This is basically a short-sounding vowel. Words in which short vowels are used do not sound as long as those words that comprise long vowels. In a bid to get short-sounding vowels, there is typically a single vowel in the word, trailed by one consonant or more. As with all other rules, there are exceptions, and a common example is the word “truth.”
When teaching students how to read and spell short vowels, teachers need to tell them about short vowel sound rules.
If there’s one vowel in a single syllable word, the vowel is usually short. The exception to the rule is a vowel that isn’t followed by a consonant. For example, the word “zip” has one syllable. The vowel “i” is followed by the consonant “p,” and hence, the “i” is short. If it isn’t followed by a consonant, such as “he” or “no,” the vowel is long.
If there’re two vowels in a single syllable word, the first vowel might become long. Other vowels in a word can make a vowel long instead of short. For example, the “o” in the word “hop” is short, but the “o” in “hope” is long.
When two consonants are following the vowel, even if another vowel follows them, the first one will be short. For example, the “i” in the word “riping” is long, while the “i” in the word “ripping” is short. The two consonants isolate the first vowel from the impact of the second vowel. The syllables of “riping” are isolated into “ri” and “ping.” The first vowel doesn’t have a consonant after it, which makes it long. The second word “ripping” can be split into “rip” and “ping.” Here, the “i” in the first syllable is followed by a consonant, which makes it short.
There’re several interesting ways to teach students short vowel sounds. Songs are one of the most effective ways to teach short vowel sounds, as their catchy rhythms help children easily learn and remember them. Teachers can also use simple gestures for each vowel. This can help children associate the vowels with the movements and the sounds they’re making. Additionally, teachers can place a mark on top of the short vowels. For example, a curved symbol can be used to indicate a short vowel sound (e.g., ‘ă’ in ‘măn’). This helps to reinforce a child’s ability to recognize and effectively use the proper vowel sound.
