Blending with short "e"

A wonderful autumn to everyone!
It is time to work with blending the short "e" sound in simple words. As always, it is best to review the short "a" sound briefly before starting the new sound. When you are satisfied that the short "a" sound is approaching mastery, introduce the short "e" sound next. Say the sound three times as your student watches your mouth form the sound. Point out to the learner that your mouth makes a little smile when the short "e" is sounded. The top lip of your mouth stretches across your teeth to make the correct sound. Physically push your lip across your teeth to show the learner how it looks without sounding out the letter. If you use your index fingers, the student will see the stretched lip better than if you use one hand. Continue to say the sound of short "e" with your learner until the "little smile" and the appropriate sound are coming together.
Practice saying the sound in simple short "e" words like TEN, RED, MET, MEN, PET, ETC. Take index cards and write one letter on each card to help you form new short "e" words to be sounded out. Put the "t" card down on a table with an "e" card and an "n" card. Sound out the word; sound of "t", sound of short "e", sound of "n". t-e-n Then say the word in its blended form, "ten". Invite your beginning reader to sound out the word with you, and then alone. Continue to sound out short "e" words in this fashion until you observe understanding in your learner.
Using 5-7 words this way should provide the initial practice for sounding out letters that a new reader will need.
Then you are going to show your student words that are written on cards to read by sounding out the letters. The learner will be blending sounds with much success by the time you finish your session. A list of words you could use includes:

sled----bed----step----pet----men----fled----den----bled----set----get
hen----let----fret----pen----bet----jet----wed----wet----fed----best

Don't forget to add review:

clap----snap----grab----glad----plan----hand----drag----trap----slam

All of the flashcards can be used together for practice between sessions with your new reader. If your learner is progressing well, add some sight word cards to the mix and let the student start putting words together in simple sentences to read. Some good sight word additions would be:

I----can----am----the----is----to

With some experience reading, do not be surprised when the reader starts looking for new words to learn or starts recognizing new words without help. Here's to blending success!