LONG OR SHORT VOWEL SOUND?

 How do we know?

A vowel's position determines its sound, and each vowel makes at least two sounds. To avoid guessing, teach the sounds and when to use them.

Ba - bat

we - wet

hi - hit

Jo - jot

gu - gut

my - myth

What are the strategies?

When 1 vowel comes last, it says its alphabetic name with a blast, as in: to ma to; po ta to, Ro me o.

When 1 vowel comes inside or before 1 or more consonants, the 1 vowel makes its other, short vowel sound, as in: ob jec ted, en chant ment, 

in cum bent.

Choosing the right sound based on phonetic evidence

develops thinking skills. 

G AS J IN JET OR “G” IN GO?

How do we know?

The position of certain consonants determines their sounds. Teach both sounds with their phonetic rules to avoid guessing.

In George, Georgy, and margin, the G makes a J sound. WHY?

G before an E or an I or a Y produces a J sound.

Most G’s sound like the “G” in Go, game, gum, grab, glad.

Choosing the right sound based on phonetic evidence

develops thinking skills. 

READING MULTI-SYLLABIC WORDS ACCURATELY REQUIRES CHOOSING THE RIGHT SYLLABICATION STRATEGY.

Because reading words one syllable at a time reduces the need to memorize words or guess, teach both syllabication strategies as a choice.

SHARE STRATEGY

Underline the vowels.

If 2, 3, or 4 consonants stand between 2 vowel sounds, share the consonants as equally as possible.

can dy (share N and D); 1 + 1 = 2

hun dred (share N from DR:) 1 + 2 = 3

Give the extra letter to the next syllable most of the time.

diph thong (share PH from TH) 2 + 2 = 4

3/4 OR DONUT STRATEGY

Underline the vowels.

If only 1 consonant stands between 2 vowel sounds,

sharing is impossible, so

stop after the first spoken vowel sound, and push the consonant to the next syllable. This strategy works about 3/4 or 75% of the time.

do nut ( push N to the next syllable)

pro mo ted ( push M to the right; push T to the right)

sai lor (push L to the right since AI makes 1 vowel sound)

tea cher ( push CH to the right because EA makes 1 vowel sound, and CH makes 1 consonant sound.

Choosing the right syllabication strategy,

based on phonetic evidence develops thinking skills. 

For additional, essential, phonetic instruction, go to SueKahnReadNow.com

Amazon sells Susan B. Kahn’s 24 books.

YouTube Sue’s Strategies Channel provides 98 animated, instructional videos.

Blogger presents over 1,000 of Susan Kahn’s instructional blogs.