chunks in words is key to fluent reading. Practice reading these word endings.  Use a timer to see how fast the student can read them.  Have the student think of words that end with each of these endings.  Have students spell words with these endings, both real and nonsense.

Phrases and Sentences:
CVC a phrases ANN AT BAT
CVC ag word family A RAG IN THE BAG (a few 4h and blends) words and sentences
CVC e phrases HEN HAD AN EGG (with timing option)
CVC i phrases A PIG CAN DIG
CVC o phrases A BOX FROM MOM (with timing option)
CVC u phrases BUG IN A JUG (with timing option)
CVC mixed vowel Words and Phrases group 1 and 2 (with timing option)
CVC Nonsense Syllables It is important readers can read nonsense syllables as well as real one syllable words with automaticity.
CVC Nonsense Syllables 2 last column includes blends and 4h

Multiple Syllable Word Lists:
Open and Closed Syllable CVC/CVC y dividing multiple syllable words Crazy Nonsense Words
*Nonsense cvc into multiple syllable words CVC syllables for blending and spelling
CVC/CVC 2 closed syllable word lists by first syllable vowelNote: Some vowels in multiple syllable words will say the schwa sound (the short u sound like the o makes in mother).

Short vowel sounds picture cards
*Short vowel sounds picture cards activities
CVC Short vowel words Covering the word, uncovering it for just one or two seconds then covering it up again is a great strategy to encourage students to begin to make the images of the words in their heads.  If learner does not know the word after it is “flashed” ask: “What letters did you see?   Do you want me to show you again?  (If yes, flash word again. Flash as many times as necessary, pausing to ask what the learner remembers about the letters/word between flashes.)  “What sounds do those letters make?”  Good readers have models of common words and word patterns in their heads so they can read them automatically.  This strategy encourages students to start making these images in their minds. See Flashing Words.
*Short Vowel Word Families Flashcards have a word family chunk on one side (-at) and wordlist with that family on the back side (hat, chat). Wordlist includes cvc and ccvcc words. Includes a directions page.

Pyramids are great for automaticity with words, feeling successful and fluency.

*CVC Pack CVC Mixed vowel PYRAMIDS Pack includes sight words: the, to

Game Directions

• I Have, Who Has class games:
  • I have, who has CVC – A cards
  • I have, who has CVC – E cards
  • I have, who has CVC – I cards
  • I have, who has CVC – O cards
  • I have, who has CVC – U cards
  • I have, who has CVC – AEIOU cards

• Short Vowel Dice Games:
  • Dice Games by Vowel
  • Mixed Vowel Dice Game

• Zap Games:
  • Short Vowel Zap Words game
  • Short Vowel Zap Phrases game
    

Board Games

– Short Vowel Spinners
– Short Vowel Board Game Directions

• Short Vowel Sound Games:
  • Short a, i CAT CAN
  • Short a, u BUS
  • Short o, u FOX
  • Short e, i PIG NINJAS DON’T WEAR WIGS
  • Short e, o 10 MEN IN A TENT
  • Short e, u, o, i AROUND THE BLOCK
  • Short a, e, i, u RING AROUND
  • Short a, e, i, u BEG FOR A CUP OF MILK
  • Short a, e, i, o, u SUPER HERO SOUNDS
  • Short a, e, i, o, u KARATE KIDS
    
• Short Vowel Word Family Game Packs
  (also in Bundles above)
  INDEX for CVC Short Vowel Word Family Game Packs
  • CVC Pack /ă/ Games /ă/ Word Families
  • CVC Pack /ĕ/ Games /ĕ/ Word Families
  • CVC Pack /ĭ/ Games /ĭ/ Word Families
  • CVC Pack /ŏ/ Games /ŏ/ Word Families
  • CVC Pack /ŭ/ Games /ŭ/ Word Families
    .
• Short Vowel Word and Phrase Games:
  • CVC  Short a words WHO HAD HAM
  • CVC Short e words I MET MY PET AT THE VET
  • CVC Short a, e words PET A WET CAT
  • CVC Short a, e phrases PET THE RED HEN
  • CVC Short i words game FIT WIG ON PIG
  • CVC Short o words I GOT A HOT DOG
  • CVC Short u words & phrases PUP IS UP IN A CUP
  • CVC Mixed Short Vowel words DOT FUN
  • CVC Mixed Short Vowel words FILL THE MUG UP
  • CVC Short e phrases IS NED IN BED
  • CVC word endings WHAT’S UP
  • CVC ck words WHAT IS IN A SCHOOL BACKPACK
  • CV ck words & phrases PICK A PECK OF PEPPERS
  • CVCC ffsszzll words (4h and blends) BULL EATS TALL GRASS
  • CVC, -nd Short a phrases (4h and blends) A MAP IN THE SAND

• Short Vowel Bingo:
  • Bingo Directions
  • Bingo Cards with Pictures B&W
  • Bingo Cards with Pictures Color
  • Bingo Cards with Letters

Practice with words from the lists, games etc., or use the lists below.
* Having learners spell with word chains where the coach says “change one sound in (chop) to spell (chip), now change one sound in (chip) to spell (sip)” is a powerful way to draw student’s attention to individual sounds in the words!

• Spelling Add the short vowel sound with picture prompts
• Spelling Change the short vowel sound
• Spelling Add the short vowel sound
• Spelling Spell in sentences cvc, cvck
• Spelling Multi-syllable short vowel spelling

Word Chains: A Powerful Strategy

*Click here for directions and a sample CVC Word Chain Spelling List as seen here ➔

• CVC Spelling Word Chain Pin to Met (Words in Graphic ➔)
• CVC Spelling Word Chain RAN to SUN

Small Book: 8 page assembly directions, 4 page folding directions, OR use horizontal format for reading on the screen in distance learning.

Word Families practice videos
Practice word families with Chris Jaglo! These are mostly 3 letter words with some blends thrown in. Click on the 3 dots and choose full screen. The sheet she is using is linked in the caption for each video. I recommend learners highlight the word families on the sheet if possible.

See Highlighting Word Lists

*Challenge: many words and includes some blends and 4h brothers

CVC Pack Full Page Stories with Lists ALL