In this post, I share information and resources to help you teach long vowels. Grab a FREE printable long vowel word list and get a list of SoR-aligned long vowel activities and games.
We know that for students to become skilled and proficient readers they need explicit and systematic phonics instruction. But simply exposing students to a phonics lesson one week and then moving onto the next the following week is not enough. Mastery of phonics requires students to have plenty of opportunities for review and repetition. All too often we underestimate the amount of time it takes for our students to master phonics skills.
In his book, A Fresh Look at Phonics, Wiley Blevins states that a new skill should be systematically and purposefully reviewed for four to six weeks after being introduced for the first time and reminds us that once you introduce a new phonics skill you are “in it for the long haul”.
Over the past few weeks, I have shared low-prep, SoR-aligned activities and games that give students the practice and review they need for mastery. I shared a list of CVC activities for beginning readers and the best activities to give students practice with blends and digraphs. Today I want to focus on activities that help our beginning readers master long vowels, also known as CVCe and Vowel Teams.
In today’s post, I share information on long vowels, a FREE printable long vowel word list, and offer you a list of SoR-aligned, low-prep CVCe and Vowel Teams practice activities. These activities are aligned with the Science of Reading, low-prep, and engaging for students, offering them the practice and review we know they need to master long vowels!
To start, let’s review information about long vowels…
What is a Long Vowel?
A long vowel is a vowel pronounced the same as the letter name is said. It is a vowel that “says its name.”
Seems simple, right? Actually…..
Long vowels can be tricky for students because there are so many different spellings for each long vowel sound! Additionally, there are four different ways to make the long vowel sound.
To begin, let’s start by taking a closer look at the four ways to make long vowel sounds.
4 Ways to Make a Long Vowel Sound
- Silent e makes the previous vowel long. The words bike and cute have a silent e at the end that makes the previous vowel long. This is known as the CVCe pattern and it is very common.
- Vowel teams can make a long sound. Vowel teams are two vowels that work together to make one sound. For example, in the word leap, vowel team EA makes a long E sound. In the word boat, the vowel team OA makes the long O sound. This is known as the CVVC pattern. It is also very common.
- Vowels at the end of a syllable can make a long sound. For example, in the words we and hero (he-ro), the vowels are all at the end of a syllable, making a long sound.
- I or O can be long when they come before two consonants. In words like child, gold, and mind, i and o make a long vowel sound because they are followed by 2 consonants.
Free Long Vowel Word List
To help you teach long vowels to your students, I am happy to offer you FREE phonics skills word lists! These lists serve as excellent teacher references and can be used in many ways: whole group instruction as you introduce and practice new phonics patterns, small group work, fluency reading, and much more.
In one download you’ll get word lists for CVC words, Blends, Digraphs, Long vowels, R-Controlled vowels, Diphthongs, and Multisyllabic words!
Drop your email below to receive these FREE Phonics Skills Word Lists instantly!
*please consider using a personal email address as strong school filters often block emails
The Best Long Vowel Activities
In an earlier post, I shared tips for teaching long vowels. The activities I share today are great options to give students the additional practice and review we know they need for mastery after you have provided your instruction.
These activities are all low-prep and aligned to the science of reading. You can use them as a small group activity or in a literacy center to give students the practice they need to read and write with long vowels with ease!
Long Vowel Word Mapping Games
These CVCe and Vowel Teams word mapping spelling games help early readers strengthen their sound-to-symbol connections and master decoding skills. Students spin and say the word, then map each sound they hear. Then they write each sound and finally write the word on the line.
This is a NO PREP resource that includes 13 CVCe and long vowel Spin-A-Word games. It makes an engaging small-group phonics activity or literacy center game!
Long Vowel Nonsense Words
This Nonsense Words & Sentence Writing activity gives students practice decoding and writing CVCe and vowel team words. Students decode each word determining if it is a real or nonsense word. They then write the word in the correct column and write a sentence using the word. This low-prep resource is perfect for literacy centers, small-group instruction, or independent practice.
Long Vowel Mystery Word Sentences
Kids LOVE CVCe and Vowel Teams Mystery Word Sentences! It is a no-prep literacy center activity where students uncover a mystery word by isolating sounds, gradually revealing a secret sentence. After students reveal the mystery sentence, they read it for decoding practice and finally re-read it to improve fluency.
This resource includes 90 CVC Secret Code Sentences (30 for CVCe, 60 for Long Vowels). You can easily differentiate this activity by giving students sentences that focus on the long vowels they need to practice.
Long Vowel Slides and Ladders
These Slides and Ladders Board Games offer a fun and engaging way for students to review CVCe and Long Vowels while decoding one-syllable words.
These interactive phonics games are NO PREP for you! Simply print, cut, and play! You can easily differentiate by choosing a game board with a specific long vowel skill or a mixed review board for a comprehensive review.
Long Vowel Phonics Bingo
These Long Vowel Bingo Games are perfect for CVCe and Vowel Team review. This SoR-aligned, low-prep resource includes 12 decoding games that provide students with practice reading long vowel words.
These phonics board games can be used in literacy centers, in small groups, or for engaging partner activities. They are low-prep and quick to set up, allowing you to focus on teaching rather than planning and prepping!
Long Vowel Decodable Sentence Strips
These Long Vowel and CVCe Sentence Strips provide students with a review of phonics patterns and high-frequency while also working on reading comprehension and building fluency. This resource combines long vowel word reading practice with WH questions (who, what, where) so partners can review phonics patterns while working on reading comprehension.
As students read and re-read the sentences with long vowels and high-frequency words, they build their sight vocabulary and their fluency improves. The Decodable Sentence Strips make an engaging, low-prep literacy center or small group activity!
I hope the information and resources I shared here today will help you bring effective long vowel word instruction and practice to your classroom and students! Be on the lookout for my next post where I’ll share activities to help you teach r-controlled vowels and diphthongs!
