Introduce Vowel-C-e Syllable Patterns

1. Introduce Vowel-C-e Syllable
Patterns
GRADE 4, UNIT 4, WEEK 2, MINI-LESSON 9 (15-20 minutes)

2. Introduce Vowel-C-e Syllable Patterns
I will be able to:
Apply grade level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding
words with a vowel-c-e syllable pattern.
Use knowledge of letter-sound connections and syllable patterns to
read unfamiliar words of more than one syllable.
Participate in discussions with classmates by being prepared.

3. Introduce/Model
Let’s reread the introduction to “Quiet!” Let’s underline
the words based, wrote, Place, and estate. Now, let’s
circle the long vowel sound in each word.
What sounds are made by the circled letters?

4. Introduce/Model
Let’s think about what syllable pattern is shared by these
words. If you look at the circled vowels, you will see that
they are followed by a consonant, then an e. We’ll call
this syllable pattern:
Vowel-C-e

5. Introduce/Model
Remember, that when a vowel is followed by a
consonant and then the letter e, the vowel usually
makes the long vowel sound.

6. Guided Practice
Let’s create a three-column note sheet. We’ll turn the
paper so that it is horizontal or landscape. Our columns
will read: Long a, long i, and long o.

7. Guided Practice
Before I give you a list of words to place in the columns,
lets take a look at the word gravely. I know that
because this word contains the syllable pattern vowel-C-
e the a makes a long vowel sound.

8. Guided Practice
By pronouncing gravely correctly, I won’t mistake it for
other words like gravelly. With that in mind, I can use
context clues to understand that gravely means
“serious.” That’s a far different meaning from gravelly
which means “like gravel or having a rough sound.”
With this in mind, let’s put gravely in the Long a column.

9. Guided Practice
Now it’s your turn to put the following words with the
Vowel-C-e in the right column:
hated, miles, alone, placed, note, and joke

10. Productive Engagement: Partner
Let’s create another three-column note sheet. This
sheet will go into your AVID binder. This sheet will be
vertical or portrait. Please label the columns: Word,
Word Meaning, and Long Vowel Sound.

11. Productive Engagement: Partner
Now let’s highlight the sentences from “Quiet!”
containing the follow words: estate, politeness, cave,
complete, mane, stages, and mandate.

12. Productive Engagement: Partner
Word: estate
Word Meaning: a large
piece of property in the
country with a big house.
Long Vowel Sound: a

13. Productive Engagement: Partner
Word: politeness
Word Meaning: good
manners
Long Vowel Sound: i

14. Productive Engagement: Partner
Word: cave
Word Meaning:
underground hollow, an area
used as a getaway or place
of rest
Long Vowel Sound: a

15. Productive Engagement: Partner
Word: complete
Word Meaning: whole;
finished
Long Vowel Sound: e

16. Productive Engagement: Partner
Word: mane
Word Meaning: hair on an
animal’s neck
Long Vowel Sound: a

17. Productive Engagement: Partner
Word: stages
Word Meaning: steps in a
process
Long Vowel Sound: a

18. Productive Engagement: Partner
Word: mandate
Word Meaning: order or
command
Long Vowel Sound: a

19. Reread to Apply Word Knowledge
Let’s now reread paragraphs 9-11 of “Quiet!” Let’s
identify words with the Vowel-C-e syllable pattern.
When you find one, circle it. There are a total of 6
words, but be careful as there are two additional Vowel-
C-e words that are exceptions to the rule; that is, their
vowels are not long.

20. Reread to Apply Word Knowledge
Vowel-C-e Words
lake, share, same, ice, joke,
came
Exceptions
above, were

21. Spelling
despite
Despite the difficult situation
the team has done very well.

22. Spelling
disease
Children in Nome had caught
the terrible disease of
diphtheria.

23. Spelling
raced
The dogsled teams raced
against time to get the
medicine to Nome.

24. Spelling
named
The Siberian husky who led the
team through the blizzard was
named Balto.

25. Spelling
navigate
The mushers had to navigate
through bitter cold and strong
wind.

26. Spelling
bravely
The lead dogs bravely led their
teams.

27. Spelling
arrived
The serum arrived in Nome
only five days after it left
Anchorage.

28. Spelling
safely
The mushers and the dogs
made sure that the serum got
to Nome safely.