Standard 2: Reading Foundations

Students will develop foundational skills for future reading success by working with sounds, letters, and text.

PHONOLOGICAL AWARENESS: Phonological awareness is the ability to recognize, think about, and manipulate sounds in spoken language without using text. 

1.2.PA.2 Students will differentiate short from long vowel sounds in one syllable words.

Student Actions 

Teacher Actions 

• Students will identify and distinguish between short and long vowels sounds in any position in a spoken one syllable word.  

• Teachers review long and short vowel sounds with students.  

• Teachers model segmenting one syllable words, locating, and identifying the vowel. Manipulatives or Elkonin boxes can be used.

• Teachers provide opportunities for students to practice segmenting words and identifying the vowel, using manipulatives if needed,  in whole group and small group situations.

• Teachers monitor segmentation and vowel identification, providing opportunities for students to receive feedback and interventions as needed.

Supporting Resources

Teacher Insights 

The Vowel Song:  Long and Short Vowel Sounds (video)

Long and Short Vowels sorting Activity (PDF)

McGraw-Hill Distinguishing Long & Short Vowels (webpage)

• Phonological awareness is the ability to recognize, think about, and manipulate sounds in spoken language without using text.

• Model short vowels by curving hand like a breve (smile) and placing on head. Barely tap head while making a short vowel sound. Talk about how the sound is very short, tell students to make breve (hand smile) and practice tapping their head briefly while making short vowel sounds. 
• Model long vowels by placing straight hand (macron) on head and pressing down.  Tell students the macron makes the vowel say its name. Press down on head with flat hand while saying long vowel sounds.  Ask students to do the same. 
• Use the hand motions and clues during short and long vowel activities to give students cues that help students distinguish between long and short vowels.   

Due to recursive nature of the standards, it is essential that teachers are aware of how all objectives within and between strands work together for optimal instruction.