‘y’ as a Vowel Skill Explainer

Flash Card Demo: 'y' as a Vowel

Flash cards are an important part of a structured literacy lesson. You can use them to review previously-taught phonics patterns and to introduce new skills. Literacy coach Ashlea Edwards demonstrates how to use the ‘y’ as a vowel flash card with a keyword picture.

She starts by detailing the parts of the flash card for when ‘y’ as a vowel makes the long ‘i’ sound: saying the letter name (‘y’), keyword (cry), and sound (/ī/). Ms. Edwards uses the same flash card for when ‘y’ as a vowel makes the long ‘e’ sound: saying the letter name (‘y’), keyword (baby), and sound (/ē/).

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 ‘y’ as a vowel.

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

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Ashlea Edwards: At the end of a one syllable word 'y' says /ī/. So we would warm up with this flashcard 'y', cry, /ī/. At the end of a two syllable word 'y' says /ē/ like in baby. So we would say, 'y', baby, /ē/.