Vowel Teams and Diphthongs Skill Explainer

Flash Card Demo: Vowel Teams 'oa' and 'ow'

Name: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U2k9gtA_o8&feature=youtu.be
Uploaded: 2026-04-14T16:48:12-04:00
Duration: 53 s
Description: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U2k9gtA_o8&feature=youtu.be

Having a consistent flash card routine helps students review what they’ve already learned and make connections to what’s coming next. This can be helpful when reviewing two different vowel teams that can make the same sound, like 'oa', as in boat, and 'ow', like in snow. Watch as literacy coach Ashlea Edwards, M.Ed., demonstrates how to warm up with flash cards for these vowel teams that both make the long /ō/ sound.

Here’s what you can say when warming up with these flash cards that have the keyword picture:

'o', 'a', boat, /ō/.
'o', 'w', snow, /ō/.

Learn more about how to use flash cards in the classroom (opens in new window) with reading coach Carla Stanford.

And check out Reading Universe’s free skill explainer on vowel teams.

Video thumbnail for Flash Card Demo: Vowel Teams 'oa' and 'ow' — Produced by Reading Universe, a partnership of WETA, Barksdale Reading Institute, and First Book

Hide Video Transcript Show Video Transcript

These vowel teams make the /ō/ sound. 'oa' says /ō/ at the beginning or middle of words. 'oa', "boat," /ō/. 'ow' says /ō/ at the end of words. 'ow', "snow," /ō/. The second part to this rule is that 'ow' can also be used to spell /ō/ if it is followed by the letter 'n'. Most of these words are the past tense version of words like "grow" and "show" — "grow," "groan," "show," "shown."