6 Syllable Types for 1st Grade Reading

6 Syllable Types for 1st Grade Reading Lessons

Do you know the 6 syllable types to help your child with reading and spelling? Today, we’re getting super-practical with 6 syllables types your 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade reader needs to know!

When choosing a reading curriculum for your 1st grader, look for a program that includes the 6 syllable types for 1st grade reading.


Open Syllables

  • A syllable that ends in a consonant and has a short vowel sound (examples: cat, dog, sit). 
  • Word with 2 closed syllables, each having a short vowel: rab-bit, sun-set, in-sect

Closed Syllables

  • A syllable that ends with a single vowel and makes a long vowel sound (examples: he, go, me). 
  • Words can be made of open and closed syllables: ba-con, mi-nus

‘Silent E’ Syllable

  •  A vowel followed by a consonant and a silent “e” makes the first vowel long (examples: bike, cake, note)
  • Pan-cake (closed syllable + ‘silent e’ syllable)
  • Be-side: open syllable plus ‘silent-e’ syllable
6 Syllable Types
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Vowel Team Syllable

  •  Two or three letters work together to create a single new vowel sound (examples: rain, boat, meat).
  • Words with 2 vowel-team syllables: meat-loaf, oat-meal, light-bulb

R-Controlled (Bossy-R) Syllable

  • Words with 2 r-controlled vowel syllables: hay-fork, or-chard
  •  A vowel followed by the letter “r” changes or controls the vowel’s sound (examples: car, bird, corn) 

Consonant + ‘-le’ Syllable

  •  A final stable syllable contains a consonant followed by “-le” at the end of a multi-syllable word (examples: table, bugle, little, cattle).
  • Only appears at the end of multi-syllable words, or multisyllabic words, never single syllable words

Now that you know the 6 syllable types for 1st grade reading lessons at home, it’s time to figure out which syllables your child already knows, and the next of the 6 syllable types to teach.

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