How I teach kids vowel consonant combinations

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Koichiro is looking for a card with two letters on it. He has to choose from a set of cards on a table. If he gets the right card, he can throw a ball at a target, which he loves to do.

Once the kids know their basic letters and the sounds associated with them and can write them from sound, we are ready for the next stage. This is the V-C stage. Here, I am trying deliberately to introduce a sound structure different from Japanese, which is C-V. I want to increase their awareness of English sound structure.

I take a few steps to do this. Hold up a V card in my right hand,(a,e,i, o, u) and say it. Then hold up a C card in my left hand and say it. Then repeat this for each card, saying them slightly faster and bringing them closer together eahc time, slowly modeling the blend. There is a blending and it is difficult at first for the kids. Do this over one or two lessons. Then repeat in further lessons before the more advanced practice.

More advanced practice is done with a variety of V-C cards in pairs (a pair of ON, a pair of IG, and so on.. for about twenty or thirty pairs)… (do not have any c, h, q, y, or r’s in these pairs… it is too difficult for that yet). You can play a variety of games with these cards.

Concentration. Place several pairs (eight to twelve) upside down on the table and mix them up. Players turn the cards over, two to a turn, and read them (they may need help at the beginning). If the cards are the same, they keep them and take another turn. Play continues until all the cards are gone. I like to have them also say, ‘My turn!’ at the start of their turn.

Run and read. I separate the cards into two piles and keep one pile for myself. the other pile I spread out on the floor at the other end of the room. I read one card, and they have to listen, and run to the other end of the room and get the matching card, and bring it back. Then they can throw a ball, score a point, get a bingo chip (a point), or some other small reward. It always works.

Make it more challenging by having them take turns reading the card for you to run and get (in one on one situation) or for the other kids (you correct the pronunciation when they have trouble).