6 Syllable Types + Free Anchor Charts

The 6 syllable types are the building blocks for all words in the English language. If you have not been teaching syllable types and are not familiar with the 6 syllable types don’t worry this blog post will explain them and the free anchor charts at the end of the post will be here for support! Word reading fluency is all about reading vowel sounds correctly. To decode vowels correctly, students must be able to “flex” their vowel sounds to pronounce the words correctly.

If you use the 6 Syllable Types in your teaching you may use my anchor charts and decodable passages in your teaching!

What is a Syllable?

A syllable is an uninterrupted segment of sound made from the opening and closing of the mouth to form vowels. Every syllable has at least one vowel sound. If a student has poor phonological awareness skills and cannot count syllables by the beat of the word then ask them “How many times did your jaw drop?” Every time your jaw drops, you have said one vowel sound and one syllable.

Being able to flex vowel sounds in different syllables is an essential part of reading for beginning and struggling readers.

Take for instance single syllable words like ‘hat’ and ‘meat’; these contain just one syllable. By comparison, two-syllable words such as ‘bathtub’ or ‘napkin’ feature two distinct vowel sounds within them.

As you have likely noticed, the vowel count of a word is not always straightforward. – in some cases, 2 vowels come together to form one sound and one syllable. For example, the word ‘meat’ has a vowel team but only one syllable.

6 Syllable Types

Six main types make up all words:

• closed syllable-ends in one or more consonants
• open syllable has a single vowel in the final position in the syllable ( I usually introduce the concept of these first two syllable types together with simple one syllable words.)
• vowel-consonant-e syllable ends in one vowel, one consonant, and a final silent e
• diphthong syllable or vowel team syllable has two vowels
• R-controlled syllables
• consonant le syllables AKA final stable syllable

Children can say and write syllables. As you help them pronounce the vowel in the syllable can be helpful. Helping children see the patterns in these syllable types can help them decode words.

Closed Syllables

Recognizing the closed syllable pattern is an essential part of early reading education, as closed syllables comprise a majority of English words. It features one vowel closed in by at least 1 consonant. When a single vowel is in a closed syllable the vowel makes a short sound; example words include ‘mom’, ‘bed’, ‘in’ and ‘jump’.

Not just smaller words

Having students say and write syllables allows them to be set up to decode multi syllabic words. Teaching students to recognize closed syllable patterns in words can take them quickly to more complex words and longer words.

Motivate Struggling Readers

Reading multisyllabic words is extremely important when doing interventions with older struggling readers. I usually divide words like ‘bandit’, or ‘picnic’ or even three-syllable words like ‘fantastic’ or ‘Atlantic’. When I have them say and write a word such as “fantastic” they are excited to read longer words. I use small syllable boards and have students chunk the words the way they would say them. Then they write a line for each sound in the syllable and then we put them together. Even kindergarten kids can do this. The first time they read and write a multisyllabic word I guarantee their face will light up! Learn more about teaching closed-syllable words here!

Open Syllables

Open syllables and closed syllables are usually taught together or right after teaching closed syllables. Remember in closed-syllable words one vowel is closed in by one or more consonants and has a short sound. In contrast, an open syllable ends in a vowel and has a long vowel sound. Some examples are: we, no, and me.’ They are often prefixes such as re- meaning back or again or pre- meaning before. I discuss these affixes early in reading instruction with readers.

Also when the letter <y> is acting as a vowel it can end an open syllable. Some examples would be by, fly, my, and happy.

Open and closed syllables in multi syllabic words

Open syllables are in multisyllabic words as well. Some examples are spi-der, ba-con, hu-man, and ro-bot. I use syllable boards and have students say and break the word into chunks the way they say it. Then they put lines or dots for each sound. Then they say and write the word. When the first syllable is alone on a board the syllable type becomes more visually obvious than when it is just shown together on a word card or worksheet. You can talk about the syllable type then or just continue reading and allow the children to see the patterns as they emerge.

With this knowledge readily available for first graders who already have prior experience with closed syllables under their belts; teachers may benefit from teaching open and closed syllables side by side!

Learn more about teaching the open syllable here.

Scope and Sequence for Teaching Types of Syllables So Far

• Understanding short and long vowel sounds
• Understanding closed vs. open syllables

Vowel-consonant-e syllable – vce

Teachers should consider introducing the VCE Syllable (Vowel-Consonant-e) to their students next. By adding a silent ‘e’ at the end of Closed Syllable CVC words such (Cub–> Cube, Dim–>Dime, Hop–>Hope etc.), it signals the vowel before it to say its name or long sound This syllable type goes by many names: Silent E, Magic E or Sneaky E!

Examples of longer words with VCe Syllables

This syllable type is also found in two-syllable words. Examples words are: ‘complete’ athlete, and ‘extreme.’

Learning VCE syllables is a critical phonics skill for young learners and is an important building block when learning how reading works.

Learn more about teaching the silent e in a VCe syllable here.

R-controlled syllable – vr

Vowel R syllables are often referred to as the “Bossy r”. This is a great name because with an r-controlled vowels syllable, the r “controls” the vowel sound. The letter R before vowel will change the pronunciation of the vowel. Bossy r is a tricky one! It’s tricky because it only changes the vowel sound when that vowel is before the r. Some words with r controlled vowels are: ‘her’, ‘bird’, ‘nurse’, and ‘fork’.

Speech Issues Can Become Learning Issues

The r-controlled syllable is also difficult for many students with speech and language issues to learn because many students with dyslexia or struggling readers also struggle with saying the letter <r> sound.

Syllable patterns with r-controlled vowels are not usually difficult for typically developing readers for reading fluency.

R controlled Spelling

However, this syllable pattern is often problematic for spelling because the graphemes,<er>, <ir>,<ur> all say the same sound, and spelling rules are not as helpful with these patterns. You can read more about r controlled syllables here.

Vowel Team Syllable (Including the Diphthong Syllable)

Vowel teams are made up of two or more letters that come together to form a single vowel sound. While Vowel Digraphs and Diphthongs differ in how they produce their sounds, both can be easily grouped under the umbrella term ‘vowel team’.

The difference between a diphthong and a vowel team syllable type

When studying vowel team syllable type, it’s important to explain the difference between vowel teams or vowel digraphs and diphthongs. Vowel teams involve two or more letters that together make a single sound.

These vowel sounds are usually long, but they can be a short vowel sound like <ea> saying the short ĕ sound (e.g. ‘ea’ in ‘head’ or the word ‘sweater’).

Sliders

By comparison, diphthongs require your mouth to slide from one position into another while voicing both vowels – like with ‘ou’ as in the word trout. For example, try saying

/ē/ as in meat; there should be no changing mouth position since this is not a diphthong – now say /ou/ as in the word ‘south’, feeling how your mouth opens then closes before finishing up. While kids may not need to know the exact name of a diphthong, it is important to recognize how their mouths move.

Make Your Syllable Lesson Multi sensory

Make your lesson with vowel team syllables more fun and multisensory by having small mirrors available for your students so they can watch how their mouths move as they say these sounds.

Examples of Diphthongs

I like to keep things simple when teaching the 6 syllable types so I group both the vowel teams and the diphthongs into the vowel teams syllable category.

Common Diphthongs are a type of “vowel team” that includes combinations such as <ow>, <ou>, <au>, <aw>, <oi> and<oy>. Learn more about teaching Vowel Teams syllables here.

Can a Vowel Team Have a Consonant in it?

Have you ever wondered why <ow> (as in glow) and,<igh> like in “right” are classified as vowel teams because they contain consonants? It’s all about their vowel sound.

It is not based on the look of two vowels so we need to focus on the sounds and point these variations in syllables out to our students.

Consonant-le syllable – v-le

Consonant + le is a fun syllable to teach and learn. A silent e acts as the marker of this type of syllable, providing structure for the syllable because every syllable must have a vowel. The silent e is present but without making any sound itself! The consonant le syllable is always unaccented and in the final position in words. Examples are -cle, dle, tle ple, fle ,gles kle ble and zle . Because it is always in the unaccented syllable it says the schwa sound /ŭ/ with /l/. This is usually the last syllable type I teach so it is not confused with the CVe “magic e” syllable.

Currently, I focus less on the 6 syllable types and focus more on showing kids the patterns in words and how to flex sounds in words based on meaning. This is called set for variability. I use readers with these different spelling patterns. You can help your students become skilled readers and spellers. We want to support students in their reading because we want them to avoid guessing as they read the 6 syllable types because is very harmful to reading proficiency. With practice and repetition, you can help your students master each syllable pattern and become stronger readers. Why not purchase some decodable readers and help your children practice? Have fun with syllables and Happy Smart and Special Teaching!

FAQ

What are the 6 syllable types?

The 6 syllable types are open, closed, vowel team, consonant-le, r-controlled and silent e.

What are the 6 syllable rules?

A closed syllable has 1 short vowel followed by 1 or more consonants closing it in. An open syllable end in a vowel sound and says its long sound. A silent e syllable ends in a silent e and signals that the vowel will say its long sound. A vowel team syllable has 2 or more letter that come together to say one sound. An r-controlled has a vowel followed by the letter <r> and the /r/sound is the prominent sound in the syllable. The consonant +le syllable is always at the end word in an unaccented syllable and says the schwa sound /ul/. The <e> is silent.