Closed and open syllables are the first two syllable types students should learn. Out of the six syllable types, these two are the easiest for students to master.

What Is a Closed Syllable?

In its simplest form, a closed syllable is a vowel followed by a consonant. Examples include cap, sit, and up.

When winter comes and snow piles high in the yard, there’s nothing better to do than build a snowman! This collection of sweet picture books will inspire you to create some wintertime magic with your children.

Practice Sheets are a key part of the All About Reading program, and for good reason: they help kids develop fluency, which is the ability to read smoothly, accurately, and with expression. In fact, many of you call them “fluency sheets” because they are so helpful in guiding students toward fluency.

A great technique for preventing spelling errors is called “Pronounce for Spelling.”

When you pronounce for spelling, you exaggerate the pronunciation of a word to make it easier to spell. For example, in casual speech we often pronounce the word different as difrent, leaving out the second syllable. When we pronounce for spelling, we carefully enunciate each syllable (dif-fer-ent), making it much easier to spell. Continue reading…

Sometimes all it takes to spark a reluctant reader’s interest in books is finding the perfect genre. Loaded with illustrations and short text blurbs, graphic novels might be just what you need to open up a whole new world of reading for your child.

Have you tried buddy reading?

Buddy reading is a great way to help your child gain fluency. In buddy reading, you and your child take turns reading by sentence, paragraph, or page. Also called paired reading or partner reading, buddy reading has multiple benefits, but perhaps the biggest benefit is that it prevents discouragement.

When you have a child with dyslexia, does it sometimes feel like you need a miracle?

You’ve exhausted all avenues, but you can’t give up—because it’s your child.

It’s a common scenario; people everywhere do it—maybe even you or your child.

You’re writing a note and are about to write the word peak. But wait! Your pencil poises midair: is it sneak peak? Or is it sneak peek? Now consider stationary and stationery; they are both pronounced the same, but which one means writing paper?

If you’re wondering how much time you should spend on spelling lessons, you aren’t alone! This is one of the most frequently asked questions about the All About Spelling program.

Fortunately, there is a really simple answer that works in most situations.

Calling all sports lovers! With picture books about basketball, soccer, baseball, gymnastics, skiing, and MUCH more, this list of sports-themed picture books is sure to hit a homerun…even for your most reluctant reader!

Fun and Interactive Word Building!

Where has this game been all of my life?

Phonics Dominoes is a fantastic way to practice word-building and decoding skills. There are several versions available: Short Vowels, Long Vowels, Blends and Digraphs, Word-Building, and for more advanced students, Sentence-Building dominoes.

Let’s face it. Daily review can be, well…boring. But regular review is one of the most important factors in retaining and recalling previously taught material. In other words, review makes learning stick! That’s why daily review of the Word Cards in All About Reading helps children master what they’re learning—permanently.