Taking a Science-Based Approach to Teaching Vowel Teams

There are an endless number of reading and spelling rules, and it is impossible to teach and remember them all. Still, the basics cannot be forgotten because they make reading and spelling easier to learn. Take vowels, for instance. Children must recognize short and long vowels, as these are essential for reading fluency. But these are just the beginning of more complex lessons. Young learners also need to be taught vowel teams, which can produce different sounds depending on whether a short or long vowel is present or other factors. Here are three examples: the short /e/ sound in "bread," the long /a/ sound in "rain," and the blended /ou/ sound in "shout."

A vowel team refers to a combination of two vowels that together create a specific sound. This part of language can be challenging to explain to young children because certain letters, like 'W' and 'Y,' become vowels when paired with other vowels, as in 'aw' or 'oy.' If you want to teach these nuances to children from an early age, relying on the Science of Reading principles is the best approach.

Exploring the style of science-based reading instruction 

This teaching method focuses on the learning styles of individuals and suggests the right course of action accordingly. In the early stages of development, children need explicit and systematic reading instruction. It emphasizes that they should first develop phonemic awareness and phonics skills. Phonics lessons should focus on spelling to help them identify words naturally. It gives them fluency. They should also be exposed to reading comprehension to strengthen their knowledge, vocabulary, and inferential skills. As their lessons progress, they should become comfortable with sight word reading. Eventually, they will be ready to absorb concepts like digraphs, blends, and vowel teams.

How to make vowel team lessons easier for children? You can include decodable readers that follow a research-based approach, even for teaching vowel teams. Select books that teach these complex subjects through engaging stories with emphasis on Structured Literacy. It will be better if they also feature attractive images. Children love them. Of course, the content must be age-appropriate.

Using decodable readers to teach vowel teams

Handling topics like vowel teams and spelling patterns isn’t easy for teachers, either. One of the best ways to reduce stress is to break these concepts into smaller parts. Decodable readers make this easier by allowing you to focus on one type of vowel team at a time. To make these lessons more engaging, include activities that also support other areas of literacy. Be careful not to rush your instruction. Children need enough time to process new information and learn how to apply it correctly. Let them know each combination gradually. Starting with stories that feature common long vowels can be helpful, as children are often already familiar with them. For example, you might begin by introducing the /ā/ and /ē/ vowel team sounds. After this, you can explore more complex patterns.

Children need to be familiar with vowel teams because many words use them. It can affect their decoding and spelling abilities when reading or writing. Long vowel teams are specifically more critical. These allow them to spell and read words properly.