Phonics
Phonics is the study of the relationship between letters and sounds. The interventions and activities presented in this module are used with students with a skill deficit in phonics that was determined by using the assessment in the How to Determine Skill Deficit module.
Teach the Syllable Types
Below you will learn about the most common syllable types. You will see examples of each type and sample instructional routines. Teaching students to read multisyllabic words is a highly effective method. You can read more about this research based practice in the additional resources.
Primary Syllable Types
A syllable is a word or part of a word with one vowel sound. There are six primary syllable types.
1. Closed Syllables
2. Vowel-Consonant-e (VCe)
3. Open Syllables
4. Vowel Team Syllables
5. Vowel r Syllables (R Controlled)
6. Consonant-le Syllables
C​Closed Syllables
​
-
short vowel sound
-
single vowel letter
-
ends in one or more consonants
mascot pat stack
C​Vowel-Consonant e Syllable
​
-
long vowel sound
-
one vowel + one consonant + e
-
e is silent
dive shame rode
C​Open Syllables
​
-
ends in a long vowel sound
-
single vowel letter
so we silo
Vowel Team Syllables
​​​
fight toad main
CR Controlled Syllables
​
-
r follows a vowel and changes the sound
-
ar or er ur ir
bird farmer partner
Consonant le Syllables
​
-
unaccented final syllable
-
has consonant before l followed by silent e
table sample little
Sorting Words by Syllable Type
In your Guided Notes document, complete the Syllable Type sort.
Teach Multisyllabic Word Reading
Recommendation 1 from The Educator's Practice Guide:
Build Students' Decoding Skills So They Can Read Complex Multisyllabic Words
The Educator's Practice Guide from The Institute of Education Sciences documents that this recommendation shows strong evidence of improving the reading skills in older students
Click on this video to listen to literacy expert Linda Farrell talk about decoding a multisyllabic word. Notice the sequence she suggests for introducing the syllable types.
Sample Routines for Decoding Multisyllabic Words
Below you will read about two different routines that you can use with students to help them decode multisyllabic words.
Spot and Dot Routine for Dividing Multisyllabic Words
1. Spot and Dot the Vowels
trumpet pupil
2. Connect the Dots
trumpet pupil
3. Determine how many consonants
are under the line
trumpet pupil
4. If there are two consonants
divide between them
trum pet
5. If there is one consonant divide before it. If it doesn't sound right
divide after it.
pu pil
This page introduced phonics and activities that can be used with students that have a skill deficit in the area of phonics. The research available goes well beyond what has been given to you on this page. If you would like to learn more about the research behind the practice, we have provided material for further study for you to explore. The material for further study is not all-encompassing but will give you a deeper look into the science behind reading. You can access these resources by clicking on the link in this paragraph or by clicking the additional resources tab at the top of any page on this site.
​
Once you have completed all sections above, click the "Next" button at the bottom of the page to continue to the following page: Fluency. This next page will explain fluency in more detail and provide activities for students that may have a skill deficit in the area of phonological and/or phonemic awareness.