If you’re wondering ‘what are the cvc words’, or better yet, ‘what are some effective strategies for teaching cvc words’, then this is where you need to be. Over many years of teaching emergent literacy skills to my students with disabilities, I have learnt a lot about basic literacy skills. This includes concepts about print and developing students’ low level reading skills through teaching cvc words. You can read more about the 6 key emergent literacy skills here.
I’m going to share with you some of the basics, like ‘what are the cvc words’, as well as my top 5 strategies for teaching cvc words. These are easy to implement in a busy classroom, and most come with simple to prepare activities for cvc words.
So, what are the cvc words?
CVC words are small 3 letter words beginning with a consonant (c), followed by a single vowel (v), and ending in another consonant (c). Examples of cvc words include dog, cat, run, dig, get and hat. For a free and printable list of cvc words, click here.
Why are cvc words important for beginning readers?
Cvc words are perfect for teaching beginning reading skills such as print awareness (words have meaning), phonemic awareness (knowledge of letter-sound) and phonological awareness (blending sounds to make words). So why is teaching cvc words so useful?
- Many cvc words are nouns that are known to the student (dog, cat, jug, kit) or verbs (dig, pat, run)
- The cvc words can often be matched with an image. Images are important for developing the understanding that words have meaning (print awareness).
- Cvc words are usually easy to sound out (each letter represents a single sound) as they do not use blends (pl, tr) or diphthongs (ch, sh). This makes it easier for beginning readers to achieve success with their reading, while developing confidence and fluency.
- They are great for developing blending skills (phonological awareness) with the simple and repetitive pattern of consonant, vowel, consonant. Cvc words help introduce students to the concept that words can be segmented (beginning, middle and end) and are then blended together.
When to start teaching cvc words?
Most teachers, particularly those in mainstream settings, would typically begin teaching cvc words when their students have a strong understanding of phonemic awareness (know all sounds in the English alphabet). Once students have this knowledge, it is an easy transition to reading by teaching cvc words.
For many of my students however, who are in high school and still working on developing emergent literacy skills (including concepts about print and letter-sound knowledge), I have found that cvc words can be used to help develop these skills. Activities for cvc words can be differentiated so all students can access the same activity at their level. This is particularly useful in a multi-level special education classroom. Differentiation ideas are outlined for the 5 strategies for teaching cvc words. This is to demonstrate ways in which all students can participate when teaching cvc words. For tips on ensuring your teaching is age-appropriate for older emergent literacy learners, read this article.
How to teach cvc words to beginning readers?
Students are all so different, and therefore have different learning styles. This is especially so in a special education setting, where you have students with a wide range of needs and abilities. To cater for these differences, I always try to use a multi-modal approach in my classroom. A multi-modal approach is to use a range of modelled (I DO), guided (WE DO) and independent (YOU DO) learning activities for all students to engage with. Teaching cvc words is no exception, therefore you will see these range of teaching and learning styles highlighted in the following strategies for teaching cvc words.
5 strategies for teaching cvc words
1. Model reading and writing cvc words during whole class instruction
This can be done in countless ways including modelled reading (e.g. whole class reading of a shared text), modelling writing (e.g. joint construction of a sentence) or word work (e.g. working on identifying beginning, middle or end sounds of individual words). This strategy may seem obvious (and it is) but modelling is one of the most effective teaching strategies, as the majority of students with special needs are visual learners. A great example of lesson modelling and teaching cvc words is by Learning is Fun with Teacher Lorie. Watch this lesson here.
Whole class activity and differentiation ideas:
Write a cvc word up on the board and ask students to approach the board to practice word work. You can differentiate the way students work with the word by giving them one of the following tasks that best suits the students level:
- point to the sounds in the words as they read the word (blending)
- identify the beginning sound of the word
- point to a given letter within the word
- Match the letters in the word
- find a matching picture when you read the word to them (out of a choice of 2)
This is just one example of a simple activity for teaching cvc words, and how students of all abilities can be included in the same activity with appropriate differentiation.
2. Guided teaching of cvc words- reading groups or reading intervention
Similar to the first strategy for teaching cvc words (modelling to the whole class), this strategy involves more modelling to the students. However this time it is either in small groups or during 1:1 intervention. It involves guided instruction of the beginning reading skills you are developing (e.g. blending or segmenting beginning sounds), which often includes providing direct feedback to students practicing the skills.
Teaching cvc words through guided instruction and 1:1 reading intervention would work best with books specifically designed to teach cvc words. This book set by Decodable Readers Australia is a good example, as each book focuses on certain sounds and cvc words, giving students the opportunity to master reading cvc words.
Activity for reading intervention and differentiation ideas:
An alternative to a published book set such as the one linked above, are CVC Words Task Cards. This series of task cards consist of 5 differentiated levels each containing 50 tasks cards. The cards feature high quality photos, making them ideal for special education and suitable for emergent literacy learners of all ages. The differentiated levels allow for all students in your class to access the same activity during their guided reading intervention by using the level appropriate to them as follows:
- Matching letters in the words (Level 1)
- Identifying the beginning sound (Level 2)
- Complete the word by finding the middle sound (Level 3)
- Finding and identifying the end sound (Level 4)
- Spell the word (Level 5)
- Read the word (find the correct spelling of the word)- (Level 6, Bonus in the bundle)
3. Use a range of hands on and fun activities for cvc words
Most students benefit from hands-on learning therefore one of the most effective strategies for teaching cvc words is using games. Not only are games fun but they are great for teaching cvc words to the whole class, small groups and in individual interventions.
Activities for teaching cvc words and differentiation ideas:
There are a range of activities for cvc words available in my store, which you can browse here. They include the task cards mentioned above, BINGO, Dominoes, Memory and Puzzles. Each of these activities for cvc words include differentiation options, making it easy to cater for varying needs and abilities in your class.
4. Practice writing cvc words
When teaching cvc words, an effective strategy is incorporating both reading and writing activities into your literacy instruction. Using CVC words worksheets, such as these ones, are great for teaching cvc words and providing opportunities to develop emergent writing. The hands-on and engaging activities included in these worksheets (cut & paste puzzles, word searches, iSpy and board games) are sure to keep your students engaged.
Activity suggestions and differentiation ideas:
There are a range of differentiated activities for cvc words included in the cvc words worksheets mentioned above. They are designed to for students with a range of abilities to learn cvc words and emergent literacy skills.
An alternative is doing a whole class writing activity to teach cvc words, such as predictable chart writing. Using this strategy the teacher can model writing a sentence on the board (e.g. I see a dog), and each student contributes by repeating the sentence with a new cvc word. You can easily differentiate this activity by giving students different tasks as follows:
- Independently write the whole sentence and cvc word
- Trace the sentence and name a cvc word (from a list)
- Order the words in the sentence and add a cvc word (from a list)
- Point to each word in the sentence, then ‘write’ the cvc word by matching the letters in a cvc word
5. Use repetition and generalisation
When teaching students with disabilities, repetition and generalisation of skills are very important for teaching cvc words. You can do this by playing the same games or by repeatedly and consistently using the strategies for teaching cvc words listed above. To help students generalise knowledge it’s important to offer a range of activities for cvc words in different contexts. This could include identifying cvc words in books, playing printable or digital cvc word games, practicing writing cvc words during guided writing or identifying words in different environments (e.g. home, library, grocery store, science lab, classroom).
Once students are consistently able to use blending to effectively identify, read and write cvc words, the best way to generalise this skill is to move onto applying it to more complex words such as CVCe or CCVC words.
More information on how to teach cvc words…
Check out these great articles to learn more about how to teach cvc words and strategies for teaching cvc word:
Making Cvc Words, Building Phonological Awareness– You Clever Monkey
What are CVC Words and How to Teach Them– 4 Kinder Teachers
CVC Words- The Ultimate Guide to Teach Your Child– Kutuki
9 Entertaining Videos to Teach CVC Words with Music and Movement– A Teachable Teacher
Are you ready to get start teaching cvc words? Get a free cvc words list sent straight to your inbox by signing up to my email list. You’ll receive posters of cvc words as well as a data sheet for the cvc word list. I will also send out the occasional email with other ideas for teaching emergent literacy skills.
Whether you’re at the beginning of your teaching journey, or are an experienced teacher looking to refresh your knowledge, I wish you the best of luck implementing these strategies for teaching cvc words in your classroom.
I have recently learnt a lot about blog writing thanks to Kayse Morris and her team over at CEO Teacher School. Check out this article 7 Helpful Tips on How to Blog Like a Boss, if you’re interested in getting started yourself.
Also, here are some other great articles to help you thrive in special education:
What is an Individual Education Plan and How to Write One– The Mentor Teacher
4 Exciting ESY Activities for Kids with Cortical Visual Impairment– Special Achievers
5 Tips for the Best Vacation with your Child with Autism– Innovated Behavior
Genius School Supply List for Kindergarten & Beyond– Caroline Koehler
Teacher Resource Kit for Special Education Students– ASL Teaching Resources