AREA: Vowel Patterns

Short Vowel Activities

These activities help students learn short vowel patterns. An assessment that can identify a student’s need for this skill is Quick Phonics Screener: TASK 2.

The following activities are from the Florida Center for Reading Research: http://www.fcrr.org

  1. Word Steps - Students blend sounds of letters to make words with short vowels.
    Download
  2. Make a Word - Students make words with short vowel patterns using pictures (any letter tiles will work).
    Download
  3. Picture the Word - Students learn word families with short vowels.
    Download
  4. Change A Word - Students learn word families with short vowels. Other vowel patterns are included in the extension activity at the end.
    Download

The following activity is used on-line at www.starfall.com

  1. Teach students short vowel patterns using this interactive tool. You will need to enable adobe flash player.
    • Click on Level 2: Learn to Read
      Level 2: Learn to Read
    • Then, select #1 - #5.

Word Study Notebook: Include new words in a personal word study notebook. The student can add words to the notebook as he/she encounters the words during reading. (See example.)

_at _it _ot
Hat Hit Hot
Pat Pit Pot
Cat Bit Cot

Silent-E Vowel Activities

These activities help students learn silent-e vowel patterns (first activity is easier than the second activity). An assessment that can identify a student’s need for this skill is Quick Phonics Screener: TASK 4.

The following activities are from the Florida Center for Reading Research: http://www.fcrr.org

  1. Silent "e" Changes - Students read words with and without the silent-e pattern.
    Download
  2. Short and Long - Students identify and sort words with short and long vowels. The last page includes vowel teams (ee).
    Download

The following activity is used on-line at www.starfall.com

  1. Teach students silent-e vowel patterns using this interactive tool. You will need to enable adobe flash player.
    • Click on Level 2: Learn to Read
      Level 2: Learn to Read
    • Then, select #6 - #10.

Word Study Notebook: Include new words in a personal word study notebook. The student can add words to the notebook as he/she encounters the words during reading. (See example.)

_at _ate _it _ite
Hat Late Bit Bite
Mat Mate Sit Kite
Rat Rate Lit White

R-Controlled Vowel Activities

These activities help students learn words with r-controlled vowels (ar, er, ir, or, ur). First 2 activities are easier than the 3rd activity. An assessment that can identify a student’s need for this skill is Quick Phonics Screener: TASK 5.

The following activities are from the Florida Center for Reading Research: http://www.fcrr.org

  1. Jar Sort - Students learn the differences among words with r-controlled vowels.
    Download
  2. R-Caterpillars - Students learn the differences among words with r-controlled vowels.
    Download
  3. Star Search - Students learn the differences among words with r-controlled vowels.
    Download

The following activity is used on-line at www.starfall.com

  1. Teach students r-controlled vowel patterns using this interactive tool. You will need to enable adobe flash player.
    • Click on Level 2: Learn to Read
      Level 2: Learn to Read
    • Then, select #12 - #14.

Word Study Notebook: Include new words in a personal word study notebook. The student can add words to the notebook as he/she encounters the words during reading. (See example.)

_ar _ir _or
Star Stir Store
Far Fir For

Vowel Team Phonics Activities

These activities help student learn various vowel patterns: Long vowel teams and vowel diphthongs (oy/oi; ou/ou; ew/oo; au/aw). First 4 activities are easier than the 5th activity. An assessment that can identify a student’s need for this skill is Quick Phonics Screener: TASK 7.

The following activities are from the Florida Center for Reading Research: http://www.fcrr.org

  1. Same but Different - Students learn various long vowel patterns (e.g., ai, ea, ay, a).
    Download
  2. Fishing for Vowel Digraphs - Students learn various long vowel patterns (vowel digraph/teams and vowel diphthongs).
    Download
  3. Spell and Sort - Students learn the differences between words with ew/oo and au/aw.
    Download
  4. Diphthong-O - Students learn the differences between words with oi/oy and ou/ow.
    Download
  5. Double Time - Students learn various long vowel spelling patterns.
    Download

The following activity is used on-line at www.starfall.com

  1. Teach students short vowel patterns using this interactive tool. You will need to enable adobe flash player.
    • Click on Level 2: Learn to Read
      Level 2: Learn to Read
    • Then, select #6 - #11.

Word Study Notebook: Include new words in a personal word study notebook. The student can add words to the notebook as he/she encounters the words during reading. (See example.)

-ai- a_e _ay
Maid Cake Day
Rain Male Lay
Laid Sane Stray