what to teach after cvc words

2 min read 05-09-2024

Once students have mastered Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (CVC) words, it's time to expand their phonics skills and reading fluency. Understanding what to teach next can help in building their confidence and capability in reading. Here are some effective strategies and areas of focus.

1. Introduce Blends and Digraphs

Blends

Blends are two or three consonants that appear together in words, where each consonant is pronounced. Examples include "bl," "st," and "gr." Teaching blends will help students read more complex words.

Activities to Consider:
- Blending games: Use cards with blends and have students create words.
- Writing exercises: Encourage students to write sentences using words with blends.

Digraphs

Digraphs are two letters that make one sound, such as "sh," "ch," "th," and "wh." Introducing digraphs expands the range of sounds that students can decode.

Activities to Consider:
- Picture matching: Use images that start with digraph sounds for students to match with letters.
- Reading practice: Include books that prominently feature digraphs.

2. Long Vowel Sounds

After CVC words, it's important to introduce long vowel sounds. Long vowels can be taught using various strategies, including:

Silent 'e' Rule: This teaches students that adding an 'e' at the end of a CVC word can change the vowel sound from short to long (e.g., 'hop' to 'hope').
Vowel Teams: Words with two vowels that work together to create a long vowel sound (e.g., 'ai' in 'rain', 'ea' in 'team').

3. Word Families

Word families are groups of words that share the same ending. For example, the "-at" family includes: cat, hat, mat, and sat. Teaching word families helps students recognize patterns in words.

Activities to Consider:
- Word family charts: Create charts showing different families and have students add new words.
- Rhyme games: Encourage students to come up with rhyming words within the same family.

4. Sight Words

Sight words are common words that students should recognize without needing to sound them out. This includes high-frequency words that often appear in texts.

Activities to Consider:
- Flashcards: Use flashcards for quick recognition.
- Reading practice: Incorporate sight words into reading sessions to improve fluency.

5. Reading Simple Sentences

Once students are comfortable with CVC words, blends, digraphs, and sight words, introduce simple sentences. This enhances their reading comprehension and provides context to the words they are learning.

Activities to Consider:
- Shared reading: Read simple books together and point out the words and sounds.
- Sentence building: Use word cards to create simple sentences.

Conclusion

Transitioning from CVC words to more complex phonics skills is essential for developing proficient readers. By introducing blends, digraphs, long vowel sounds, word families, sight words, and simple sentences, you will build a solid foundation for literacy. Tailor your teaching methods to suit your students' needs, and encourage them to practice regularly for the best results. Happy teaching!