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Lesson 85

ee, ea, ey /ē/

The graphemes EE, EA, and EY spell /ē/

EE and EA spell /ē/ at the beginning, middle, or end of a syllable or word. EY only spells /ē/ at the end of a multisyllabic word. EA sometimes spells /ĕ/ (Lesson 94) or /ā/ (Lesson 114).

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)

/f/ · /ē/ · /t/feet
/h/ · /ē/ · /t/heat
/g/ · /r/ · /ē/ · /t/greet

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 h s tr tw

Middle

ee

ea

ai

ay

ar

or

ur

Final

l n d

+

Step 5

New Concept

Today we learn three new ways to spell the long E sound: EE, EA, and EY.

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

The long E sound is /ē/ as in . Today we will learn new ways to spell the long E sound. We have already learned that E spells /ē/ in silent E words like theme. We have also learned that E spells /ē/ in open syllables like /bē/ in began. We have also learned that Y spells /ē/ at the end of two-syllable words like at the end of puppy. Vowel teams are two or more letters that work together to make one vowel sound.

ee /ē/

The vowel team EE spells /ē/. EE usually comes in the middle of a word, like in need and feet. EE can also come at the end of a word, like in see and tree. EE sometimes comes at the beginning of a word, like in eel.

ea /ē/

The vowel team EA also spells /ē/. EA usually comes in the middle of a word, like in mean and team. EA sometimes comes at the beginning of a word, like in eat and each. EA sometimes comes at the end of a word, like in tea and flea.

ey /ē/

The vowel team EY also spells /ē/. EY only comes at the end of a two-syllable word, like in money and turkey.

How our mouth moves

Remember, when our mouth muscles are tighter or more tense, we make long vowel sounds. Like all vowels, /ē/ is a continuous sound that can be stretched out (use continuous hand motion). Be sure your voice is on. Watch me /ē/. You try /ē/.

Sound wall

Add 'ee', 'ea', and 'ey' under /ē/ (with 'e_e', 'e', and 'y').

Open the digital sound wall →