Multisensory Reading Clinic

 

The Rules and Principles of Syllable Division

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Identifying syllables and the principles for dividing and joining longer words are necessary for students to be independent learners.

  

One Consonant - vowel-consonant-vowel pattern VCV

Divide the first syllable after the consonant; for example, cam el, lav ish, ex empt

Check the dictionary if the word has a long vowel sound to its first syllable, then divide the first syllable before the consonant, for example, bi son, pro tect, pre cinct

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Two Consonants - vowel-consonant-consonant- vowel pattern VCCV

Divide the syllables between two consonants; for example, rab bit, at tempt, scram jet

Do not divide digraphs and exceptions to the rules instead divide the two consonants after the digraphs and the exceptions to the rules; for example, chick en, proph et, gold en, mild er

Check the dictionary if the word has a long vowel sound to its first syllable, then divide the first syllable before the clusters of sounds we called blends; for example, a pron, fra grant, re spect.

 

Three Consonants - vowel-consonant-consonant-consonant- vowel pattern VCCCV

Divide between the consonant  or consonants with blends; for example, os trich, com plex, sand wich, wasp dom, junc tion

Do not divide trigraphs and exceptions to the rules, instead, divide the consonants before or after the trigraphs and the exceptions to the rules; for example, kitch en, scratch es, blind fold, bold ness

Divide the consonants after the vowel, and usually, the first syllable is a prefix; for example, re script, re prout

 

Four to five consonants - vowel-consonant-consonant-consonant-consonant-vowel pattern VCCCCV, VCCCCCV

Divide between the consonants with blends or compound words; for example, con struct, gang plank, wind span

Do not divide digraphs, and trigraphs instead divide the consonant or consonants after or before the digraphs, trigraphs, blends, compound word, and the exceptions to the rules; for example, an thrax, dump struck, watch strap, trans plant

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to be continued...

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