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Step 1
Make sure the kids know the regular vowel sounds. English vowels are a, e, i, o, and u. Y also functions as a vowel occasionally. Each of these vowels has a long sound (like “a” in cake) and a short sound (like “a” in cat). Kids need to know these sounds before they can move on to irregular vowels.
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Step 2
Know that irregular vowels are vowel teams that don’t follow traditional phonics rules. The vowel team “igh”, like in night or slight is an irregular vowel. Even though the sound is similar to the long “i” sound, the sound is formed by using a combination of vowels and consonants.
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Step 3
Be aware that when you make an irregular vowel lesson, focus on one vowel sound at a time. Keep track of the different sounds you cover, and review them regularly, but only cover one sound in each lesson.
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Step 4
Find a reading passage that contains good examples of the irregular vowel. This is the foundation of the lesson. Begin the lesson with a read aloud. This isn’t the time to point out the irregular vowel. Just read the text.
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Step 5
Point out the irregular vowel in the text. Show the kids the word in the text. Pronounce the word, and ask them to repeat the word back to you. Use this time to listen to them and make sure they say the sound correctly.
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Step 6
Create a list of other words the kids know with a similar sound. After the list is finished, create a chart and sort the words by the way they are spelled. For the irregular vowel, “igh,” you may have a list with words like night, sight, like, bike, and try. Sort them into categories like “igh,” “i” and “y.” Review the list and take the time to point out again that the sound is the same, but the spelling is different.
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Step 7
Read the original text again. Kids also need to practice writing the words with their own hands. After the reading, have the kids write a brief story using some of the irregular vowel words from the list they created.
