If I’m being completely honest, it has only been recently that I have jumped on the teaching syllable type train.

I have taught open and closed syllables for years, but it has always stopped there.

Maybe because I always saw it as more of a third grade and up skill.

Maybe I didn’t really know myself.

I think it is mostly because I didn’t see the value in teaching them until now.

So what changed?

I realized when teaching the lessons that every word needs a vowel sound that it really can be extended to every syllable needs a vowel sound.

By extending that saying to every syllable, I instantly saw the connection between how this can help students decoded words and stretch out words when they are spelling them in their writing.

Knowing each syllable types and teaching them explicitly, we are helping students be more focused in what types of vowels are used where. Even though, it adds more to our plate to teach, by teaching syllable types and the vowels that go with them, we are simplifying the decoding of words for students and making our language seem less complicated which is the goal for all of us.

In case you are like how I was maybe you are wondering what are the syllable types and the vowels that go with them. I made this quick reference chart with that information for you.