- Today we are going to take a look at how consonants spell their names in words. When we say a consonant’s name, that name is the combination of at least two sounds. One is the letter’s sound, and the other is a long vowel sound or a short vowel sound.
Say these consonant names out loud:
They all contain the sound of long vowel e.
Now say these consonant names out loud:
They all contain the sound of short vowel e.
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Understanding that vowels help consonants spell/say their names can be useful for children who struggle to spell.
1. Say the word.
- It’s important to have your child say the word out loud so that he or she can “feel” the sounds in his/her mouth.
2. Stretch out the word sound by sound.
- My students enjoy this stretchy song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIBjAWkPzNA
- Sound boxes are another helpful tool for stretching out words. https://thevowelcoach.com/sound-box-strategy-for-beginning-and-struggling-spellers/
3. If a consonant says its name, listen carefully for the sounds that make up that name.
Your child might hear N say its name and think the word is spelled “snd.”
If this happens, focus on the name of N and the sounds that are used to spell that name.
4. Reinforce the golden rule of spelling:
- Another thing we can do is ask the child if every syllable in the word has a vowel. When s/he notice “snd” is missing a vowel, we can help the child hear the vowel sound in the word.
Below is a list of some of the common ways each letter can spell its name in a word:
Learning to read can be fun. Be patient, give your child time to think, and turn learning into a game whenever you can.