Vowel Sounds

Hello again! At this point in the learner's progress, it is time to review the number and color words for mastery. Flashcards with the words on them and a color square or number on the other side to match the word are good tools. Immediate recognition should be mastery. There is little "sounding out" that can be done with the number or color words. "Sight" words are important to reading development.


Vowel sound introduction is always started with the letter "a". Have your beginning readers say the short sound of "a" by wrinkling up their noses across the bridge of the nose when they say "A-A-A-A" as in apple. If the learners feel the bridge of their noses as they say the sound, it is a concrete way to remind them about the sound. Practice saying other words that have short "a" sounds, touching the bridge of the nose each time. Exaggerated sounds are most effective, and get the point across somewhat faster. Any short "a" words are acceptable, but a brief list follows to get you started:

act-- am-- ant-- after-- answer --and --add

bag-- map-- grab-- dad-- clap-- slam-- sand-- fat

Once your reader has an understanding of the short "a" sound, make some more flashcards with two and three letter words that have that sound. Practicing the words in print will build strength for reading the words on a page. In our next segment we will look at starting to blend sounds together. "Sounding out" words is a special skill that must be practiced, and it does not necessarily come naturally. Here's to successful nose "wrinkling"....