Teach CVC Phonics Rule with Short u Words

Practice making the short u sound with a child. Make sure the child is able to make the correct sound. The C stands for consonant and the V stands for vowel. Explain which is which to a child.

The CVC rule gives a new reader a clue to use a short vowel sound. I explain it this way. The vowel is all alone in the middle. The vowel is shy and makes a short sound instead of shouting his own name.

There are exceptions, but they usually follow a spelling pattern. (find, grind, old, cold, sold, told, wild, child, mild) I've found that vowels alone in the middle of consonants usually make a long sound next to a blend or two consonants together. These seem to be the rule breakers.


Here's a video of me teaching how to blend the sounds and read the words using magnetic letters.


Starfall has Gus the Duck and a word making game you may want to use to practice the short u sound.

Teach CVC Phonics Rule with Short u Words

Teach Phonics Rules with Magnetic Letters: A Vowel at the End of a Word or Syllable Usually Makes a Long Sound

You can teach phonics rules for words before a child can write letters. Magnetic letters make this possible.

Some work needs to be done with learning letter sounds first. You may be able to teach unknown letter sounds while working with magnetic letters.

The word no is a good first word to teach. The n and o sounds can be stretched out. You can teach the phonics rule: A vowel at the end of a word usually makes a long sound by teaching the words no, so, and go.
Here's a video teaching the words no, go, and so.


Continue to teach a vowel at the end of a word usually has a long sound with the words me, he, we, and she. Be sure to teach the sh diagraph. I'd start with the o and e words first when teaching this rule.

Advanced learners will want to know the long u sound is usually spelled with o or oo (to, do, too), the long a sound is usually spelled ay (day, way, play), and the long i sound is usually spelled with a y (my, try, shy).

This rule works if a vowel is at the end of a syllable. Knowing this rule helps early readers decode words. Here's a video showing how to use this rule when trying to sound out a more than one syllable word.

Teach Phonics Rules with Magnetic Letters: A Vowel at the End of a Word or Syllable Usually Makes a Long Sound