Short vowel words long vowel words reading help

Let's look at the difference between a short vowel sound and a long vowel sound.

The vowels are: a, e, i, o, u, and y.     Basic sounds:

Each vowel has a short sound: bat, bet, bit, bot, but, byt (say bit).

Each vowel also has a long sound: bait, beet, bite, boat, beauty, and byte (say bite).  

Notice long vowels use their letter name as their sound: make, stream, etc.

Short y has the short i sound. Long y has the long i sound.

Rule: Most of the time, when there is only one vowel in a word, the vowel uses its short sound: clap, snap, hop, stop, slid, rid, met, scar, snack, pack, rest, help, push, pinch, witch, wish.

Rule: Most of the time, when there are two vowels side-by-side, the 1st vowel uses its long sound: boat, pail, eat, sneak, knee. Helpful rhyme to teach your child: When two vowels go walking the 1st vowel does the talking.  

Rule: when there is only one consonant between two vowels, the 1st vowel uses its long sound: lake, scare,     before, reward,       bike, pipe, smile,    open, note,   mule, refuse  

Teachers draw a mental picture of this rule by saying: When there is only one consonant between two vowels, the 2nd vowel reaches back to poke the 1st vowel causing the 1st vowel to say its name.

Look: not / note;   rid / ride;   met / meet and meat;   scar / scare;   bit / bite;   led / lead

Though there will be exceptions to the rules, the rules usually work. Be aware that knowing vowel rules will be critical to adding ed, ing, etc and changing y to i. These word functions are studied at the end of 3rd grade, into 4th and 5th Grades. 

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Being a reading star is great fun!    Thank you, Mary Maisner