Practice and Learn

Grab a partner and try chunking words by syllables.  

Here’s what to do:

1. Write the following words on a piece of paper so you and your partner can see them.

2. Identify the vowels in each word. You will say the vowels aloud as you mark each one with a dot.  

Using the word basket as an example, you'll say, /ă/ as you mark the 'a'.  

• /ă/

As you mark the 'e', say, 

• /ĕ/

3. Chunk the two syllables by drawing a line between them. 

4. Read the syllables, and then the whole word out loud to your partner.

• bas, ket, basket

5. Switch roles with your partner. Write out a new set of words: 

Repeat the steps above.

• Answer Key +

  magnet, mag | net

  problem, prob | lem

  trumpet, trum | pet

  tablet, tab | let

  robin, rob | in

  napkin, nap | kin

  habit, hab | it

  frantic, fran | tic

  droplet, drop | let

  traffic, traff | ic

  mitten, mitt | en

  hotdog, hot | dog 

We encourage you to practice the other syllable teaching strategies with your partner as well! 

When you are ready to move on, go to the next page and take a quick ungraded knowledge check to make sure you’ve gotten what you need from this lesson.