Student Practice Activities with Short Vowels

Students need lots of opportunities to practice short vowel sounds so they can build accuracy and automaticity leading up to fluent reading. They’ll need to practice with both decoding and encoding (reading and spelling) short vowel sounds in isolation, as well as in words, phrases, and sentences, all leading up to contextual reading. Each Reading Universe lesson plan includes activities that give students this important practice.

Before your students begin the practice activities, make sure they understand how to complete them. You can model the activities in a whole-group setting or in a small group.

Then students will be ready to work on the activities independently ... at their seat, at a center, or in a small group. Keep an eye out for students who may need you to step in and scaffold. It's best to have a recording sheet or something that students will turn in so that you can ensure they are completing the activity correctly. Some may need quick, explicit, positive correction. Others may need additional instruction in this area.

Roll and Read Practice Activities

Roll and Reads are a fun, game-like way to practice reading and spelling words in isolation. After you've modeled how to do Roll and Reads, students can do them with partners or in centers on their own. Use this student activity to build accuracy and fluency in reading and spelling words with blends. Students can play with partners or in small groups.

Short 'i' Roll and Read

The purpose of this activity is to offer students additional practice reading words with short ’i’.

Short 'a' Roll and Read

The purpose of this activity is to offer students additional practice reading words with short ’a’.

More Roll and Read Activities:

Read Sheets

Use these read sheets to practice the new phonics pattern you've taught. You'll want to first introduce these sheets in whole or small groups. After students have read them with guidance from the teacher, they can use them to practice reading independently at school or home.

Short 'i' Read Sheet with CVC Words

For this activity, students will practice reading words with short ‘i’. Students will have an opportunity to decode words, build accuracy and fluency, and strengthen their vocabulary.

Short 'i' Read Sheet: Words and Sentences

For this activity, students will practice reading words with short ‘i’. This activity helps students decode words, build accuracy and fluency, and strengthen their vocabulary.

More Read Sheets:

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Decodable Texts for Building Fluency

Students should practice reading in context each day to build fluency. These decodable texts focus on the blends students are learning. Be sure to read How to Use Decodable Texts before implementing them with students.

Decodable — A Rip in the Bag

Use this decodable text to give students practice reading closed-syllable words with short 'i'. For example, the letter 'i' in rip represents the short 'i' sound because the vowel is closed in by the consonant 'p'.

Decodable — A Wig in the Pit

Use this decodable text to give students practice in reading closed-syllable words with short 'i'. For example, the letter 'i' in wig represents the short 'i' sound because the vowel is closed in by the consonant 'g'.

More Decodable Texts:

Decodables from Whole Phonics

Zac's Pal

This short 'a' decodable text is shared with permission from Whole Phonics (opens in new window) (opens in new window).

Read the Decodable

A Pig and His Wig

This short 'i' decodable text is shared with permission from Whole Phonics (opens in new window) (opens in new window).

Read the Decodable

Elkonin Boxes for Short Vowels

Elkonin boxes, also known as sound boxes, are used to help students build phonological awareness. Each square or box represents a phoneme, or sound. Use this activity to help students practice separating the sounds in words with short vowels like jet.

Short Vowels Skill Explainer

Roll and Read Practice Activities

Short 'i' Roll and Read

Short 'a' Roll and Read

Read Sheets

Short 'i' Read Sheet with CVC Words

Short 'i' Read Sheet: Words and Sentences

Decodable Texts for Building Fluency

Decodable — A Rip in the Bag

Decodable — A Wig in the Pit

Decodables from Whole Phonics

Zac's Pal

A Pig and His Wig

Other Activities

Elkonin Boxes for Short Vowels

6. Student Practice Activities with Short Vowels

Short Vowels Skill Explainer

Short 'i' Roll and Read

Short 'a' Roll and Read

Short 'i' Read Sheet with CVC Words

Short 'i' Read Sheet: Words and Sentences

Decodable — A Rip in the Bag

Decodable — A Wig in the Pit

Zac's Pal

A Pig and His Wig

Elkonin Boxes for Short Vowels