The Short Vowel Mystery…Solved.
The short vowels used to be a bit of a mystery to me. When I started teaching first grade 3 years ago, I walked into what would be my new classroom and I looked at all the posters on the walls. None of them were mine and almost all of them were rooted in phonics of some sort, little tricks and games to remember the rules. I was a 4th grade teacher at the time, so I didn’t worry a whole lot about the vowels and their sounds. That was usually already done for me by the time my kids got to 4th grade and I would always feel so grateful to those early primary teachers for setting all that up – that way, I could get onto the important business of writing and all that goes with that.
But, I am now, a 1st grade teacher and those vowels looking back at me from their respective posters that day were kinda scary. What did I know about that?? And they all sort of sounded the same to me, in a way. So, I thought, if they sounded the same to me (the teacher) imagine how they sounded to a little kid. I’ll go one further for ya – a little kid who speaks another language (other than English) at home. My kids speak French at home. Once, I took on that first grade classroom, I knew that I needed a trick and my own way of teaching these vowels. And once I had that trick, it was honestly, a breeze.
This is how I teach the short vowels, character by character. And I finally have had time to do it all up in a Pack. Each vowel character has his or her own story and the sound that vowel makes is blended into the story, so that the sound and the character become one and the same. This is how they look.
And, of course some practice pages too.
And so, there you have it. Mystery solved. Except to say that when you watch 1st graders decode a word beautifully, using the skills that you’ve given them, there is nothing quite like it. The way they look at you because they are so proud and amazed that they did it, that it worked, that they now have the key and those doors to reading will just open up wide for them. That feeling – I could just never trade.
Have a great weekend!
July 12, 2013 @ 7:54 am
Wow! I would love to win this great pack!
cheriemae@gmail.com
July 12, 2013 @ 9:24 am
Love the posters and the printable! Would love to be a winner!
rachelmd93@gmail.com
July 12, 2013 @ 10:21 am
These are great!! I have several students this year who have some challenges that these posters and their stories would really help! I would love to win these so I could help them to love reading!
shsfgrade2Mrs.R.@gmail.com
July 12, 2013 @ 12:28 pm
I think having a story helps kids remember-certainly better than the way the reading series teach phonics/grammar. I would so love to win this set! I have a group of especially low kids coming up this year!
Debbie
debjac9@aol.com
July 12, 2013 @ 1:03 pm
This looks wonderful! I love the characters and having a story for each one!
Tonya
the3shores@msn.com
July 12, 2013 @ 1:58 pm
Always looking for new ways to introduce short vowels, especially since our board took away the previously used program where every letter (and hence vowel) had a character, an action and a song. This set you created looks fantastic. I would love to win it.
Erin
evrmoi21@gmail.com
July 12, 2013 @ 2:11 pm
OMG! Thank you! This is exactly what I need! I'm an ESL teacher struggling to find ways to teach those peskie vowels to French speaking students. If I just give them the tricks or have them use the many existing poster… they don't get it. My students don't get that vowels can make a different sound because of the way they are taught how to read in French (using syllables). Having a story would really help them remember the sounds since I don't see them a whole lot when they are very young.
nathcomeau@gmail.com
July 12, 2013 @ 2:24 pm
I'm a first grade teacher and this would be awesome! I'm always looking for ways to help students remember those vowel sounds!
Nicole
First Grade OWLS
nicbunt@gmail.com
July 12, 2013 @ 9:49 pm
This pack looks fabulous! Vowels are soooooo hard to teach and really get the kids to "hear" the difference. I love how you have a character and a story to go with each vowel to help the kids remember the vowel sounds:) I would love a chance to use this in my classroom- LOVE!
Natalie
Natalies Nook
lamontfamily@bell.net
July 13, 2013 @ 12:35 am
Hey there, Sweetie!
Those are so cute and look like a LOT of work!
My kids (students) and I always laugh at the vowel sounds because so many sound like sounds you'd make when sick, afraid, or getting hit in the stomach! :o) We sing a goofy little song for the short vowels. I don't even know what the real name of the tune is, but it works.
Have a great day, Leslie!
Corinna
July 13, 2013 @ 1:44 am
This looks amazing. What a fun way to teach the short vowels.
Caitlin
cfcoley@gmail.com
July 17, 2013 @ 7:40 am
A fantastic way to teach short vowel sound!!! Children can definitely relate to characters in the story. An awesome, fun, fresh, interactive, integrated packet. This will be a great resource for my K/1 students.
Leslie, well done!!!!
foxysexyroxy10@gmail.com
August 6, 2013 @ 3:04 am
Love this for teaching short vowels! It's such a difficult concept. I just shared it on my Five on the Fifth post!
Megan
I Teach. What's Your Super Power?
August 6, 2013 @ 3:04 am
Love this for teaching short vowels! It's such a difficult concept. I just shared it on my Five on the Fifth post!
Megan
I Teach. What's Your Super Power?