Phonics Practice · Step 11 of 12
More vowel sounds
oo (moon, book), ou and ow (cloud, cow), oi and oy (coin, toy), aw and au (paw, launch).
Made by Teddy Rook Book to practice alongside Hannah Ward's lessons. It is not part of her curriculum. About this practice
For grown-ups
What this step teaches
These vowel pairs make sounds that are not long or short: oo has two sounds (moon and book), ou and ow say /ow/ (cloud, cow), oi and oy say /oi/ (coin, toy), and aw and au say /aw/ (paw, launch). Usually oi and ou come inside a word, and oy and ow at the end.
As you practice: oo has two sounds and ow has two sounds. Teach your child to try one, and if it isn't a real word, try the other.
Away from the screen
- Make the sounds with actions: “ow” as if you bumped your knee, “oi” like a pirate's “ahoy,” “aw” as if you saw a puppy.
- For oo, read the word both ways (moon and book) and ask which one is a real word.
- Sort cards by sound: all the /ow/ words in one pile, whether they use ou or ow.
With Hannah's lessons
Goes with the last part of Hannah's 120 lessons and her Phonics Reading Boot Camp, where these vowel sounds come in.
📖 Read in 120 Lessons🎯 Phonics Boot Camp
Hannah's lessons may bring in sounds in a different order. Follow her order, and use the step here that matches what she has taught.
The new sounds, and how to say them
- oo as in spoonoo says /oo/, as in spoon.
- oo as in bookoo can also say the short sound in book. If one sound doesn't make a real word, try the other.
- ou as in cloudou says /ow/, as in cloud: the sound you make when you bump your knee.
- ow as in cowow can say /ow/, as in cow. (It can also say long o, as in snow.)
- oi as in coinoi says /oi/, as in coin.
- oy as in toyoy says /oi/ too, as in toy. It usually comes at the end of a word.
- aw as in pawaw says /aw/, as in paw. In much of America it sounds like the o in hot; either is fine.
- au as in launchau says the same sound as aw, as in launch.
Heart words for this step
Heart words are common words with a part that doesn't follow the rules your child knows yet. Sound out the regular parts, and learn the ♥ part by heart.
againfriendlaughsayswhopullfull