Step 7: Adding Syllables Together & Schwa (ə)

Definitions:
A syllable is a unit of pronunciation with one vowel sound. It could be the whole word or it could be part of a word. The vowel sound in a syllable is made by one or more vowels.
∙One syllable word: bike.
∙Two syllable word eagle.
∙Three syllable word: elephant.

The schwa sound is /ŭ/ (the unaccented short ŭ sound) and is represented with this symbol: Ə. Any vowel or vowel combination in any syllable might have a schwa sound and say /ŭ/. An example is the letter “e” in the word “the.” In words with 3 or more vowel sounds, one of the syllables often has a schwa sound. (The vowel sound in the second syllable in eagle, and the second and third syllables in elephant are schwa sounds.)

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Teaching/Learning to Read

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teachingvideos

Teaching Videos

bundlesandpacks

Schwa & Multiple Syllable words Bundles!

Schwa Beginning Bundle Schwa words

CVC Multiple Syllable Beginning Bundle CVC Reading bigger words
CV CVC Multiple Syllable Beginning Bundle CV CVC Reading bigger words

*See Challenge Schwa Endings Bundles at the bottom of this page (these are also in Step 10)*

Individual Materials including materials for more advanced learners:

Lists

Word and Phrase Lists

The idea is to notice the schwa sound in these words. Draw a schwa symbol (Ə) over the schwa sound in each word. *Changing a vowel sound to a schwa sound is a very common way to figure out an unknown word that is not read correctly the first time.*

Schwa Lists

Schwa 25 Most Common Ə Words list
Schwa 25 Most Common Ə Words and Phrases
Schwa Ə Phrases with the 25 Most Common Ə Words

Often Used 2+ Syllable Schwa words:
Schwa Mega Soda (When the letter a is alone as the first syllable in a word it is often a schwa.)
Schwa Common Ə Wordlist challenge

Multiple Syllable Word Lists

CVC Multiple syllable short vowel Lists by Vowel
CVC dividing multiple syllable words MUSTANG (also in Step 4 Magic e)
CVC dividing multiple syllable words Crazy Nonsense Words
CVC multiple syllable phrases Chipmunk: Bigger Word Phrases
CVC CV (and some other syllable types) Teaching Sheet The Long and Short Of It
CV Mixed challenge wordlist Robot Says Hi
CVC CV Open Closed Read and Spell
CVC CV multiple syllable words and phrases I prefer Rodents
CVC CV multiple syllable Nonsense Words syllable division cv or cvc
* VCE 2 syllable vce to put together and read Explore broken into syllables (also in Step 4 Magic e)
CVC CV VCE Multiple syllable divisions Which Side Should I Go? broken into syllables
CVC CV VCE multiple syllable phrases We Can Do This

Flashcards

Flashcards

Common Schwa Word Flashcards

Games

Games

Game Directions

Multiple Syllable Games

Play detective!   While reading keep a lookout for schwa words.  How many can you find?

CVC multiple syllable game Reading Bigger Words 1 (also in beginning reader Bundle)
CVC multiple syllable game Reading Bigger Words 2 (also in beginning reader Bundle)
CVC multiple Syllable phrases Hiking 1
CVC multiple Syllable phrases Hiking 2
CV CVC Initial open syllable word game 1 This Baby is Not Silent! (also in Step 3 open syllable)
CV CVC Multiple syllable nonsense words Crazy Nonsense
CV CVC Initial open syllable word game 2 Locate the Super Zebra (also in Step 3 open syllable)
CV CVC Initial open syllable phrases Open for Business! (also in Step 3 open syllable)

Just for fun
Name Your Robot nonsense syllables fun sheet Project Robot (also in Step 2)

Spelling

Spelling

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!

When learning to spell words with a schwa:
* One way to remember challenging words is to use a ‘spelling voice’. Pronounce the word the way it would be pronounced if the vowel sound was stressed, or the word followed the rules. (Many of us learned to spell Wednesday this way, by pronouncing it “wed” “nes” “day”). Schwa word examples: about = /ā bout/, mother = /mŏth er/ etc.

* Vowels are often schwa sounds in unaccented syllables. Often a derivative of a word with a different syllable accented will have the vowel pronounced correctly and help with spelling. For example the a in “human” can be heard in “humanity.”

When spelling multiple syllable words:
Spell syllable by syllable. First count the syllables and draw that many lines. Then say each syllable by itself and spell it.

Syllable Sorts

Syllable Sorts

See syllable sort directions and headings and a strategy page in Teacher Resources below.

For practice breaking up big words, use any of the multiple syllable word lists or syllable sorts, including:
CVC CV VCE Syllable Sort
CVC CV VCE VV Syllable Sort

Small Books

Small Books

Small Book assembly directions, 4 Pager folding directions, OR use horizontal format for reading on screen in distance learning.

Multiple Syllable Books

Play detective!   While reading keep a lookout for schwa words.  How many can you find?

CVC multiple syllable 4 page A Muffin Problem foldable format
CVC multiple syllable 4 page A Muffin Problem horizontal format
CVC multiple syllable 4 page Crazy Comics on TV foldable format
CVC multiple syllable 4 page Crazy Comics on TV horizontal format
CVC CV multiple syllable 4 page The Concert foldable format
CVC CV multiple syllable 4 page The Concert horizontal format

Full Page Stories with Lists

Full Page Stories with Lists

Highlighting Word Lists directions

Schwa list and story Young Puppy
CVC and Schwa multiple syllable list and story The Strict Top Ninja
Compound words full page story and list What If

Learners are now ready to move on to Step 7 without being able to read any of the challenge words below.

CHALLENGE: Multiple Syllable Words With Schwa Endings (These are also found in Step 10)

-tion, -xion, -cion, -sion, -xion, -cial, -tious, -cious, -xious, -cient, -ture, -age

Schwa endings Bundles

Challenge Schwa -al Endings Bundle -al multiple syllable words
Challenge Schwa -tion Endings Bundle -tion multiple syllable words
Challenge Schwa -sion Endings Bundle -sion multiple syllable words
Challenge Schwa -ture Endings Bundle -ture multiple syllable words
Challenge Schwa Endings Bundle -age May I Help With Your Baggage?

Schwa endings sheets

Challenge Schwa Endings –tion wordlist
Challenge Schwa Endings -ture wordlist
Challenge Schwa Endings -cial wordlist
Challenge Schwa Endings -age words and phrases: Some Words Don’t Act Their Age
Challenge Schwa Endings Common words with endings -tion, -cial, -sion, -cient, -ture
Challenge Schwa Endings Lists by ending and syllable type -sion, -tion, -tious, -cious, cial, -xious, -tient, -cient, -cion, -xion

Teacher Resources

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Teacher Resources

Visuals

• Schwa Cover Sheet
• From Step 10: 6 Syllable sheets to use when breaking up big words:
  • –6 Syllables wall poster (11″x17″)
  • -6 Syllables Cheat Sheet
  • -Skills Sheet with drawings

Teaching Story and Directions

• Schwa Story as told in video
• From Step 10: Teaching/Learning Syllabication Guideline Sheet
• From Step 10: Spot and Dot – Strategy #1 for breaking up big words

PowerPoints

• PowerPoint: Schwa as in teaching video
• PowerPoint From Step 10: Break up and Put together Big Words as in teaching video
• 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.

Directions

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 Assembly 
• Small Book 4 pager Assembly
• Syllable Sort Directions
  • Syllable Sort Headings
  • Strategy for Splitting Syllables

Map Sounds to Letters

First 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:
Schwa Sound: Any vowel might say /u/. Point out this happens in many common words like: the, of, was, some, from…