Lesson 67
Compound Words & Closed/Closed Syllables
Compound words with two closed syllables, and reading and spelling other multisyllabic words with two closed syllables
Compound words provide an excellent opportunity to explore and practice multisyllabic words. When these longer words are made up of two smaller words, we call them compound words. Not every two-syllable word made of two closed syllables is a compound word (e.g., dentist, napkin). The schwa sound /ə/ can be represented by any vowel letter — A, E, I, O, U, and even Y — in an unstressed syllable.
Today's plan
about 15 min- Step 1Warm up our ears (blend & segment)2 min
- Steps 2 & 3Look & Say / Listen & Spell4 min
- Step 4Blending drill3 min
- Step 5New concept + read/spell6 min
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)
Break it (I say word → you say sounds)
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.
Blending Drill
Change one part at a time and read the new word.
Initial
h l m b c s t
Middle
a
o
u
i
Final
ck nt st xt
+
New Concept
Today we learn to read and spell longer words made of two closed syllables, both compound words like sunset and other two-syllable words like dentist.
Highlighted words are the ones to show and practice reading — tap one to hear it.
A syllable is a word or part of a word with one vowel sound. We have learned about closed syllables — one vowel followed by one or more consonants, with a short vowel sound (sun). We can combine two closed syllables to make longer words. When these longer words are made up of two smaller words, we call them compound words, like sunset and stepdad. We can also put closed syllables together to make longer words that are NOT compound words, like dentist.
Reading compound words
First read the first word or syllable (step). Then read the second word or syllable (dad). Last, blend the two words or syllables together to read the whole word (stepdad). Continue modeling with 'I do' words during reading practice (e.g., hot-dog, hotdog).
Two closed syllables, not compound
The first part of the word is den, and the next part is tist. Put them together and you get dentist. The word has two closed syllables, den and tist, but is not made of two smaller real words.
Schwa and stress
In many two-syllable words, one syllable is stressed, said louder and held longer. The other syllable is often pronounced as a schwa. For example, in about, -bout is stressed, and the A represents /ə/, not /ă/ or /ā/. Watch me read distant (A), below (E), pencil (I), ribbon (O), supply (U), vinyl (Y) and figure out which letter represents the schwa in each.
How our mouth moves
To make the schwa /ə/ sound, open your mouth just a little bit, like this…(model). Be sure your voice is on. Unlike other vowel sounds, we don't stretch out the schwa; we say it more quickly. Watch me /ə/. You try /ə/.
Sound wall
Add 'a', 'e', 'i', 'o', 'o', and 'y' under the /ə/ picture card.
Open the digital sound wall →