What is a long vowel word?
Long vowels are letters in which the sounds of the letters A, E, I, O, and U correspond to the letter’s spoken name. Typically, they are taught from preschool to first grade. A word with a short vowel is frequently turned into a word with a long vowel by adding a silent letter “e” to the end of the word.
Consider the following scenario:
“Mat” becomes “mate” by adding the letter “e.”
“Win” becomes “wine” by adding a “e.”
“Hop” becomes “hope” by adding the letter “e.”
“Tub” becomes “tube” by adding a “e.”
The letter “e” is an exception, as the rule of adding a silent “e” does not apply.
There are other similar exclusions that can be confusing to children when they first begin. It necessitates the teacher staging the lesson in order to present each rule and exception separately. You, as a parent, can begin assisting at home by working closely with the teacher.
Vowel Teams
The use of two consecutive vowels to generate a single long vowel sound is referred to as vowel teams. The first vowel in the sequence is frequently associated with the long vowel sound.
Consider the following scenario:
Creating the word “wait” with “ai”
Creating the word “meat” with the letter “ea”
Creating the word “boat” with the letter “oa”
When a child first learns long vowels, he or she will most likely be taught one-syllable words. In second grade or later, longer words and more complex rules (such as “I before E except after C”) are frequently presented.
Double E and O
The youngster will also be taught that only “ee” and “oo” are used as double vowels in words. Only the long vowel “ee” is used in words like “sheep,” “wheel,” “beet,” and “bee.”
“Oo,” on the other hand, can be pronounced in a variety of ways, including “hoop,” “look,” “brood,” and “boo.”
Exceptions to the Long Vowel Rule
When a youngster is learning to read, one of the first principles they may learn is that vowels can be lengthy if they are followed by double consonants. It’s a great guideline to put to the test as kids learn to read.
Consider the following scenario:
The letters “o” and “ll” can be used to form the word “stroll.”
“Kind” can be formed by combining the letters I and “nd.”
Of course, there are many exceptions to the norm, which can add to the enjoyment. As they progress from reading words to complete phrases, youngsters might begin to intuitively figure out how a word is spoken by spotting irregularities.
Even if terms like “sing,” “long,” and “hill” don’t follow the double consonant guidelines, children will rapidly pick up on it as they improve their ability to decipher both the sound and context of a word.
Examples of long vowel words
For example, in terms like “lure” and “tube,” the long U sound is pronounced as “yoo.” The short U sound, on the other hand, is pronounced more like “uh,” as in the phrases “cub” and “tub.”
Long vowel words, on the other hand, are those that have a long vowel sound. It’s crucial to remember that a word’s spelling and pronunciation don’t always match up completely. The lengthy U sound can also be found in words like “few” and “beautiful.” The long A sound in “bake” and “gate” can also be spelt “ay” (as in “pay”) or “ai” (as in “paid”), among other possibilities.
Let’s have a look at some more long vowel words to see how this works.
Long Vowel Words in Sentences
A Words with a Long A
The words in bold contain the long A sound.
Is it possible for you to bake a cake for me?
That’s not something I’m going to pay for.
They’ll never return home at this pace.
Jenny does it for the fame and wealth it will bring her.
Have you heard about the executive’s office being raided?
E Words with a Long E
The words in bold contain the long E sound.
To be or not to be, that is the question. That is the issue.
Pete intends to see her again as soon as possible.
On the high beam, the gymnast shines.
The ethics board deemed the actions to be unacceptable.
At the deli, there was quite a scene.
I Words That Are Long
The words in bold feature the long I sound.
Sara and I have tickets to see a movie.
Pine needles are strewn about the place!
The jam can be found in the bread aisle.
At the next junction, make a right turn.
Everything is going to work out fine..
Long O Words
In the bolded words, the long O sound is prominent.
A well-known fictional figure is The Lone Ranger.
The dirt road in the country isn’t paved.
Herbert was so happy began bouncing up and down.
Could you go to the garden shed and get me a hoe?
Just in time, a tow truck arrived.
Long U Phrases
The words in bold contain the long U sound.
Our order has yet to be taken by the rude waitress.
Do you know where the Statue of Liberty is located?
The Duke and Duchess of York recently paid a visit.
With such a long queue, we might expect a long wait.
Right on cue, he appears.
Tips for teaching the long vowel sounds
- If your youngster is having trouble with long vowel sounds, don’t get too worked up about it. Children learn at different rates, but if you work with them at home, they will generally catch up. Flashcards are an excellent and entertaining method to accomplish this.
- If, on the other hand, your child is lagging behind and you are concerned that there is a serious problem, you can take the following steps:
- Visit your pediatrician for a physical examination, which should include a vision and hearing test. If you see any signs of hearing loss, you should consult a specialist to determine whether you have frequency hearing loss.
- Have your child tested by a certified speech and language pathologist if you suspect expressive or receptive language issues.
- You can also talk to your child’s teacher about having your child screened for learning difficulties or requesting a referral for a thorough assessment to see if your child needs special education services.
