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H.1 Identify short vowel sounds in words

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What Are Short Vowels?

Short vowels are vowel sounds that are quick and clear. They are the simple sounds we hear in many common words. Each vowel (a, e, i, o, u) has its own short sound that helps us read and spell basic words.

Examples of Short Vowel Sounds:
  • a β†’ cat
  • e β†’ bed
  • i β†’ sit
  • o β†’ dog
  • u β†’ sun
Helpful Hint

Short vowels usually appear in words with a consonant before and after them (CVC words). For example: c-a-t β†’ cat.

Understanding the Short A Sound

The short a makes the sound /Δƒ/ like in the word cat. This sound is quick and open, and it is found in many simple words.

Examples of Short A Words:
  • a β†’ cat
  • a β†’ map
  • a β†’ bag
  • a β†’ jam
  • a β†’ hat
Helpful Hint

The short a sound is the same sound we hear at the beginning of the word β€œapple.”

Understanding the Short E Sound

The short e makes the sound /Δ•/ like in the word bed. This sound is made with a slightly open mouth and relaxed tongue.

Examples of Short E Words:
  • e β†’ bed
  • e β†’ pen
  • e β†’ leg
  • e β†’ men
  • e β†’ net
Helpful Hint

The short e sound is the same sound we hear in the middle of the word β€œred.”

Understanding the Short I Sound

The short i makes the sound /Δ­/ like in the word sit. It is a quick sound made with the mouth slightly open and lips relaxed.

Examples of Short I Words:
  • i β†’ sit
  • i β†’ lip
  • i β†’ pig
  • i β†’ dig
  • i β†’ win
Helpful Hint

The short i sound is the same sound we hear in the middle of the word β€œbig.”

Understanding the Short O Sound

The short o makes the sound /ŏ/ like in the word dog. It is a round sound made with the lips slightly open.

Examples of Short O Words:
  • o β†’ dog
  • o β†’ pot
  • o β†’ log
  • o β†’ top
  • o β†’ hop
Helpful Hint

The short o sound is the same sound we hear in the middle of the word β€œhot.”

Understanding the Short U Sound

The short u makes the sound /Ε­/ like in the word sun. This sound is quick and relaxed, and we hear it in many everyday words.

Examples of Short U Words:
  • u β†’ sun
  • u β†’ cup
  • u β†’ bus
  • u β†’ mud
  • u β†’ rug
Helpful Hint

The short u sound is the same sound we hear in the middle of the word β€œup.”

Practicing Short Vowels in Sentences

Reading short vowel words in sentences helps us build fluency and understand words in context.

Examples:
  • The cat sat on the mat.
  • The bed is red.
  • The pig can dig.
  • The dog can hop on the log.
  • The sun is up.
Helpful Hint

Read each sentence slowly the first time. Then read again smoothly, listening for each short vowel sound.

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