You Gotta Keep Them Separated

Drum roll please,  Drrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr 
Today is the day I am sharing with you how we teach your children to separate words into syllables by using their "eyes".  My children think that its like magic.
If you read my previous two blogs about syllables you are ready for the next step. If you haven't check those out first: 

What is a Syllable

Syllable Types


So I am going to start you off slow and talk  about the first rule in syllable separation.  This rule is called the, WAIT FOR IT...... Rabbit Rule.   Doesn't that sound so cute?  The reason why it's called the Rabbit Rule is because the word rabbit is a great example for this rule.  

When you have two vowels (This is one reason why we teach what vowels are) separated by two consonants. You split the word in between the two consonants.  I like to karate chop them with my kids and yell "High, Ya!" 

• First have your child find the vowels-a and i.  I ask them to put a dot on top of the vowel until they get used to seeing whats in between them. 
• Ask them what letters do they see in between the two vowels. 
• Tell them that when you see two vowels separated by two consonants, we split the word in between the two consonants (b and b).
• You can scoop the two syllables with lines or curved lines
• These two syllables are CLOSED syllables -Remember a closed syllable has only one vowel, closed in with a 'backdoor' and the vowel is short. 
• RAB         BIT