Mixed Short Vowels: Sound It Out

Grade level

1st grade

Time

About 15 minutes

Topic

Short vowels and CVC words

Answer key

Not needed: answers vary

Kids practice

Short vowel sounds, Blending CVC words, Segmenting sounds, Reading short sentences

What kids do

“Say each sound. Blend the sounds to read the word. Write the word, then draw it!”

Printed on the sheet:

1. Sound boxes: one sound in each box. Touch each box as you say its sound, then sweep your finger under the word to blend. The vowel is in the colored box.

Teacher tip

This is the real test: every word has a different vowel. Listen closely as kids blend.

How to use it

• Say a word and let kids hold up a finger for each sound they hear.
• Work on one short vowel at a time before mixing them.
• Use it in a small reading group so you can hear each child sound out a few words.

Watch for

Kids who sound out each letter but can’t blend. Practice saying the sounds closer and closer together.

Talk about it

• What vowel sound do you hear in the middle?
• What sound does this letter or letter team make?

Take it further

Play “change one letter”: cat to hat to hot to hop.

US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.