Fun Ways to Teach Students How to Count Segment and Divide Syllables
Readers first learn to read by decoding consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) and closed-syllable words. As students master these words, students will then begin working with different syllable types and multisyllabic words. Making the transition to decoding and encoding (spelling) multisyllabic words can be a difficult one for students. Once students understand the different syllable types, it opens up a world of reading and writing opportunities for them!
Teaching First Grade, I see so many students get stuck when having to sound out/decode larger words to read or spell. Syllables are the building blocks of language, and mastering them is crucial for literacy development. Once students understand syllables and how to count segment and divide syllables, they can become more independent readers and writers.
How Do I Teach Students How to Identify and Count Syllables?
Teaching students how to use syllables begins with them understanding what a syllable is, how to identify syllables, and how to count syllables in a word.
Teaching students what syllables are should be hands-on! I love to begin with a simple activity where I teach students how to count syllables. Students learn they can put a hand underneath their chin and count the number of times their chin touches their hand while saying the word, or students can clap while saying the word to count the number of syllables.
After students have learned how to count syllables, I love to use this simple activity to help students see the different parts/syllables of a word.
After students count the syllables in a word, we cut apart the syllables in word.
After doing this several times, I might do another activity where I begin showing students the different syllables in a word and they have to blend the sounds together to read the word. This would be a great extension activity for students who need practice with decoding words!
After students have learned how to identify syllables, they can begin working on counting syllables! I love to use fun and engaging small group activities and literacy centers to help students practice counting syllables.
I will use activities where students count syllables in a word (or I will provide a picture) and sort the words and pictures. I also use a syllable counting box. Students are provided with a picture, say the word, and count the syllables in the word. Then, they will place chips in a syllable counting box to show how many syllables are in the word. Students can also practice counting syllables by playing a game! Students will have so much fun counting syllables they won’t even realize they are practicing an essential literacy skill!
Once students have learned how to identify and count syllables using hands-on learning methods, students can practice these skills with reinforcing worksheets. These could be used as a whole class review, an assessment, or homework. Included are counting syllables worksheets, syllable cut-and-paste worksheets, and much more!
How Do I Teach Different Syllable Types?
After students have learned the skills of identifying and counting syllables, they are ready to learn the different syllable types. Once students learn the different syllable types, this skill will help them learn to decode and encode/spell multisyllabic words!
There are six different syllable types:
- Closed Syllables
- Open Syllables
- Silent-E Syllables
- Vowel Team Syllables
- R-Controlled Syllables
- Consonant-L-E Syllables
Once students can recognize the different syllable types, each syllable type has its’ own division rules, which help students decode and encode/spell words.
Closed Syllables contain a vowel followed by one or more consonants. Example words include sunset and cat.
Open Syllables end with a vowel sound that is spelled with a single vowel letter. Example words include no and cry.
Silent-E Syllables have one vowel, one consonant, and silent-e. The ‘e’ is silent, and the vowel is long. Example words include rope and mistake.
Vowel Team Syllables contain two vowels working together to make one sound. For example, eat and play.
R-Controlled Syllables contain a vowel followed by the letter ‘r’. The ‘r’ changes the sound the vowel makes. For example, car and corn have r-controlled syllables.
Consonant-L-E Syllables are found at the end of a word. A consonant letter is followed by the letters ‘l’ and ‘e’. The ‘e’ is silent. Word Examples: candle and table
Once students have learned the different syllable types, they are ready to practice! I have students practice identifying syllable types with activities such as syllable sorts, syllable division worksheets, and spelling with syllables activities,
After students learn how to count, identify, and divide syllables, a world of reading and writing opportunities will open for them!
I’ve put together a packet with all of these syllable activities and more! If you are teaching a unit on syllables, or if you find your students need additional strategies to help them decode and encode words, this Counting, Segmenting, and Dividing Syllables resource will help to empower your students with the essential skills they need to understand, count, identify, and divide syllables.
This 66-page resource begins with an engaging, hands-on lesson to teach students how to identify and count syllables. Included are hands-on, engaging activities to help students practice and master the skills of counting and identifying syllables. Additional resources include counting syllables worksheets, syllable segmentation cards and tiles, a counting syllables game, and a counting syllables center.
After students learn how to identify and count syllables, this resource contains materials to help teach students syllable types, syllable division, and segmenting syllables. Included are classroom posters (in color and black-and-white) that teach syllable types and syllable division rules with examples. After students learn the different syllable types and division rules, syllable division worksheets, identifying syllables worksheets, and spelling with syllables worksheets are included. Students will learn how to divide open syllables, closed syllables, V/CV syllables, VC/V syllables, consonant -le syllables, silent-e syllables, r-controlled vowel syllables, vowel team syllables, vowel diphthong syllables, and words with multisyllables. Syllable sort worksheets are also included which will provide students with additional practice with syllable types.
Answer keys are included for all worksheets and activities.
Here Is What Is Included:
Identifying and Counting Syllables
- Counting Syllables Lesson
- Counting Syllables Cards (Color)
- Counting Syllables Cards (Black and White)
- Counting Syllables Worksheet
- Counting Syllables Worksheet Answer Key
- How Many Syllables Worksheet
- How Many Syllables Worksheet Answer Key
- Counting Syllables Cut and Paste Worksheet
- Counting Syllables Cut and Paste Worksheet Answer Key
- Syllable Segmentation Cards
- Syllable Segmentation Card Tiles
- Syllable Dash Game
- Counting Syllables Sorting Boxes (Color)
- Counting Syllables Sorting Boxes (Black and White)
- Syllable Counting Boxes (Color)
- Syllable Counting Boxes (Black and White)
- One Syllable Word Hunt
- One Syllable Word Hunt Answer Key
- Two-Syllable Word Hunt
- Two-Syllable Word Hunt Answer Key
- Three-Syllable Word Hunt
- Three-Syllable Word Hunt Answer Key
- Hen House Syllable Matching Activity
Syllable Types and Syllable Division Rules
- Syllable Posters (Color)
- Syllable Posters (Black and White)
- Dividing Two Syllable Words Worksheet
- Dividing Two Syllable Words Worksheet Answer Key
- Dividing Three-Syllable Words Worksheet
- Dividing Three-Syllable Words Worksheet Answer Key
- Dividing Four Syllable Words Worksheet
- Dividing Four Syllable Words Worksheet Answer Key
- Identifying Syllables Worksheet
- Identifying Syllables Worksheet Answer Key
- Spelling with Syllables Worksheet
- Spelling with Syllables Worksheet Answer key
- Breaking Up Words Worksheet
- Breaking Up Words Worksheet Answer Key
- Dividing Closed Multisyllabic Words Worksheet
- Dividing Closed Multisyllabic Words Worksheet Answer Key
- Dividing V/CV Multisyllabic Words Worksheet
- Dividing V/CV Multisyllabic Words Worksheet Answer Key
- Dividing VC/V Multisyllabic Words Worksheet
- Dividing VC/V Multisyllabic Words Worksheet Answer Key
- Dividing Consonant -le Words Worksheet
- Dividing Consonant -le Words Worksheet Answer Key
- Dividing Multisyllabic Words with R-Controlled Vowels Worksheet
- Dividing Multisyllabic Words with R-Controlled Vowels Worksheet Answer Key
- Dividing Multisyllabic Words with Vowel Teams Worksheet
- Dividing Multisyllabic Words with Vowel Teams Answer Key
- Dividing Multisyllabic Words with Diphthongs Worksheet
- Dividing Multisyllabic Words with Diphthongs Answer Key
- Dividing VCCVC Words Worksheet
- Dividing VCCVC Words Worksheet Answer Key
- Dividing Closed Multisyllabic Words Worksheet
- Dividing Closed Multisyllabic Words Worksheet Answer Key
- Closed or Open Syllable Sort Worksheet
- Closed or Open Syllable Sort Worksheet Answer Key
- Closed or Silent E Syllable Sort Worksheet
- Closed or Silent Syllable Sort Worksheet Answer Key
- Silent E or R-Controlled Vowel Syllable Sort Worksheet
- Silent E or R-Controlled Vowel Syllable Sort Worksheet Answer Key
- R-Controlled Vowel or Vowel Team Syllable Sort Worksheet
- R-Controlled Vowel or Vowel Team Syllable Sort Worksheet Answer Key
- Vowel Team or Vowel Diphthong Syllable Sort Worksheet
- Vowel Team or Vowel Diphthong Syllable Sort Worksheet Answer Key
- Consonant -LE Syllable Sort Worksheet
- Consonant -LE Syllable Sort Worksheet Answer Key
If you would like to grab a copy to use with your students, you can find it here. I hope you and your students enjoy learning about syllables!