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

The /ow/ sound is one students run into early and often when learning to read. And because the /ow/ sound can be spelled multiple ways — most commonly 'ou', like in shout and 'ow', like in cow — it’s important students get plenty of opportunities to review when to use each one after it is first introduced. Flash cards are a quick, effective way to build automaticity and reinforce those skills students already know. Watch as literacy coach Ashlea Edwards, M.Ed., demonstrates how to warm up with these vowel team flash cards.

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

'ou' - 'o', 'u', ouch, /ow/.
'ow' - 'o', 'w’, cow, /ow/.

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.