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It is at this where it gets exciting! Reading and spelling begin for real. Here we will be looking at what are called, CVC words. That simply means consonant, vowel, consonant words, where the vowel says its sound, not its name. (No need to tell your student this information). Please make sure you read right to the bottom of the page, so you do not miss anything.
Your student has learnt to hear the initial sounds and now s/he needs to hear a middle short vowel sound (that is a vowel saying it's sound not its name) and a final sound in addition to the initial sound and to be able to blend these sounds together to make words.
Check that your child is ready to learn CVC Words
Oral Blending
The child's ear needs to be trained to hear these three sounds.
We practice this by playing listening games.
If you came here after teaching the Initial Sounds and have done oral blending so that your child can hear the word you say if you say, for example, b-e-d, then your child is ready to move onto number '2'.
If you have not done oral blending, either because your child was not ready in the last stage, or because you are starting RMS at this stage, then begin with oral blending before starting work with CVC words.
The child's ear needs to be trained to hear these three sounds.
We practice this by playing listening games.
If you came here after teaching the Initial Sounds and have done oral blending so that your child can hear the word you say if you say, for example, b-e-d, then your child is ready to move onto number '2'.
If you have not done oral blending, either because your child was not ready in the last stage, or because you are starting RMS at this stage, then begin with oral blending before starting work with CVC words.
What to expect as we teach CVC words
1. First we can expect there to be a period when the child is learning what is needed (to out three sounds together to read a word and to break a word into three sounds to spell it.) At this stage the child will need much support and the key is for the adult to show the child what to do - sound out words for yourself.
Involve the child as much as possible and let the child MOVE as much as possible - clap the sounds, pound the sounds (bang fist into palm of other hand), touch the sounds as you say them for example. The key thing here is patience. Do not rush your child or make him/her feel deficient if s/he takes a while to hear the words/sounds. Keep modelling.
2. The second stage is when the child begins to tentatively try for him/herself. At this stage the child may sometimes hear the wrong word and will need the sounds emphasised to hear the word, or to hear the separate sounds to spell. Much practice will be needed now.
Play games, make words with letters/letter cards, use worksheets (again there are may on the web you can use to help).
At this stage you can start to move through the workbooks, if appropriate for your child. They indicate when you can read each reading book, however as all children are different, do not hesitate to delay the introduction of the reading books if you feel your child is not yet ready for them - if you deem them suitable at all, as they will not be right for all children.
3. The third stage is when the child can quite confidently sound out the words to read and spell.
Once this point is reached, do the final CVC lesson, double consonants: ss; ff; ll; zz etc.
Two Teaching Paths
We offer two paths to the same end goal. If you have a special needs child you may like to go straight onto the more structured programme for CVC words. Otherwise, try the standard method first, and know that you can use the more structured method at any time if you hit problems and progress does not seem to be happening.
For both paths, read this page first so that you understand the lesson plan, as this is the same for both paths.
If you use the more structured method, you can come back here at any point that you feel that your child is understanding what is needed to sound out CVC words to both read and spell.
For both paths, read this page first so that you understand the lesson plan, as this is the same for both paths.
If you use the more structured method, you can come back here at any point that you feel that your child is understanding what is needed to sound out CVC words to both read and spell.
What you need
1. Alphabet letter cards from Stage one and/or a set of magnetic letters.
3. Make a vowel card like the one below. You can easily make one on a piece of scrap card. Do not use capital letters. Write the vowels exactly as shown.
CVC words teaching plan at a glance
1. Do the warm up |
2. Teach to read and spell CVC words |
3. Do a closing activity |
Use games and worksheets to practice and support learning as needed
CVC Words Resources
We have a range of resources to help.
These resources may not be suitable for your child, so please do not feel that you have to use them.
Simply practising both spelling and reading CVC words and then putting them into little sentences can be enough.
These resources may not be suitable for your child, so please do not feel that you have to use them.
Simply practising both spelling and reading CVC words and then putting them into little sentences can be enough.
Reading Books with matching workbooks
These should print double sided on two sheets of A4 paper with the printer set to 'booklet'. Use your judgement as to when you introduce these. I suggest when your pupil is able to sound out cvc words fairly accurately by themselves, albeit slowly.
Start with 'a cat' and go through in order.
Meet Tom, who we will later discover is a farmer and is married to June. Here we also meet their son Sam, and daughter Pam.
Plus, some animals from the farmyard (and from the woods!)
These should print double sided on two sheets of A4 paper with the printer set to 'booklet'. Use your judgement as to when you introduce these. I suggest when your pupil is able to sound out cvc words fairly accurately by themselves, albeit slowly.
Start with 'a cat' and go through in order.
Meet Tom, who we will later discover is a farmer and is married to June. Here we also meet their son Sam, and daughter Pam.
Plus, some animals from the farmyard (and from the woods!)
Our FREE games have been written to make this stage more enjoyable!
See how quickly a child comes on with a game!
'a' family Game to practice reading three letter words containing the short vowel sound 'a'.
FREE to download A game to practice reading words containing any of the vowels.
FREE to download. |
'i'/'e' game to practice reading three letter words with the short vowels 'i' and 'e'.
FREE to download Final sound Game FREE to download Learn to blend
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'o'/'u' game to practice reading three letter words with the short vowels 'o' and 'u'.
FREE to download Missing vowel game - can you hear which vowel is missing in these words?
FREE to download. |
CVC Words Short Vowel (3 Letters) (Approx. 20 - 30 lessons) |
Introduction Read this first |