English has many rules that a learner must follow when learning to spell and read. One of these rules is learning the six different syllable types.
Memorizing six different types of syllables and when these rules apply might seem tricky, but over 70% of syllables fall into two of the six categories. So, once a child learns the first two rules, the trick is remembering the exception to the rule!
Here, we’ll show you what syllables are, explain the six different types with examples, and provide pointers on teaching syllables to young readers!
What Are Syllables?
A syllable is a single, uninterrupted unit of sound containing a singular vowel sound. It may have more than one vowel in the sound and may or may not have consonants.
For example, “A” and “I” are single-letter syllables and words. The word “dog” is a single-syllable word with one vowel. The word “coat” has two vowels but only one vowel sound.
Syllables are how we build words; when a word has more than one vowel sound, it has more than one syllable.
For example, the word “baker” has two syllables. We often teach children syllables by clapping each sound. Give it a try! “Ba” – “ker”. Two claps mean two syllables.
Helping children understand and break down syllables is key to teaching them to read and sound out new words. But before we can teach them, we must understand the six different syllable types.
The Six Syllable Types
Noah Webster, the man whose dictionary we’ve come to rely on, simplified and solidified many word spellings and grammatical rules.
Today, syllables are commonly categorized into six types: closed, open, magic E, vowel team/diphthong, r-controlled, and consonant + le. This framework helps learners break down and decode words more effectively.
1. Closed
Closed syllables make up less than half of all syllables in the English language, and they are the most common type. A closed syllable has a short vowel sound and is closed off by a consonant sound.
Cat, fell, mix, stop, and bus are examples of closed syllables. Each of these words has a short vowel sound. CVC words, consonant-vowel-consonant words, are often closed syllables.
Read More: How to Teach CVC Words (Free Worksheets and Activity List)
In longer words, closed syllables are often followed by two or more consonants. Badge, fetch, tick, smock, and trust are closed consonants with two or more consonants post-vowel.
2. Magic E
Open, or Magic-E syllables, are the second most common type of syllable in English. Magic-E syllables are long vowel sounds. They follow the pattern VCe, vowel-consonant-e—for example, cake, bite, hose, tire, and tune.
When teaching children about Magic-E, we explain that the “E” at the end is so powerful it jumps back and makes the vowel say its own name.
3. Open
Similar to the Magic-E, open syllables have long vowel sounds. But what makes them open is the lack of a double consonant to close off the sound.
Moral, title, robot, basic, emit, and future are open-syllable words. There are a handful of single-syllable, open-syllable words: he, she, me, I, go, no, and so are some examples.
4. Vowel-Teams
Vowel-team syllables are precisely what the name implies: teams of letters, usually vowels, working together to create a single vowel sound. There are many different vowel teams that can create short, long, or diphthong vowel sounds.
Teaching vowel teams is similar to teaching multiplication tables; memorizing how each team works will help learners decipher new words most of the time! Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, but generally, vowel teams follow their rule.
Some common vowel teams include ai, ea, ie, oa, ue, and ay. For example, wait, bead, tie, boat, blue, and way. In each word, the second vowel creates the long vowel sound.
In total, there are five groupings of long vowel teams:
- Long A: ai, ay, eigh
- Long E: ea, ee, ey, ei
- Long I: igh, ie
- Long O: oe, oa
- Long U: ue, ui, ew
Read More: How to Teach Vowel Teams
Vowel-teams also include diphthongs. A diphthong is a sliding sound where one vowel sound slides to another. For example, the words cow, cause, loud, and toil all have diphthong vowel-teams.
There are seven diphthong vowel teams.
- au
- aw
- oi
- oo
- ou
- ow
- oy
5. R-Controlled
R-controlled or vowel-r syllables change their sound when followed by the letter “R.” R-controlled syllables are among the most difficult to teach young learners because they are inconsistent with other short or long vowel sounds.
For example, when changed to an “R,” the word bat becomes bar, creating an entirely new vowel sound.
Controlled-R vowel sounds include:
- ar
- er
- ir
- or
- ur
When teaching kids, referring to these syllables as “Bossy R” can help them remember that the “R” forces the vowel to change its sound.
6. Consonant + le
Consonant + le syllables are only found at the end of a word. For example, bubble, turtle, thistle, and puzzle. Consonant + le syllables can be closed or opened depending on the letters preceding them.
For example, topple is a double consonant, so the vowel is closed, whereas table is no,t, so the vowel remains open.
Consonant + le combinations include:
- -ble
- -tle
- -stle
- -fle
- -cle
- -gle
- -ckle
- -kle
- -zle
- -dle
- -ple
Teaching Syllable Types
Simply learning the vast amount of syllable types and combinations can feel overwhelming! Is it really necessary for them to learn them all, and how do you even begin to teach young readers about the various syllables and all their rules?
First, yes! Learning about the different syllable types is crucial to a child’s early literacy skills. Understanding syllable types helps children decode and decipher new and unfamiliar words.
Learning about syllable types is important because:
- It helps children with spelling. When children understand how different syllables get their sounds, they’re more likely to remember the “silent” letters or how to create a diphthong.
- Learning syllable types enables children to break down new and unfamiliar words, improving their reading fluency and building their vocabulary.
- Being able to break larger words into smaller, manageable pieces makes learning new words less scary!
Second, there are simple and straightforward techniques parents and teachers can use to teach children syllable types. However, it is not an overnight process; it takes time and patience.
Learning syllable types begins around kindergarten age, 5-6, and will continue through third grade.
Kindergarten: One syllable, closed syllable CVC, and sight words: example, cat, dog, mom, dad, bed.
1st Grade: Introduction to Long vowels, and learn about Magic-E and frequently used vowel teams: example, cake, bite, cane, cool, bead, sail.
2nd Grade: Learn the rest of the vowel teams and r-controlled vowels, such as road, plow, mouse, scarf, farm, and chart. They will also be introduced to consonant + le syllables, for example, puddle, rattle, trickle, muzzle.
3rd Grade: Be able to identify all six syllable types.
Tips to Teach Syllable Types
Children learn best when it is fun! To help your child learn syllables, turn learning activities into games that involve movement, pictures, and music! Practice is also essential, so make syllable learning part of your routine when playing or reading books together.
Here are a few fun ways to make syllable learning fun!
Games
You can play numerous games with children to help them learn syllables.
- Vowel Hunt: Write down a few words. Have your child search for and circle all the vowels. Then, identify the vowel sound and syllable type for each vowel found.
- Word Match Game: Create picture/word cards with matching syllables. For example, bake and cake, site and bite, note and tote, etc. Play a match game, asking your child to find the syllable pairs.
- Syllable Sorting: Use a large piece of paper and write one, two, or three-syllable types at the top. Create a set of picture/word cards and ask your child to sort them into the correct column.
- Syllable Hopscotch: Create a hopscotch board. Choose a word. Your child must hop into one square for each syllable in the word.
- Syllable Building Blocks: Provide your child with building blocks. Choose a word, and your child must build a tower using one block for each syllable.
Rhythm
- Clap it out: Using their hands, children clap once for each syllable in a given word. You could also stomp or tap.
- Sing it!: Using their hands to clap or rhythm sticks, have children clap or tap the sticks for each syllable as they sing familiar nursery rhymes and songs.
Air Writing
Air writing is an excellent technique for teaching spelling and rules like Magic-E. Children envision the word before them and then spell it with their pointer finger. When writing words with Magic-E, have them trace an imaginary arrow back to the vowel that says their name.
Alternatives are using trays and writing in sand, sugar, flour, etc.
Pictures
Visual aids are beneficial when teaching children to spell and read. You can create picture and word cards for multiple activities, including match games, scavenger hunts, rhythm activities, or air writing.
Take Away
Learning about the six syllable types is a valuable tool for young readers. Knowing syllable types helps children decode new and longer words, increases reading fluency, and improves spelling ability.
Through games, practice, and patience, children learn about the six different syllable types during their early school years, preparing them for a future of literacy success!