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Lesson 12

o /ŏ/

The grapheme O spells /ŏ/

At this point, O is being introduced only as short /ŏ/. O can also represent other sounds, such as long /ō/ in O_E words (Lesson 56). The pronunciation of CVC words with O can vary considerably by dialect (e.g., dog can be /dŏg/ or /dawg/). If any of the words in this lesson are not pronounced /ŏ/ in your region, omit them from your instruction or substitute another word.

Today's plan

about 15 min
  1. Step 1Warm up our ears (blend & segment)2 min
  2. Steps 2 & 3Look & Say / Listen & Spell4 min
  3. Step 4Blending drill3 min
  4. Step 5New concept + read/spell6 min
Step 1

Warm Up Our Ears

Say the sounds; students blend them into a word. Then say a word; students break it apart.

Blend it (teacher says sounds → you say word)

/ŏ/ · /n/on
/m/ · /ŏ/ · /m/mom
/n/ · /ŏ/ · /t/not
/m/ · /ŏ/ · /p/mop

Break it (I say word → you say sounds)

Steps 2 & 3

Flashcard Drills

Full-screen cards for the class. Tap a card to check the answer, or press Hear the words to hear the example words read aloud.

Step 4

Blending Drill

Change one part at a time and read the new word.

Initial

f p

Middle

m s

n t

Final

n t

+

a m n t

i

Step 5

New Concept

Today we learn the letter O and the short sound /ŏ/ like in octopus.

Highlighted words are the ones to show and practice reading — tap one to hear it.

This is the letter O. O is a vowel. You know the name of this letter already, "o". This is the long vowel sound. Today we are going to read words with the short vowel sound. The short vowel O spells /ŏ/ like in the beginning of the word . The letter O can come in the middle of a word, such as the words and . The letter O can also come at the beginning of a word, such as the word .

Letter formation: O

Review O: Start at the top. Curve this way (counterclockwise). Go all the way around. Stop at the top.

Letter formation: o

Introduce o: Begin at the middle line. Start at the top. Curve this way (counterclockwise). Go all the way around. Stop at the top.

How our mouth moves

To make the short O /ŏ/ sound, open your mouth wide and drop your chin like this...(model). Be sure your voice is on. Like all vowels, /ŏ/ is a continuous sound that can be stretched out (use continuous hand motion). Watch me /ŏ/. You try /ŏ/.

Sound wall

Add grapheme card 'o' to the vowel valley under the /ŏ/ picture card.

Open the digital sound wall →