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Lesson 8

i /ĭ/

The grapheme I spells /ĭ/

At this point, I is being introduced only as short /ĭ/. I can also represent other sounds, such as long /ī/ in I_E words (Lesson 55). The high frequency word 'it's' is decodable at this point; the concept of a contraction should be addressed separately when appropriate.

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)

/ĭ/ · /t/it
/s/ · /ĭ/ · /t/sit
/f/ · /ĭ/ · /t/fit
/s/ · /ĭ/ · /p/sip

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 m p

s t

Middle

a

Final

p t

+

Step 5

New Concept

Today we learn the short sound for I — /ĭ/ like at the start of itch.

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

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

i /ĭ/

Short I spells /ĭ/ like at the beginning of itch. It can sit in the middle of a word (fit, dip) or at the beginning (in, if).

How our mouth moves

To make the short I /ĭ/ sound it is helpful to scrunch up your nose like this…(model). Like the other vowels we have learned about, /ĭ/ is a continuous sound that can be stretched out (make a continuous hand motion). Watch me /ĭ/. You try /ĭ/.

Sound wall

Add grapheme card 'i' to the vowel valley under the /ĭ/ picture card.

Open the digital sound wall →