Phonological and Phonemic Awareness

Word Boundaries in Spoken Sentences means hearing where one word ends and the next word begins when someone talks.

When we listen to a sentence, the words can sound like they are all stuck together. Good readers and writers learn to hear each word in the sentence. This helps us count words, say words one at a time, and write spaces between words.

Let’s learn how to listen for word boundaries, or the places between words.

What is a spoken sentence?

A spoken sentence is something we say out loud, like: I see a dog.

That sentence has more than one word. We can listen carefully and break it apart:

• I
• see
• a
• dog

There are 4 words in the sentence.

Why is this important?

• It helps us listen carefully.
• It helps us count the words we hear.
• It helps us say a sentence slowly, one word at a time.
• It helps us when we read and write.

How can we hear word boundaries?

We can use easy listening tricks:

1. Say the sentence slowly.
2. Tap once for each word.
3. Clap once for each word.
4. Move a finger for each word.
5. Put out a counter or small object for each word.

Remember: we are counting words, not sounds in a word and not parts of a word.

For example, in the sentence The cat ran, we hear 3 words:

• The
• cat
• ran

Even though cat has several sounds in it, it is still just one word.

Let’s practice hearing each word.

If you hear the sentence We jump, say it slowly:

We ... jump

Now count the words:

$$2$$

There are 2 words.

Worked Example 1

Sentence: I run.

Step 1: Say the sentence slowly.

I ... run

Step 2: Count each word.

• I
• run

Step 3: Tell how many words there are.

$$2$$

Answer: The sentence I run has 2 words.

Worked Example 2

Sentence: The dog barks.

Step 1: Listen for each word.

The ... dog ... barks

Step 2: Count them.

• The
• dog
• barks

Step 3: Tell how many words there are.

$$3$$

Answer: The sentence The dog barks has 3 words.

Worked Example 3

Sentence: We can play outside.

Step 1: Say it slowly.

We ... can ... play ... outside

Step 2: Count each word.

• We
• can
• play
• outside

Step 3: Tell how many words there are.

$$4$$

Answer: The sentence We can play outside has 4 words.

Worked Example 4

Sentence: I see the red ball.

Step 1: Listen carefully.

I ... see ... the ... red ... ball

Step 2: Count the words one by one.

• I
• see
• the
• red
• ball

Step 3: Tell how many words there are.

$$5$$

Answer: The sentence I see the red ball has 5 words.

How to isolate one word in a sentence

Sometimes you will be asked to tell just one word from the sentence, like the first word, middle word, or last word.

Example: The bird sings.

• First word: The
• Middle word: bird
• Last word: sings

Let’s try another one: My hat is blue.

• Words: My, hat, is, blue
• First word: My
• Last word: blue

Helpful hints

• Put one finger up for each word you hear.
• Touch the table once for each word.
• Say the sentence again if you need to.
• Listen for little pauses between words.

Be careful!

Sometimes a long word may trick you. A long word is still just one word.

Example: I like butterflies.

• I
• like
• butterflies

That sentence has 3 words, even though butterflies is a long word.

Also, short words count too. Words like I and a are each one whole word.

Example: I see a bug.

• I
• see
• a
• bug

That sentence has 4 words.

Let’s remember the steps.

1. Listen to the whole sentence.
2. Say it slowly.
3. Tap, clap, or move a finger for each word.
4. Count the words.
5. Name the word you need, like the first or last word.

Summary

Word boundaries are the places between spoken words in a sentence. When we listen carefully, we can hear each word, count the words, and tell which word comes first, next, or last.

When you practice saying sentences slowly and tapping for each word, it gets easier to hear the words one by one. This is an important skill for reading and writing.

Syllable Segmentation and Counting

Words can be broken into parts. These parts are called syllables.

A syllable is a beat in a word. When we say a word slowly, we can hear the beats. Counting the beats tells us how many syllables are in the word.

Learning syllables helps us listen carefully to words. It also helps us read, spell, and say words more clearly.

How to find syllables

1. Say the word.
2. Say it slowly.
3. Listen for the beats.
4. Count the beats.

You can clap, tap, or put your hand under your chin as you say the word. Each beat is one syllable.

• Clap it: Clap once for each beat.
• Tap it: Tap the table once for each beat.
• Chin drop: Put your hand under your chin. Your chin drops for each syllable.

Important idea: A long word does not always have many syllables, and a short word does not always have one syllable. We must listen to the beats.

Words with 1 syllable

• cat
• dog
• book
• jump

These words have just one beat. We say each one with one clap.

Words with 2 syllables

• ta-ble
• ap-ple
• pen-cil
• sun-set

These words have two beats. We can clap two times as we say them.

Words with 3 syllables

• ba-na-na
• el-e-phant
• fam-i-ly
• but-ter-fly

These words have three beats. We can clap three times.

Let’s segment words

To segment means to break something into parts. When we segment a word into syllables, we break it into its beats.

For example, the word robot can be segmented like this: ro-bot. It has 2 syllables.

The word animal can be segmented like this: an-i-mal. It has 3 syllables.

Worked Example 1

Word: dog

Say it slowly: dog

How many beats do you hear? 1

So, dog has 1 syllable.

Worked Example 2

Word: apple

Say it slowly: ap-ple

Clap the beats: clap-clap

How many beats do you hear? 2

So, apple has 2 syllables.

Worked Example 3

Word: banana

Say it slowly: ba-na-na

Clap the beats: clap-clap-clap

How many beats do you hear? 3

So, banana has 3 syllables.

Worked Example 4

Word: computer

Say it slowly: com-pu-ter

Tap the beats: tap-tap-tap

How many beats do you hear? 3

So, computer has 3 syllables.

Let’s compare words

• cup → 1 syllable
• kitten → 2 syllables
• octopus → 3 syllables

We can count syllables like this:

cup = \(1\)

kitten = \(2\)

octopus = \(3\)

Tips for counting syllables

• Say the word out loud.
• Say it more slowly if you need to.
• Listen for each beat.
• Clap or tap to help you count.
• If you are not sure, try again.

Be careful!

• Do not count letters. Count beats.
• Do not count sounds one by one. Count syllables, or word beats.
• Listen with your ears and feel the rhythm.

For example, ship has many letters? No. But what matters is the beat. Ship has 1 beat, so it has 1 syllable.

The word butterfly is longer. We say but-ter-fly. That gives us 3 beats, so it has 3 syllables.

Practice words

• sun
• rainbow
• tiger
• helicopter

You can try saying them slowly and clapping the beats.

Quick check

• sun → 1 syllable
• ti-ger → 2 syllables
• rain-bow → 2 syllables
• hel-i-cop-ter → 4 syllables

Summary

A syllable is a beat in a word. We can segment a word by breaking it into beats, like ap-ple or ba-na-na.

To count syllables, say the word slowly, listen for the beats, and clap or tap each one. Remember: count the beats, not the letters.

Syllable Blending means putting word parts together to make a whole word.

When we say a long word, we can often hear it in smaller parts called syllables. In syllable blending, we listen to the parts and then say the whole word.

For example, if you hear sun and shine, you can blend them together to say sunshine.

Learning to blend syllables helps you become a stronger reader and speaker. It helps you hear words carefully and say them smoothly.

What is a syllable?

A syllable is a word part we can say in one beat or mouth movement. Some words have one syllable, and some have two or more syllables.

• cat has 1 syllable
• robot has 2 syllables: ro + bot
• banana has 3 syllables: ba + na + na

How do we blend syllables?

1. Listen to each syllable.
2. Say the syllables in order.
3. Put them together smoothly.
4. Say the whole word.

You can tap, clap, or move a finger for each syllable as you listen. Then say the parts faster to blend them into one word.

Let’s try some together.

Worked Example 1

Listen: cup ... cake

Now blend: cupcake

We heard 2 syllables: cup + cake = cupcake.

Worked Example 2

Listen: ti ... ger

Now blend: tiger

We heard 2 syllables: ti + ger = tiger.

Worked Example 3

Listen: pen ... cil

Now blend: pencil

We heard 2 syllables: pen + cil = pencil.

Worked Example 4

Listen: el ... e ... phant

Now blend: elephant

We heard 3 syllables: el + e + phant = elephant.

Tips for blending syllables

• Listen carefully to all the parts.
• Keep the syllables in the same order.
• Start slowly, then say them faster.
• If the word feels tricky, try again.

Let’s practice thinking it through.

If you hear base ... ball, do not stop after the first part. Put both parts together: baseball.

If you hear pa ... per, blend the two syllables to make paper.

If you hear but ... ter ... fly, blend all three parts to say butterfly.

Things to remember

• A syllable is a part of a word.
• Blending means putting the parts together.
• We listen to the syllables in order and say the whole word.

Quick review

What word do these syllables make?

• rain ... bow → rainbow
• spi ... der → spider
• um ... brel ... la → umbrella

Summary

Syllable blending is when you hear word parts and put them together to make a whole word. You can listen, say the parts in order, and blend them smoothly. With practice, syllable blending helps you read and speak more easily.

Syllable Deletion means taking away one part of a word and saying what is left.

A syllable is a word part we can hear when we clap a word. Each clap is one syllable.

For example, the word sunset has 2 syllables: sun and set. If we take away sun, we say set.

This is a listening skill. We are listening to the parts in a word, taking one part away, and saying the rest.

How to do syllable deletion:

1. Say the whole word.
2. Listen for the syllables. You can clap them.
3. Take away the syllable you are told to remove.
4. Say what is left.

Let’s practice hearing syllables.

• robot = ro + bot
• pumpkin = pump + kin
• paper = pa + per
• baseball = base + ball

Now let’s take away one syllable and listen to the part that stays.

Worked Example 1

Word: baseball

Syllables: base + ball

Take away: base

What is left? ball

Worked Example 2

Word: robot

Syllables: ro + bot

Take away: bot

What is left? ro

Worked Example 3

Word: pumpkin

Syllables: pump + kin

Take away: pump

What is left? kin

Worked Example 4

Word: banana

Syllables: ba + na + na

Take away the first syllable: ba

What is left? nana

This one is a little trickier because the word has 3 syllables. We still do the same steps: say the word, hear the parts, take one away, and say the rest.

Helpful tips:

• Say the word slowly.
• Clap for each syllable.
• Touch a finger for each part.
• After you remove one part, say the leftover part smoothly.

Let’s look at more examples.

• paper = pa + per. Take away pa. Left: per.
• sunset = sun + set. Take away set. Left: sun.
• tiger = ti + ger. Take away ger. Left: ti.
• tomato = to + ma + to. Take away to at the end. Left: toma.

Sometimes we take away the first syllable. Sometimes we take away the last syllable. We can even take away a middle syllable in a longer word, but we always listen for the word parts first.

Try it in your head:

• Say rabbit. Take away rab. You say bit.
• Say kitten. Take away ten. You say kit.
• Say candy. Take away can. You say dy.

Why this matters:

When we play with syllables, we get better at hearing the parts in words. This helps us become stronger readers and spellers.

Summary:

Syllable deletion means taking away one syllable from a word and saying what remains. First, say the whole word. Next, listen for the syllables. Then take one syllable away and say the rest.

Onset and Rime Blending helps us put word parts together to read and say words.

When we listen to a short word, we can often hear two parts:

• the onset: the first sound
• the rime: the rest of the word

When we blend, we slide the two parts together to make a whole word.

For example, in the word cat:

• onset: /c/
• rime: /at/

Blend them together: /c/ + /at/ = cat.

This skill helps you read new words. If you know the rime -at, you can blend many words: cat, bat, hat, mat.

How to blend onset and rime

1. Listen to the first sound.
2. Listen to the rest of the word.
3. Say them slowly together.
4. Say the whole word.

You can think: first sound + rest of the word = whole word.

Let’s learn with examples.

Example 1

Blend /b/ and /ig/.

First sound: /b/

Rest of the word: /ig/

Say them together: /b/ ... /ig/ ... big

The word is big.

Example 2

Blend /s/ and /un/.

First sound: /s/

Rest of the word: /un/

Say them together: /s/ ... /un/ ... sun

The word is sun.

Example 3

Blend /m/ and /op/.

First sound: /m/

Rest of the word: /op/

Say them together: /m/ ... /op/ ... mop

The word is mop.

Example 4

Blend /ch/ and /ip/.

First sound: /ch/

Rest of the word: /ip/

Say them together: /ch/ ... /ip/ ... chip

The word is chip.

Let’s notice patterns.

If the rime stays the same, the word family stays the same.

• /c/ + /an/ = can
• /m/ + /an/ = man
• /f/ + /an/ = fan

The rime -an stays the same. Only the first sound changes.

That means once you know one rime, you can read many words.

Tips for blending

• Say the first sound clearly.
• Say the rime clearly.
• Slide the sounds together without stopping too long.
• If it does not sound like a word, try again more smoothly.

Try it in your head.

• /h/ + /at/ makes hat
• /r/ + /ed/ makes red
• /p/ + /en/ makes pen
• /l/ + /og/ makes log

What to remember

• The onset is the first sound.
• The rime is the rest of the word.
• We blend them to make a whole word.

When you hear /d/ and /og/, you can blend them to say dog.

You are learning to listen closely to sounds. That is an important reading skill.

Rhyme Recognition means listening to words and deciding if they sound the same at the end.

Words that rhyme have the same ending sound. The beginning sound can be different.

For example, cat and hat rhyme because they both end with -at. But cat and cup do not rhyme because their ending sounds are different.

Rhyming is something we hear with our ears. We listen to the end of the words.

How to check for a rhyme:

1. Say the first word.

2. Say the second word.

3. Listen to the ending sound in both words.

4. Ask: Do they sound the same at the end?

If the ending sounds match, the words rhyme. If they do not match, the words do not rhyme.

Look at these rhyming words:

• dog, log

• sun, run

• cake, lake

• bee, tree

Each pair has the same ending sound.

Look at these words that do not rhyme:

• dog, dig

• sun, sock

• cake, car

• bee, bed

These pairs sound different at the end.

Worked Example 1

Do hat and bat rhyme?

Say them: hat, bat.

Listen to the end: -at, -at.

Yes! They have the same ending sound, so they rhyme.

Worked Example 2

Do pig and pen rhyme?

Say them: pig, pen.

Listen to the end: -ig, -en.

No. The ending sounds are different, so they do not rhyme.

Worked Example 3

Do star and car rhyme?

Say them: star, car.

Listen to the end: -ar, -ar.

Yes! They sound the same at the end, so they rhyme.

Worked Example 4

Do fish and dish rhyme?

Say them: fish, dish.

Listen to the end: -ish, -ish.

Yes! They have the same ending sound, so they rhyme.

Helpful tip: Do not look only at the first sound.

Top and mop rhyme even though they begin with different sounds.

Helpful tip: Sometimes words may start the same but not rhyme.

cake and can both start with c, but they do not rhyme because the endings are different.

Let’s practice listening:

• map, cap → rhyme

• red, bed → rhyme

• ball, book → do not rhyme

• light, night → rhyme

• fan, fit → do not rhyme

When you practice rhyming, say the words slowly and listen carefully to the end.

Summary:

Rhyming words have the same ending sound. To tell if two words rhyme, say both words and listen to how they end. If they sound the same at the end, they rhyme. If they sound different at the end, they do not rhyme.

Rhyme Production means thinking of a word that sounds the same at the end as another word.

When words rhyme, the ending sound matches. Listen: cat, hat, bat. They all have the same ending sound: -at.

In this lesson, you will learn how to say a new rhyming word when you hear a word. This helps you listen carefully to sounds in words.

What is a rhyme?

A rhyme is when two or more words have the same ending sound.

• dog and log rhyme
• sun and fun rhyme
• cake and lake rhyme

Words do not have to start with the same sound to rhyme. In fact, the beginning sound is often different.

• pig and wig rhyme
• tree and bee rhyme

How to make a rhyming word

Here is an easy way to do it:

1. Listen to the word.
2. Say the ending part.
3. Keep the ending part the same.
4. Change the beginning sound.

Let’s try that with cat.

The ending sound is -at. If we change the first sound, we can make:

• bat
• hat
• mat
• rat

All of these rhyme with cat.

Listen for the ending sound

Sometimes it helps to stretch the word a little.

Sun ... -un

Now keep -un and change the first sound:

• fun
• run
• bun

These words rhyme because they all end with -un.

Worked Example 1

Prompt word: cake

Listen to the end: -ake.

Now change the first sound:

• lake

Cake and lake rhyme.

Worked Example 2

Prompt word: bell

Listen to the end: -ell.

Now change the first sound:

• well
• tell

Bell, well, and tell rhyme.

Worked Example 3

Prompt word: fish

Listen to the end: -ish.

Now change the first sound:

• dish
• wish

Fish, dish, and wish rhyme.

Worked Example 4

Prompt word: star

Listen to the end: -ar.

Now change the first sound:

• car
• jar

Star, car, and jar rhyme.

Let’s think together

If I say bed, what could you say?

Listen to the end: -ed.

You could say:

• red
• fed
• sled

Each one rhymes with bed.

If I say hop, what could you say?

Listen to the end: -op.

You could say:

• mop
• top
• pop

How do I know if words rhyme?

Ask yourself: Do they sound the same at the end?

Yes:

• hen / pen
• light / kite
• blue / glue

No:

• cat / cup
• dog / dig
• sun / sock

Helpful tips

• Listen with your ears for the end of the word.
• Keep the end the same.
• Change the beginning sound.
• Say the words out loud to check if they rhyme.

Let’s practice

Try to say one rhyming word for each prompt:

• map → tap
• pig → wig
• boat → goat
• play → day

You may think of a different rhyming word too. That is great, as long as it has the same ending sound.

Summary

Rhyming words sound the same at the end. To make a rhyming word, listen to the end of the word, keep that part, and change the beginning sound. With practice, you can think of many rhyming words all by yourself.

Alliteration Discrimination means listening to the first sound in words and figuring out if the words start the same.

When words begin with the same first sound, that is called alliteration.

For example, sun, sock, and sand all start with the sound /s/. They are alliterative.

This lesson will help you hear the first sound in words and decide: same sound or different sound?

What to listen for

Do not listen for the whole word. Listen only to the beginning sound.

Say each word slowly. Stretch the first sound a little if you can.

• ball → /b/ all
• baby → /b/ aby
• bat → /b/ at

These words all start with /b/. That means they show alliteration.

How to check for alliteration

1. Say the words.
2. Listen to the first sound in each word.
3. Ask, “Are the first sounds the same?”
4. If yes, the words have alliteration.
5. If no, the words do not have alliteration.

Important idea: We listen for the sound, not just the letter.

Sometimes words can start with the same letter and have the same beginning sound, like dog and doll.

Sometimes words start with different letters and do not match, so they are not alliterative, like cat and ball.

Worked Example 1

Words: pig, pen

Listen to the first sounds:

• pig starts with /p/
• pen starts with /p/

The first sounds are the same: /p/ and /p/.

Answer: Yes, these words have alliteration.

Worked Example 2

Words: cat, sun

Listen to the first sounds:

• cat starts with /k/
• sun starts with /s/

The first sounds are different: /k/ and /s/.

Answer: No, these words do not have alliteration.

Worked Example 3

Words: fish, fan, five

Listen to the first sounds:

• fish starts with /f/
• fan starts with /f/
• five starts with /f/

All three words start with the same first sound, /f/.

Answer: Yes, these words have alliteration.

Worked Example 4

Words: moon, map, nose

Listen to the first sounds:

• moon starts with /m/
• map starts with /m/
• nose starts with /n/

Two words start with /m/, but one word starts with /n/.

Since not all the words start with the same first sound, this group is not alliterative.

Answer: No, this group does not have alliteration.

Tips to help you

• Say the words out loud.
• Say only the first sound.
• Tap your finger when you hear the same beginning sound.
• If one word starts differently, then the whole group is not alliterative.

Let’s compare

• ball, bike, bug → /b/, /b/, /b/ → yes
• red, rug, leaf → /r/, /r/, /l/ → no
• top, turtle → /t/, /t/ → yes
• jam, kite → /j/, /k/ → no

Try this thinking: “Do all the words begin the same?”

If the answer is yes, you found alliteration.

If the answer is no, the words do not have alliteration.

Summary

Alliteration is when words start with the same first sound.

To find it, say the words, listen to the beginning sound, and compare.

If all the first sounds match, the words are alliterative. If they do not all match, they are not alliterative.

Phoneme Isolation: Initial Sounds

Today we will learn about initial sounds. An initial sound is the first sound we hear in a word.

We listen carefully with our ears. We do not look at the letter first. We ask, “What sound do I hear at the beginning?”

For example, in the word sun, the first sound is /s/. In the word map, the first sound is /m/.

Learning first sounds helps us become strong readers and writers. When we know the first sound in a word, we can match that sound to a letter.

How to find the initial sound

1. Say the word slowly.
2. Listen to the very first sound.
3. Say that sound by itself.

Let’s try that together:

• Say bat.
• Listen: /b/-at
• The initial sound is /b/.

Remember: we are listening for the sound, not the whole word.

Worked Example 1

Word: dog

Step 1: Say the word slowly: dog.

Step 2: Listen to the first sound: /d/.

Answer: The initial sound in dog is /d/.

Worked Example 2

Word: fish

Step 1: Say the word slowly: fish.

Step 2: Listen to the first sound: /f/.

Answer: The initial sound in fish is /f/.

Worked Example 3

Now let’s listen to a word that begins with a blend of sounds.

Word: stop

Say the word slowly: stop.

At the beginning, we hear /s/ first.

Answer: The initial sound in stop is /s/.

Even when a word starts with two close sounds, we still name the very first sound.

Worked Example 4

Let’s think a little more carefully.

Word: chair

Say the word slowly: chair.

The first sound we hear is /ch/.

Answer: The initial sound in chair is /ch/.

Sometimes the first sound is one sound like /m/. Sometimes it is a sound like /ch/. We always listen for the first sound we hear.

Let’s practice together

• cat → /k/
• pig → /p/
• rain → /r/
• hat → /h/
• jump → /j/

Tips for listening

• Say the word slowly.
• Say the word more than one time.
• Stretch the beginning a little if you can.
• Ask yourself, “What sound came first?”

Be careful!

Sometimes we want to say the letter name. But in this lesson, we say the sound.

For example:

• The word ball starts with the sound /b/.
• The word kite starts with the sound /k/.

We are listening with our ears for the first sound in the spoken word.

Try it on your own

What is the initial sound in each word?

• moon → /m/
• top → /t/
• van → /v/
• ship → /sh/

Summary

An initial sound is the first sound in a word. To find it, say the word slowly, listen to the beginning, and say the first sound by itself.

When you can hear the first sound in a word, you are building an important reading skill. Keep practicing by listening to words all around you.

Phoneme Isolation: Final Sounds

Today we will learn about final sounds. A final sound is the last sound you hear in a word.

We listen to sounds, not just letters. Sometimes a word may end with a letter, but we want to say the sound we hear at the very end.

For example, in the word cat, the last sound is /t/. In the word dog, the last sound is /g/.

Learning final sounds helps us become better readers and spellers. It helps us hear words carefully.

How to find the final sound

1. Say the word slowly.
2. Listen all the way to the end.
3. Say the last sound you hear.

You can stretch the word to help your ears listen.

For example:

• sun → s-u-nnn → last sound is /n/
• map → m-a-pp → last sound is /p/
• red → r-e-dd → last sound is /d/

Remember: we are listening for the sound at the end, not the first sound and not the middle sound.

Worked Example 1

Word: hat

Say it slowly: haaat

What sound do you hear at the end? /t/

So, the final sound in hat is /t/.

Worked Example 2

Word: fish

Say it slowly: fiiish

What sound do you hear at the end? /sh/

So, the final sound in fish is /sh/.

Worked Example 3

Word: ring

Say it slowly: riiing

What sound do you hear at the end? /ng/

So, the final sound in ring is /ng/.

Worked Example 4

Word: bike

Say it slowly: biiiike

Listen to the very end. The last sound is /k/.

So, the final sound in bike is /k/.

Let’s practice together

• cup → final sound /p/
• bed → final sound /d/
• leaf → final sound /f/
• pen → final sound /n/
• duck → final sound /k/

Be careful!

Sometimes children say the last letter name instead of the last sound. We want the sound.

• In map, say /p/, not “pee.”
• In dog, say /g/, not “gee.”

Sometimes the last sound is one sound you know well, like /t/ or /m/.

Sometimes the last sound can be a joined sound, like /sh/ in wish or /ch/ in peach.

Try this listening trick

Put your hand near your mouth and say the word slowly. Stretch the end a little. This can help you hear the last sound.

Example: bussss. The final sound is /s/.

Quick check

• jam → /m/
• sock → /k/
• rose → /z/
• match → /ch/

Summary

A final sound is the last sound you hear in a word. To find it, say the word slowly, listen to the very end, and name that sound. The more you practice listening for ending sounds, the stronger your reading and spelling will become.

Phoneme Isolation: Medial Vowels

Today we are going to listen for the middle vowel sound in a word.

A phoneme is a sound we hear in a word. In this lesson, we will find the sound in the middle of a short word like cat or pig.

Many short words have 3 sounds: a beginning sound, a middle sound, and an ending sound. We can think of them like this:

c-a-t

In cat, the middle sound is /a/.

The middle sound in these short words is often a vowel sound. The vowels are a, e, i, o, u.

We are listening for the sound we hear, not just the letter we see.

What is a medial vowel?

Medial means middle. So a medial vowel is the vowel sound in the middle of a word.

We will practice with short words called CVC words. That means:

• C = consonant
• V = vowel
• C = consonant

Examples of CVC words are cat, bed, pig, hop, sun.

Each one has 3 sounds:

• cat  /c/ /a/ /t/
• bed  /b/ /e/ /d/
• pig  /p/ /i/ /g/
• hop  /h/ /o/ /p/
• sun  /s/ /u/ /n/

The middle sound is the vowel sound.

How to find the middle vowel sound

1. Say the whole word slowly.

2. Stretch the word into 3 sounds.

3. Listen for the sound in the middle.

4. Say that vowel sound by itself.

Lets try it with our ears.

If the word is map, say it slowly: /m/ /a/ /p/.

The sound in the middle is /a/.

If the word is pen, say it slowly: /p/ /e/ /n/.

The sound in the middle is /e/.

The short vowel sounds

Here are the short vowel sounds we often hear in CVC words:

• a as in cat  /a/
• e as in bed  /e/
• i as in pig  /i/
• o as in hop  /o/
• u as in sun  /u/

When we isolate a medial vowel, we are only saying the middle vowel sound, not the whole word.

If I say dog, you say /o/.

If I say fin, you say /i/.

Worked Example 1

Word: cat

Step 1: Say the word: cat.

Step 2: Stretch the sounds: /c/ /a/ /t/.

Step 3: Listen to the middle sound.

Answer: The medial vowel sound is /a/.

Worked Example 2

Word: bed

Step 1: Say the word: bed.

Step 2: Stretch the sounds: /b/ /e/ /d/.

Step 3: Listen to the middle sound.

Answer: The medial vowel sound is /e/.

Worked Example 3

Word: pig

Step 1: Say the word: pig.

Step 2: Stretch the sounds: /p/ /i/ /g/.

Step 3: Listen to the middle sound.

Answer: The medial vowel sound is /i/.

Worked Example 4

Word: shop

Lets listen carefully. Even though shop has 4 letters, we can hear 3 main parts: /sh/ /o/ /p/.

The middle vowel sound is still the sound in the middle.

Answer: The medial vowel sound is /o/.

Tips for listening

• Tap 3 parts as you say the word: beginning, middle, end.
• Stretch the word slowly to hear each sound.
• Ask: What sound do I hear in the middle?
• Say only the vowel sound for your answer.

Lets practice together

• hat  middle sound /a/
• jet  middle sound /e/
• lip  middle sound /i/
• mop  middle sound /o/
• bug  middle sound /u/

Watch out!

Sometimes children say the whole word instead of the middle sound. But when we isolate the medial vowel, we only say the vowel sound.

Example:

• If the word is map, do not say map.
• Say /a/.

Sometimes children say the first sound or last sound by mistake.

• In sun, the first sound is /s/.
• The middle sound is /u/.
• The last sound is /n/.

We want the middle one: /u/.

Quick review

• Medial means middle.
• A medial vowel is the vowel sound in the middle of a word.
• In short words like cat, bed, pig, hop, sun, the middle sound is the vowel.
• We say only the middle vowel sound: /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, /u/.

Summary

To find a medial vowel, say the word slowly and listen for the sound in the middle. In a short word with 3 sounds, the middle sound is often the vowel sound. When you answer, say only that middle vowel sound.

Phoneme blending means putting small sounds together to make a word.

When we hear sounds one at a time, we can blend them, or slide them together, to figure out the word.

For example, if you hear /s/ ... /u/ ... /n/, you can blend the sounds to say sun.

This is an important reading skill because words are made of sounds. When you can blend sounds, you can hear and say words more easily.

What is a phoneme?

A phoneme is one small sound in a word. A word can have 2, 3, or 4 sounds.

• me has 2 sounds: /m/ /ē/
• cat has 3 sounds: /k/ /a/ /t/
• frog has 4 sounds: /f/ /r/ /o/ /g/

How to blend sounds

1. Listen to each sound.
2. Say the sounds again slowly.
3. Slide them together to make a word.
4. Say the whole word.

You can think like this: sound + sound + sound = word.

When we blend, we do not stop too long between sounds. We try to make the sounds flow together.

For example: /m/ ... /a/ ... /p/ becomes map.

Tip: Stretch the sounds and then say them faster.

• /ssss/ /uuu/ /nnn/
• ssssuuunnn
• sun

Worked Example 1: 2 sounds

Listen: /m/ ... /ē/

Step 1: Hear the sounds: /m/ and /ē/.

Step 2: Slide them together: mmmeee.

Step 3: Say the word: me.

Answer: me

Worked Example 2: 3 sounds

Listen: /d/ ... /o/ ... /g/

Step 1: Hear each sound: /d/, /o/, /g/.

Step 2: Blend them: dddooog.

Step 3: Say the word: dog.

Answer: dog

Worked Example 3: 3 sounds with a quick blend

Listen: /r/ ... /a/ ... /n/

Step 1: Hear the sounds: /r/, /a/, /n/.

Step 2: Put them together: rrraaannn.

Step 3: Say the word: ran.

Answer: ran

Worked Example 4: 4 sounds

Listen: /f/ ... /r/ ... /o/ ... /g/

Step 1: Hear each sound: /f/, /r/, /o/, /g/.

Step 2: Blend them slowly: ffffrrrrooogg.

Step 3: Say the word: frog.

Answer: frog

Let’s notice something important

Sometimes blending 2 sounds is easier. Then we can blend 3 sounds. Then we can blend 4 sounds.

We can practice in this order:

• 2 sounds: /g/ /o/ → go
• 3 sounds: /h/ /a/ /t/ → hat
• 4 sounds: /s/ /t/ /o/ /p/ → stop

Helpful ways to practice

• Tap one finger for each sound.
• Move your hand across the air as you slide the sounds together.
• Say it slowly first, then faster.
• Listen carefully for the first, middle, and last sound.

Try these in your head

• /s/ ... /i/ ... /t/ → sit
• /b/ ... /ē/ → be
• /l/ ... /e/ ... /g/ → leg
• /p/ ... /l/ ... /a/ ... /n/ → plan

If blending feels hard

That is okay. You can do these things:

• Ask to hear the sounds again.
• Repeat each sound.
• Stretch the sounds longer.
• Blend just the first two sounds, then add the last sound.

For example, with /c/ /a/ /t/:

• First blend /c/ /a/ → ca
• Then add /t/ → cat

Remember: blending is about hearing sounds and putting them together to make a real word.

Summary

Phoneme blending is when you hear small sounds and slide them together to say a word.

You can blend 2, 3, or 4 sounds.

Listen carefully, say the sounds, slide them together, and then say the whole word.

The more you practice, the easier it gets.

Phoneme Segmentation means taking a whole spoken word apart into its smallest sounds.

When we segment a word, we listen carefully and say each sound in order.

This helps us become stronger readers and spellers, because words are made of sounds.

For example, the word map has 3 sounds: /m/ /a/ /p/.

We are not naming letters. We are listening for sounds.

A word can have a few sounds, and we can stretch the word slowly to hear them.

How to segment a word

1. Say the word.
2. Stretch the word slowly.
3. Listen for each sound.
4. Say each sound in order.

You can use your fingers to help. Touch one finger for each sound you hear.

Let’s learn with some examples.

Worked Example 1: sun

Say the word: sun.

Stretch it: ssssuuunnn.

Listen for the sounds: /s/ /u/ /n/.

So, sun has 3 sounds.

Worked Example 2: fish

Say the word: fish.

Stretch it: ffffiiisssh.

Listen for the sounds: /f/ /i/ /sh/.

So, fish has 3 sounds.

Notice something important: sh has 2 letters, but it makes 1 sound: /sh/.

Worked Example 3: jump

Say the word: jump.

Stretch it: jjjuuummmppp.

Listen for the sounds: /j/ /u/ /m/ /p/.

So, jump has 4 sounds.

Worked Example 4: stop

Say the word: stop.

Stretch it: ssstttooop.

Listen for the sounds: /s/ /t/ /o/ /p/.

So, stop has 4 sounds.

This one is a little trickier because there are two sounds close together at the start: /s/ and /t/.

Helpful tips

• Say the word slowly.
• Listen to the beginning sound, the middle sound, and the ending sound.
• Touch one finger for each sound.
• Remember: letters and sounds are not always the same thing.

Here are some words to think about:

• cat → /k/ /a/ /t/
• bed → /b/ /e/ /d/
• shop → /sh/ /o/ /p/
• milk → /m/ /i/ /l/ /k/

What to remember

Phoneme segmentation is all about hearing the small sounds in a word.

When you can break a word into sounds, you can read and spell more easily.

Listen carefully, stretch the word, and say each sound in order.

Phoneme Addition means adding one sound to a word to make a new word.

A phoneme is a speech sound. We hear phonemes with our ears and say them with our mouths.

When we do phoneme addition, we listen to a word, add a sound at the beginning or at the end, and then say the new word.

For example, if we start with at and add the sound /c/ at the beginning, we get cat.

This is about sounds we hear, not just letters we see. Sometimes one letter makes one sound, and we listen for that sound.

Why is phoneme addition important?

Phoneme addition helps us become stronger readers and spellers.

• It helps us hear the small sounds in words.
• It helps us read new words.
• It helps us spell words by listening carefully.

How to do phoneme addition

1. Say the word.
2. Listen to the sounds in the word.
3. Add one new sound at the beginning or end.
4. Say the new word.

Let’s look at adding a sound at the beginning.

Word: an

Add /m/ at the beginning.

/m/ + an = man

The new word is man.

Now let’s look at adding a sound at the end.

Word: do

Add /g/ at the end.

do + /g/ = dog

The new word is dog.

Worked Examples

Example 1: Add a sound at the beginning

Start with at.

Add the sound /c/ at the beginning.

Say it slowly: /c/ ... at

Put it together: cat

at + /c/ at the beginning = cat

Example 2: Add a sound at the end

Start with pi.

Add the sound /g/ at the end.

Say it slowly: pi ... /g/

Put it together: pig

pi + /g/ at the end = pig

Example 3: Add a beginning sound to make a new word

Start with ice.

Add the sound /n/ at the beginning.

Say it slowly: /n/ ... ice

Put it together: nice

ice + /n/ at the beginning = nice

Example 4: Add an ending sound to make a new word

Start with no.

Add the sound /t/ at the end.

Say it slowly: no ... /t/

Put it together: not

no + /t/ at the end = not

Let’s practice thinking about sounds

Here are some words you can try saying aloud:

• in + /p/ at the beginning = pin
• me + /t/ at the end = met
• up + /c/ at the beginning = cup
• go + /t/ at the end = got

When you practice, say the word slowly. Then add the new sound. Then say the whole new word.

You can tap once for each sound you hear. This helps your ears notice the new sound.

For example, in cat, we hear /c/ /a/ /t/. That is 3 sounds.

You can think of it like this:

$$\text{at} + /c/ = \text{cat}$$

and

$$\text{do} + /g/ = \text{dog}$$

Helpful tips

• Listen first. Say the word before you add a sound.
• Add only one sound. Just one new phoneme makes the new word.
• Try the beginning or the end. The new sound can go in either place.
• Say the whole word again. This helps you hear if it sounds right.

What to remember

Phoneme addition is when we add one sound to a word.

We can add that sound at the beginning or at the end.

When we add the sound, we make a new word.

If you listen carefully and say the sounds slowly, you can do it!

Phoneme deletion means taking away one sound from a word and saying what is left.

A phoneme is one small sound we hear in a word. We use our ears to listen for the sounds.

For example, if we say smile without the /s/ sound, we say mile.

This is a listening game with sounds. We are not taking away letters on paper. We are taking away sounds we hear in spoken words.

Why is this important? When we can hear and change sounds in words, we become stronger readers and spellers.

How to do phoneme deletion

1. Say the word.
2. Listen for the sound you need to take away.
3. Say the word again without that sound.
4. Listen to the new word.

Let’s practice with beginning, ending, and middle sounds.

1. Delete the beginning sound

If the word is cat and we take away the first sound /k/, we say at.

The word changes like this:

cat → take away /k/ → at

2. Delete the ending sound

If the word is hand and we take away the last sound /d/, we say han.

hand → take away /d/ → han

3. Delete a middle sound

Sometimes we take away a sound from the middle of a word. This can be trickier, so we listen very carefully.

If the word is boat and we take away the middle sound /o/, we say bat.

boat → take away /o/ → bat

Let’s learn a helpful listening trick.

• Say the word slowly.
• Stretch the sounds.
• Tap each sound on your fingers.
• Then leave one sound out and say the rest.

For the word map, we can tap the sounds:

/m/ - /a/ - /p/

If we take away /m/, we say ap.

Worked Example 1

Say: sun

Take away the first sound: /s/

What is left? un

sun → without /s/ → un

Worked Example 2

Say: seat

Take away the first sound: /s/

What is left? eat

seat → without /s/ → eat

Worked Example 3

Say: farm

Take away the last sound: /m/

What is left? far

farm → without /m/ → far

Worked Example 4

Say: smile

Take away the first sound: /s/

What is left? mile

smile → without /s/ → mile

Things to remember

• Listen for sounds, not letters.
• The sound can be at the beginning, middle, or end.
• Say the word slowly if it feels hard.
• It is okay to try again.

Try these in your head

• Say park without /p/. You get ark.
• Say bat without /b/. You get at.
• Say nest without /t/. You get nes.

Quick summary

Phoneme deletion is taking away one sound from a spoken word. Then we say the new word that is left. We can take away a sound from the beginning, middle, or end. Listening carefully helps us do this well.

Phoneme Substitution means taking one sound in a word away and putting a new sound in its place.

When we change just one sound, we can make a new word. This is a fun way to listen closely to sounds in words.

We do this with sounds we hear, not just letters we see. A phoneme is one small sound in a word.

For example, in the word cat, we hear 3 sounds: /c/ /a/ /t/.

If we change the first sound /c/ to /h/, cat becomes hat.

Why This Matters

Listening for sounds helps us become stronger readers and spellers.

When we can change sounds in words, we learn how words are alike and different.

The 3 Places We Can Change a Sound

We can substitute, or replace, a sound at the beginning, middle, or end of a word.

• Initial phoneme: the first sound
• Medial phoneme: the middle sound
• Final phoneme: the last sound

1. Change the First Sound

Listen to the word map.

It has 3 sounds: /m/ /a/ /p/.

If we change the first sound /m/ to /t/, we get tap.

Only the first sound changed. The other sounds stayed the same.

2. Change the Middle Sound

Listen to the word pig.

It has 3 sounds: /p/ /i/ /g/.

If we change the middle sound /i/ to /a/, we get pag.

That shows how the middle sound can change a word. Sometimes the new word may be a silly word, and that is okay when we practice sounds.

3. Change the Last Sound

Listen to the word fan.

It has 3 sounds: /f/ /a/ /n/.

If we change the last sound /n/ to /t/, we get fat.

Only the ending sound changed.

How to Do Phoneme Substitution

1. Say the word.
2. Stretch the sounds. Say each sound slowly.
3. Choose one sound to change.
4. Put in the new sound.
5. Say the new word.

Let us try that with sun.

1. Say the word: sun
2. Stretch the sounds: /s/ /u/ /n/
3. Change the first sound /s/
4. Put in /r/
5. New word: run

Worked Examples

Example 1: Change the first sound

Word: cat

Sounds: /c/ /a/ /t/

Change /c/ to /b/.

New word: bat

Example 2: Change the last sound

Word: bug

Sounds: /b/ /u/ /g/

Change /g/ to /n/.

New word: bun

Example 3: Change the middle sound

Word: pen

Sounds: /p/ /e/ /n/

Change /e/ to /i/.

New word: pin

Example 4: Listen carefully to the end

Word: bike

We will listen for the last sound we hear: /k/.

Change the last sound /k/ to /t/.

New word: bite

Even when words have more than 3 sounds, we can still change just one sound.

Helpful Tips

• Go slowly. Stretch the word if you need to.
• Listen for one sound at a time.
• Keep the other sounds the same.
• Silly words are okay when you are practicing sounds.

Let’s Practice Together

Say each word. Then change the sound named.

• hat: change /h/ to /m/ → mat
• sit: change /i/ to /a/ → sat
• cap: change /p/ to /b/ → cab
• run: change /r/ to /f/ → fun

What to Remember

Phoneme substitution means replace one sound with a new sound.

You can change the first, middle, or last sound in a word.

When one sound changes, the word changes too.

Good readers and spellers listen closely to sounds, and phoneme substitution helps you do that.

Continuous vs. Stop Sounds

When we listen to words, we can hear little sounds inside them. These little sounds help us read, spell, and say words.

Today we will learn about continuous sounds and stop sounds. These are two kinds of speech sounds.

A continuous sound is a sound you can stretch out. You can keep saying it for a moment without stopping.

For example, you can say /mmmm/ and keep it going. You can also say /ssss/ and stretch it out.

A stop sound is a sound that happens quickly. Your mouth blocks the air, and then the sound pops out in a small burst.

For example, /p/ is a stop sound. You cannot stretch /p/ for a long time. It comes out fast: /p/!

Another stop sound is /t/. It is quick too: /t/!

Let’s learn the difference.

• Continuous sounds: You can hold them longer. Examples: /m/, /s/, /f/, /n/.
• Stop sounds: They are short and quick. Examples: /p/, /t/, /b/, /d/.

Try this with your voice.

• Say /mmmm/. Did it keep going? That is a continuous sound.
• Say /ssss/. Did it keep going? That is a continuous sound.
• Say /p/. Was it fast? That is a stop sound.
• Say /t/. Was it fast? That is a stop sound.

How to tell the difference

1. Say the sound.
2. Ask: Can I stretch it?
3. If yes, it is a continuous sound.
4. If no, and it comes out quickly, it is a stop sound.

Listen and feel

When you say a continuous sound, the air keeps moving, and the sound keeps going.

When you say a stop sound, your mouth stops the air first. Then the sound comes out quickly.

You do not need to know big words to hear the difference. Just ask: Can I hold the sound, or does it stop right away?

Worked Example 1

Sound: /m/

Let’s test it. Can we stretch it? Yes: /mmmmmm/.

So /m/ is a continuous sound.

Worked Example 2

Sound: /p/

Let’s test it. Can we stretch it? No. It comes out fast: /p/.

So /p/ is a stop sound.

Worked Example 3

Word: sun

The first sound in sun is /s/.

Can we stretch /s/? Yes: /ssss/.

So the first sound in sun is a continuous sound.

Worked Example 4

Word: top

The first sound in top is /t/.

Can we stretch /t/? No. It is quick: /t/.

So the first sound in top is a stop sound.

More examples of continuous sounds

• /m/ as in man
• /s/ as in sun
• /f/ as in fan
• /n/ as in net

More examples of stop sounds

• /p/ as in pig
• /t/ as in top
• /b/ as in bat
• /d/ as in dog

Let’s compare

• /s/ → /ssss/ → continuous
• /m/ → /mmmm/ → continuous
• /p/ → /p/ → stop
• /t/ → /t/ → stop

If a sound can keep going, it is continuous.

If a sound is short and cannot keep going, it is a stop sound.

Quick practice

What about /f/? You can say /fffff/. That makes it a continuous sound.

What about /b/? It is quick: /b/. That makes it a stop sound.

Why this matters

Hearing sounds in words helps you become a stronger reader and speller. When you can listen for sound types, you can hear words more clearly.

Summary

Continuous sounds can be stretched, like /m/ and /s/.

Stop sounds are quick and cannot be stretched, like /p/ and /t/.

To tell the difference, say the sound and ask, “Can I stretch it?” If yes, it is continuous. If no, it is a stop sound.