What is a Short Vowel? Unlike long vowels that sound like the letter's name (such as the 'a' in "cake"), short vowels produce distinct sounds (like the 'a' in "cat"). Short vowels are also called clo … read more

A syllable is one unit of sound. Learning syllables involves chunking sounds together in words. This helps the student sound out words when reading. Syllabication can also assist with decoding al … read more

When introducing Syllabication, some students find the seven steps difficult and need extra support to feel successful. Underlining and labeling the vowels, building the bridge, and the rest of the st … read more

Phonological Awareness (PA) skills are a critical component of learning to read. According to Michael Heggerty, Doctor of Education and author, “Findings show that teaching children to manipulate the … read more

I can remember loving to play with paper dolls as a child. Nowadays, paper dolls have evolved into having fancy hair, eyebrows, puckered lips and smiles, sunnies, and elaborate outfits. Paper dolls al … read more

Quickly and accurately reading multisyllabic words is troublesome for many emergent or struggling readers. I like to use games to provide students with extra practice. They’re quick, fun, and often en … read more