Understanding the Six Syllable Types - VCE
As we’ve mentioned before, one of the most effective practices used in evidence-based reading instruction is the process of teaching each of the syllable types and syllable division patterns.
Again, if you have never heard of the six syllable types, don't worry - you are not alone. Check out our blog: What’s This About the Six Syllable Types.
We’re going to run through a quick review to make sure everyone is on the same page!
Why teach the six syllable types?
Understanding the syllable types helps students anticipate the vowel sounds within a word. It also helps students learn to break or chunk words effectively to sound out longer words.
The Science of Reading has provided a great deal of information on the most effective, evidence-based practices in teaching reading. Teaching the six syllable types aligns with the explicit teaching of concepts. So specifically, we teach:
What is a Syllable?
A syllable is a word or part of a word with one vowel sound. Understanding this definition can help us to read and spell effectively.
As we work with students we also want to follow a systematic progression of concepts. Systematic phonics-based instruction is well-researched and has been proven to help children learn to read better than all forms of control group instruction including whole language based on quantitative meta-analyses (Ehri, L. C., Nunes, S. R., Stahl, S. A., & Willows, D. M. 2001).
A systematic progression means working from the most basic concepts and progressing to more complex concepts while continuing to systematically review the concepts taught earlier in the progression. Now, it’s important to note that our systematic progression of concepts is not necessarily the same as others - this is okay. It’s all about using a hierarchy and order of teaching that generally provides students with access to the tools they need as quickly as possible to be able to read as many words as possible.
Within our progression, we move from closed syllables to VCE syllables. You can find more information on the other syllable types here:
What is a VCE Syllable?
The VCE syllable is short for Vowel Consonant E and is a syllable where the first vowel is long and the final vowel, the e, is silent.
How do I teach the VCE Syllable Type?
As we prepare to teach this syllable type to our students, we want to make sure they have a clear understanding of the short vowel sounds and the long vowel sounds. This flexibility of being able to go back and forth between the two sounds is important as you progress to the VCE syllable type.
Then, we guide students in using letter tiles or markers and a whiteboard to build a closed syllable word such as the word “van”. Remember, closed syllables always have one vowel that is trapped or closed in by a consonant so it can only say its short sound. Read more about closed syllables here.
If we add an E to the end of this closed syllable word, van, the E can jump over the consonant and make the vowel say its name or long sound, and the E says nothing – the word van becomes vane. So, even though there are two vowels, we only hear one vowel sound. We call the E magic because of the way it jumps over the consonant and makes the vowel say its long sound. For younger students, we call VCE Syllables “Magic E” syllables to add some fun to the instruction.
Next, through guided practice, we mark this syllable type. When we mark a VCE syllable, we start by having the E jump over one consonant, this looks like an arc. We code the vowel with a straight line, or macron, since the vowel is saying its long sound. We cross out the E since it is silent. We spend time marking and reading these words with support.
If the students are showing evidence of proficiency with marking the words and reading them, we progress to asking the students to read closed syllable words as they are, and then read them after we have added an e to the end. We guide the students in noticing that the Magic E on the end changes that vowel sound from a short sound (as it was in the closed syllable) to a long sound now that the Magic E is in place.
After this, we spend time sorting words, marking words, and using other multi-sensory activities to cement this syllable type.
Providing this framework for students provides them with that light-bulb aha moment that we as educators are always looking for.
Want More?
Check out some games and activities that you can use with your students to support VCE and other syllable types. And continue your learning with our Science of Reading Blueprint. Check them out using the links below!
Check out Games & Card Decks
Aligned with the Science of Reading
What is the Science of Reading all about?
Grab our Science of Reading Blueprint!