•  syllables

    Sounds in Words: Syllables

    Although speaking and listening may not seem related to learning to read, being aware of sounds in words is very important to reading. This awareness allows children to break apart words orally and use sounds to learn to read and write words. Children first need to become aware of sounds in words without relating those sounds to print. They demonstrate their knowledge using their speaking and listening skills.

    You can help your child develop an awareness of sounds in spoken words. Singing silly songs and making up silly words or poems are ways to enhance your child's awareness of sounds. These skills are fun to practice because most children love to play with sounds in words. You can make up silly sentences where most of the words begin with the same sound: Leo the lion liked to lick a lot of lollipops!

    There are many types of different sounds in words. For example, one skill is being able to separate words into syllables, or parts, like knowing that the word folder has two syllables, or parts: fold-er. And the word computer has three syllables or parts: com-pu-ter. Being able to separate words into syllables will help children break a word into parts in order to read or spell the word.

     Clap Word Parts (Syllables)

    Help your child identify syllables in spoken words.

     

    Syllable Sort

     
    Key Points About the Video
    • Mom explains that a syllable is a word part and provides an example.
    • Mom shows her son how to play the game by providing examples.
    • Mom encourages her son to clap the word parts when he isn't sure of how many syllables are in the word banana.

     

    Syllable Sort

    Help your child identify the number of syllables in spoken words.

     



    Read Aloud and Syllable Practice (Silly Sally)

     
    Key Points About the Video
    • Mom selects a word and asks her son to clap the parts, or syllables, of the word.
    • Mom selects words with different numbers of syllables, such as two or three, to give her son several times to practice counting syllables.
    • A few times, Mom asks her son to describe what a word means and repeats his answer in a complete sentence to help build oral language skills.
    • Mom is enthusiastic, so sharing the book is enjoyable.

     

    Books to Share

    A list of suggested books that you can read to your child. Select some words from the book and have your child determine how many syllables are in those words.

    • Silly Sally by Audrey Wood
    • We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
    • Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault