The most effective silent e worksheets pdf include both short vowel and silent e words. In this post, I offer a silent e worksheet that can help kids master the e at the end rule. I went with a winter theme and wrote each word in an igloo ice block. Here it is:
Fun igloo facts for kids
Kids tend to love nature, and the changing seasons can ignite some fun discussions. I think igloos are fascinating. As I sit in my modern heated home, I wonder what it’d be like to find warmth in a masterfully designed dome made from ice. The Inuit, native people in the Arctic, built igloos to stay warm in frigid weather that could fall to -50 degrees F. People designed igloos not only with ice blocks, but with whalebone, walrus hides and stone.
The Inuit invented clever ways to stay warm inside, including sleeping on furs, and burning lamps made from animal fat. In addition, the dome itself was perfectly shaped so the front aisle kept the cold winds from coming in; as a result, inside, the temperatures stayed between 20-60 degrees F. For more fun igloo facts, check out igloo facts for kids.
Silent e worksheets pdf from Reading Elephant
If you’re looking for other silent e worksheets pdf, check out our silent e stories The Jade Plant, The Red Rose, and Cake Shop. For the whole systematic phonics library, enter our shop. Our books are designed to gently guide struggling readers through each phonics sound.
Also, check out our silent e list that can help you create lessons.
How to teach silent e
Present your student with a list like the following:
Next, ask your student to tell you the difference between the left list and the right list. The interaction will look something like this:
TEACHER: Let’s take turn reading these words. You read the left word, then I’ll read the right word. We’ll keep going until we read all the words.
STUDENT: cap
TEACHER: cape
STUDENT: pet
TEACHER: pete…[continue in this manner until you and your student read all the words above.]
TEACHER: What is the difference between the left list and the right list?
STUDENT: These words [pointing to right list] have an e at the end, and these words [pointing to the left list] don’t.
TEACHER: That’s right. What does the e at the end do?
STUDENT: It changes the word.
TEACHER: Yes, it changes the word by changing the sound of the first vowel. If there’s an e at the end, the first vowel is long. It says it’s name as in cape, Pete, hide. If there’s not an e at the end, the first vowel is short as in cap, pet, hid. Let’s practice. What does the e do to the first vowel?
STUDENT: Makes it long.
TEACHER: Let’s say our long vowels together. [Teacher points to the vowels in the silent e words. The teacher and student say all the long vowel sounds].
TEACHER: If there’s NOT an e at the end, is the first vowel long or short?
STUDENT: Short.
TEACHER: Let’s say our short vowels together. [Teacher and student say short vowels.]
What are short vowels?
When teaching long vowels, short vowels should always be included in instruction. Short vowels are:
a_ as in cap
e_ as in pet
i_ as in hid
o_ as in hop
u_ as in us
If your student is struggling with short vowels, don’t teach silent e yet. In order to be systematic, phonics must be taught incrementally. As the teacher, you must give your student to master the content before presenting him with more phonics sounds. If your student struggles with short vowels, get our printable short vowel books. Let him practice.
What are silent e words?
Silent e words are long vowel words. The e at the end makes the first vowel long (or say it’s name). Here are some examples:
a_e as in cape
e_e as in Pete
i_e as in hide
o_e as in hope
u_e as in use
When creating a silent e word list, always include short vowels. This will prevent your student from guessing. Struggling readers often guess. They’re masters at guessing in fact. Thus, don’t create a predictable list. Keep your student on his toes. Vary the sound of the first vowel. Here is a sample silent e list, an excellent list, that includes both long and short vowels:
- shame
- him
- chex
- Mike
- batch
- lock
- Jane
- hash
- yam
- cute
- poke
- then
- kite
- mitt
- nope
- lash
- nip
- hitch
- Nate
- bike
Order of phonics sounds
Reading Elephant introduces phonics sounds systematically or one at a time. In this way, struggling readers can gradually adjust to each new phonics sound. They’re given time to master the content. Here is the order Reading Elephant uses:
Sets 1-5- Short Vowels
a_ as in hat (use apple as a mnemonic)
i_ as in lit (use igloo as a mnemonic)
o_ as in hop (use ostrich as a mnemonic)
u_ as in cup (use up as a mnemonic)
e_ as in met (use elephant as a mnemonic)
Set 6- Consonant Digraphs
sh as in ship
th as in math
th as in then
ch as in chop
_tch as in match
_ck as in back
_ng as in long
_ing as in king
_ang as in sang
wh_ as in when
Set 7- Consonant Blends
Consonant blends- Consonant blends are 2 or more letter sounds in a row. Do not teach students to memorize blends. Teach them to decode blends sound-by-sound. Some samples include: fl as in flop, br as in brim and cl as in click. There are two exceptions. Teach kids to memorize tr as in truck and dr as in drop, as these two have a sound change.
Set 8- Silent e
a_e as in make
e_e as in Pete
i_e as in kite
o_e as in hope
u_e as in use
u_e as in duke
Set 9- Long Vowels
ee as in tree
ea as in seal
Set 10- Long Vowels
ai as in rain
_ay as in bay
Set 11- Long Vowels
oa as in boat
ow as in glow
Set 12- Long Vowels
igh as in light
Set 13- Long Vowels
_____y as in funny
_y as in my
Set 14- oo/ew
oo as in moon
oo as in look
ew as in new
Set 15- r-sounds
er as in clerk
ir as in bird
ur as in turn
ar as in dark
or as in fork
Set 16- inflectional endings
ing as in tipping (first vowel is short)
ing as in timing (first vowel is long)
ed as in missed (takes on t sound)
ed as in saved (takes on d sound)
ed as in rested (takes on id sound)
es as in saves
es as in matches
est as in fastest
Other vowel digraphs- At this point, your student can read many books that are not phonics-based. While kids should begin to venture out into simple books like Frog and Toad, they should still receive systematic phonics instruction.
ow as in town
ou as in pouch
au as in launch
aw as in lawn
oi as in soil
_oy as in joy
c and g rule- At this point, your student can read many books that are not phonics-based.
c (e, i, y) as in face, city and cycle (the c changes to the s sound)
g (e, i, y) as in gem, gist and gym (the g changes to the j sound)
Enter our shop to check out our systematic phonics books.
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