Build Reading & Comprehension - I See, I Spell, I Learn (R)

What are Short Vowel Workbooks?

These workbooks help emerging readers decode (read) words using a phonics-based approach ("sounding out" words). In addition, the matching activities in these worksheets help children build their vocabulary while understanding the meaning of each word. So these workbooks help a child learn to read, comprehend and build vocabulary. They are unique because all the words in these workbooks only use short vowel sounds.

What is a Short Vowel?

All vowels have long sounds and short sounds. Emerging readers often get confused when presented with words that have different vowel sounds. This is why all the words in these sheets use ONLY short vowels. This makes it easy for a child to sound the words out, a skill essential for emergent readers. Students do NOT need to know long vowel sounds to use these worksheets.

How do the levels progress in these workbooks?

There are five sequenced workbooks, each consisting of 12 worksheets (except for the first workbook which has 13). Each workbook progresses to the next level with increasing difficulty, so only move the child up when ready. If more practice is required, have the student repeat a workbook or worksheet as needed before going up to the next level. If you have purchased the digital workbook, you may take unlimited printouts of the worksheets.

Why these specific words and pictures?

The workbooks have been created after studying the patterns of errors children make while reading. There is a reason behind the combinations of words and pictures. Sometimes, the word choices in each row begin with the same letter sound. Sometimes the letters are reversed (lap, pal), and sometimes the word choices all rhyme (dad, had, sad). These force the child to read the entire word, and not just guess the answer, based on memory or the shape of the word.