Syllable types (open, closed, silent e) worksheets
Syllable types are the reason vowels change their sound. Second graders sort one-syllable words into three piles: closed (cat, wish), open (go, my), and silent e (cake, ride). Once these three are automatic, the vowel in a new word stops being a guess.
By grade
What students need to know
A closed syllable ends in a consonant and the vowel says its short sound (cat). An open syllable ends in the vowel, so it says its name (go). Silent e reaches back to make the vowel long (cake).
This skill runs from 2nd grade through 3rd grade. Pick a grade above for level-matched sentences, teaching notes, and worksheets.
Syllable types (open, closed, silent e) across the grades
2nd grade
Syllable types are the reason vowels change their sound. Second graders sort one-syllable words into three piles: closed (cat, wish), open (go, my), and silent e (cake, ride). Once these three are automatic, the vowel in a new word stops being a guess.
3rd grade
Third graders sort two-syllable words by their FIRST syllable: robot opens (ro says its name), rabbit closes (rab stays short), and homework starts with a silent-e syllable. This is the payoff of the 2nd grade sort: splitting a long word and reading each part right.
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