Identifying syllables in words is an important phonological awareness (the awareness of sounds within words) skill that young readers need to become successful readers.
Teaching syllables to little children can be challenging and its easy to ignore this skill altogether for the challenges it brings along with it. But knowing syllables can be very helpful for children as once they get a hang of syllables:
They can decode words easily. They will attempt to read the longer words and not just guess them as now they can break up words into parts while reading.
They can use invented spellings effectively.
What are syllables?
Syllables are word chunks and each word chunk has a vowel in it. Lets take the word, watermelon. It has 4 syllables in it- Wa-ter-me-lon.
Its important to note that syllables are not individual sounds in words but parts of a word.
Ideas to teach syllables :
The most common method to teach children to identify syllables in words is to ask them to clap as they break a word into parts. Do it yourself a few times and then encourage children to join in after a couple of examples. If you give them a word like alligator, ask them to clap for each chunk of the word, Al-li-ga-tor. They should clap four times.
2. Use manipulative like blocks to count the syllables.
3. Use musical instruments like a drum, maracas or a tambourine to tap the syllables in words.
4. Play games like the Alligator chomp.
5. Stomp or jump every time you hear a syllable in a word.
Teaching and practicing syllables shouldn't be a chore but can be super fun and easy. You can practice syllables when you go on a walk with your children or on a drive. You can use their toys and count out the syllables in them. When you go vegetable shopping, you can count the syllables in different vegetables. The opportunities are immense and it is very doable and interesting once your little ones get a hang of it.
Want more information? Then, watch the video on phonological awareness to know m
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