Long Vowels
A long vowel sound says the vowel's own name, like the a in cake or the o in boat. Children usually meet long vowels after short vowels feel automatic, often through patterns like a silent e at the end of a word.
Examples
- • cake → long a
- • bike → long i
- • boat → long o
- • cute → long u
How to practice at home
- Start once short vowels are automatic.
- Show the silent e: cap → cape, kit → kite.
- Say "the vowel says its name".
- Sort words into short and long vowel piles.
Watch out for
Expecting every e at the end to be silent in every word. Keep to simple pairs (cap/cape, hop/hope) at first.