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Lesson 18

e /ĕ/

The grapheme E spells /ĕ/

At this point, E is being introduced only as short /ĕ/. E can also represent other sounds, such as long /ē/ in E_E words and at the end of open syllables, which are addressed in later lessons.

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)

/m/ · /ĕ/ · /n/men
/p/ · /ĕ/ · /n/pen
/t/ · /ĕ/ · /n/ten

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

b g m p s t

Middle

e

Final

d g n t

+

Step 5

New Concept

Today we learn the short sound for E — /ĕ/ like in the middle of bed.

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

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

e /ĕ/

Short E spells /ĕ/ like at the beginning of elephant. It usually sits in the middle of a word, such as and .

How our mouth moves

To make the short E /ĕ/ sound, drop your jaw slightly and pull the corners of your mouth back like this…(model). Be sure your voice is on. Like the other vowels we have learned about, /ĕ/ is a continuous sound that can be stretched out (make a continuous hand motion). Watch me /ĕ/. You try /ĕ/.

Sound wall

Add grapheme card 'e' to the vowel valley under the /ĕ/ picture card.

Open the digital sound wall →