By now you have surely heard about the importance of teaching syllables to your young learners. If not, read why right here. However, keeping students engaged in the process of syllable division can be difficult. Teaching syllable breaks is vital to students being able to decode multisyllable words. Stick around as we share the nine principles for dividing syllables, and a kid friendly way to teach them.
Before we dive into the ways to teach syllable division, if you want a closer look at the six types of syllables, check out this post: How to Introduce the Six Syllable Types.
Or, checkout this tutorial video.
Closed Syllable Division
Closed syllables contain a short vowel with consonants on either side.
Principle #1: Camel Rule
The camel rule refers to a closed syllable, that is a short vowel between two consonants. Time for a deeper dive!
Camel Rule Syllable Division Steps:
- Underline the vowels.
- Place your division line right after the first consonant following the short vowel.
- The first syllable is a closed syllable, usually featuring a short vowel sound.
Once you have demonstrated how to divide camel words, allow students to get extra practice with our numerous resources, which can all be complied into a book of the 9 syllable division rules.
Principle #2: Rabbit Rule
The rabbit rule refers to closed syllables, with short vowels, separated by a two consonants.
Rabbit Rule Syllable Division Steps:
- Underline the vowels.
- Look at the consonants between the vowels.
- Draw your division line between two consonants.
- The first syllable will be a closed syllable with a short vowel.
Give your students extra practice at this skill.
Principle #3: Panther Rule
This rule refers to closed syllable words with three consonants, or VCCCV words.
Steps for Panther Rule Syllable Division:
- Underline the vowels.
- Look for consonants between the vowels.
- If you spot 3 consonants, keep digraphs or blends together.
- Draw your division line between a consonant and a blend or digraph.
- Your first syllable will be a closed syllable with a short vowel.
Don't forget the extra practice opportunities!
Open Syllable Division
Open syllables end with a vowel sound that is spelled with a single vowel. Examples include react or triumph. Let's take a closer look at how to divide multisyllabic open syllable words.
Principle #4: Tiger Rule
Another open syllable word type, tiger words are the more traditional open syllables ending with a single vowel.
Tiger Ryle Syllable Division Routine:
- Underline the vowels.
- Look at the consonants between the vowels and if there is 1 consonant after the first vowel, draw your syllable division line there.
- Your first syllable will be an open syllable, ending with a single vowel.
Let students get extra practice with already learned rules with resources like partner games!
Principle #5: Lion Rule
Lion rule words are open syllable words with adjoining vowels, that are not part of a vowel team. Example words are lion, robot or diet.
Lion Rule Syllable Division Routine:
- Underline the vowels.
- Look for two vowels next to each other.
- If it is not a common vowel team, draw your division line between the vowels.
- Your first syllable will be an open syllable, ending with a single vowel.
Easily organize the extra practice activities by putting them into a booklet!
Silent E Syllable Division
A silent e syllable is when a word has an “e” at the end that doesn't make a sound, but changes the sound of the vowel before it, like in the words “cake” or “hope.
Principle #6: Reptile Rule
Use the Reptile Rule to break apart multisyllabic words with a silent e.
Reptile Rule Syllable Division:
- Underline the vowels.
- Look for a vowel followed by a consonant and silent e and keep those letters together in one syllable.
- Divide the word between two consonants, which are between the vowels. For example: rep/tile.
Everything you need for a Silent E syllables lesson in one spot!
Vowel Team Syllable Division
When students are comfortable with vowel teams, they will be able to recognize them in multisyllabic words. Learning to divide these syllables can be tackled by following the peacock rule.
Principle #7: Peacock Rule
To divide vowel team syllable words, follow this Peacock Rule routine:
- Underline the vowels.
- Look for a vowel team.
- Keep the vowel team together in one syllable.
- If you spot consonants between the vowel team and other vowels, draw your syllable division line in front of the consonant.
- Your first syllable will end with a vowel team.
Anchor charts assist with syllable division lessons.
R-Controlled Syllable Division
R-controlled syllables can be divided easily with the Turkey Rule!
Principle #8: Turkey Rule
When vowels are followed by an r, that becomes a syllable.
Turkey Rule Syllable Division Routine:
- Underline the vowels.
- Find a vowel followed by an r.
- Divide the syllable after the r.
- Your first syllable will be r-controlled, the r changing the vowel sound.
The Multisyllable Word Book has tons of turkey syllable fun!
Consonant + LE Syllable Division
Consonant + le syllables typically occur at the end of words and are composed of a consonant, followed by the letters -le. They form the “ul” or “uhl” sound.
Principle #9: Beagle Rule
Breaking up multisyllabic words that contain a consonant + le is simple with the Beagle Rule.
Beagle Rule Routine:
- Underline the vowels.
- Look for the consonant followed by -le, keep these together in one syllable.
- Divide the syllable before the consonant + le.
- Your first syllable will say the consonant + le sound.
Practicing the consonant + le syllable rule can be pawsitively fun! (See what I did there?)
Want a guided syllables lesson?
Let Katie, from Team Lucky Little Learners, guide you through the division of all nine syllable types, and take a trip to Syllable Zoo. This video is mean to be for your AND your students!
Give Students Extra Syllable Division Practice
Once you have modeled each syllable division rule, it is beneficial to let students thy out the strategies independently or in small groups. We have resources for every syllable division principle ready for you on All Access or in our Shop. All you have to to do is click, print and teach!
Get the Multisyllable Words Book
More Syllable Posts
If you are wanting to learn more about syllables, take a deep dive in our Syllables Post Library.
Happy teaching!
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