Working with Letters and Sounds (Phonics)
Why This is Important
Phonics is working with letters, patterns of letters, and sounds. This is the foundation for accurately being able to read words. In fourth grade, there is an emphasis on advanced phonics, which focuses on word parts and syllables (units of sound containing a vowel: a, e, i, o, u).
Goals for Strong Readers
- Sound out new words based on familiar and learned letter patterns
- Know and use the six syllable types to read unfamiliar words
Quick Activity
While reading a text with your child, try to find at least one example of each syllable type on a page. If your child struggles to read a word, refer to the chart as needed to help read a word. For example: closed: tablet; open: baby; vowel team: team; r-controlled: burger; consonant-le; giggle; magic-e: date
More Activities and Games
Write each syllable type listed in the chart below across the top of a piece of paper. Have your child review the syllable types and example words in the chart. Have your child hunt for words with each syllable type in newspapers, magazines, and books. Have your child write down and read the words found for each syllable type. Use this multisyllable word list as a reference for this activity.
| Types of Syllables | Description or Definition | Examples |
| Closed syllable | a vowel followed by one or more consonants; vowel sound is short; vowel is closed in by a consonant | magnet, rabbit, basket, pocket |
| Consonant L–e | a consonant followed by an “l—e”; must connect to another syllable | table, giggle, people, muffle, circle |
| Open syllable | ends in a single vowel; vowel makes long sound; there is no consonant to close it in | baby, even, fever, open |
| Vowel team | a group of vowels working together to make a single sound | woodwork, steamboat, teammate, paintbrush |
| Magic E | vowel—consonant—e pattern; vowel sound is long, e is silent | wakeboard, roommate, lakeshore, remote, notepad |
| R – controlled | r follows a vowel and changes the sound | burger, thunder, partridge corkscrew |
Using the list below to write the most common English syllables on small pieces of paper. Have your child put the pieces of paper together to create real words. Have your child read each word created and use it in a sentence.
Most Common English Syllables: ing, er, ter, al, ed, es, tion, re, oth, ry, ex, en, di, bout, com, ple, con, per, un, der, ty, num, peo, ble, af, ers, mer, wa, ment mem, pro, ri, sen, ture, few, dif, pa, tions, ther, fore, est, ei, si, ent, ven, ev, ac, ca, fol, ful, na, col, par, dis, ern, ny, cit, po, cal, mu, moth, coun, mon, pe, lar, por, fi, bers, sec, ap, stud, gan, bod, tence, ward, nit, nev, ure, mem, ters, cov, de, ver, tle, ber, ar, ma, fa, la, tain, ning, pic, im, ad, tween, ger, hap, e, i, y, o
Use this multisyllable word list as a reference. Pick out multisyllable words in a text of your child’s choice. Have your child write down the multisyllable word, color coding the word by its syllables using the chart below.
| Types of Syllables | Description or Definition | Examples and Color Coding |
| Closed syllable | a vowel followed by one or more consonants; vowel sound is short; vowel is closed in by a consonant | magnet, rabbit, basket, pocket |
| Consonant L–e | a consonant followed by an “l—e”; must connect to another syllable | table, giggle, people, muffle, circle |
| Open syllable | ends in a single vowel; vowel makes long sound; there is no consonant to close it in | baby, even, fever, open |
| Vowel team | a group of vowels working together to make a single sound | woodwork, steamboat, teammate, paintbrush |
| Magic E | vowel—consonant—e pattern; vowel sound is long, e is silent | wakeboard, roommate, lakeshore, remote, notepad |
| R – controlled | r follows a vowel and changes the sound | magnet, rabbit, basket, pocket |