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C

L

O

V

E

R

Closed

C-LE

Open

Vowel Teams

Silent –e

R-Controlled

Contains 1 vowel followed by 1 or more consonants (with the exception of the letter r)

The vowel is closed in and can’t say it’s name. The vowel is short.

(VC, CVC, CVCC)

cl

cop

consonant –le is located at the end of a base word

“Consonant le, count back three!”

cl c-le

can.dle

Ends with an open vowel – it is NOT closed off by a following consonant, so it is free to shout its name.

The vowel is long.

o

me

made up of 2 or more letters that represent one vowel sound (dipthong)

(Note – “When two vowels go walking, the first one does the talking is false 50% of the time)

vt

suit

1 vowel followed by 1 consonant and the final silent e. The silent e makes the first vowel long so it says its name

e

hope

Usually contains only one vowel influenced by a following “r”

r-c

herd

in

cap

big

run

boss

jump

lunch

send

wish

off

can.dle

bub.ble

ti.tle

pur.ple

tin.gle

ga.ble

sta.ple

jug.gle

tum.ble

me

go

fly

ro.bot

ti.ger

hu.man

va.cate

goat

green

play

straw

sound

troop

point

game

ride

home

cute

June

athlete

car

short

fern

bird

church

early

earth

CLOVER is a mnemonic to remember the types. The order of instruction can vary, but is often COEVRL.

Once students have mastered all of the types, the order for underlining the vowel patterns is REVLOC.