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March 9, 2024

Tips on How to Teach Team Vowels





We all know how tricky teaching team vowels can get, so whether you're a teacher, a parent, or simply someone passionate about education, I hope these strategies will spark some excitement in your teaching journey.


Now, when it comes to teaching team vowels (also known as diphthongs), it's essential to make the learning experience engaging and interactive. Here are a few ideas that I've found to be both effective and enjoyable for learners of all ages:

  • Introduce Each Vowel Team: Start by introducing each vowel team (e.g., ai, ay, ee, ea) with visual aids and examples. Explain the sounds they make and provide words that use these vowel teams.
  • Use Visuals and Stories: Create stories or visual images to help students remember the vowel teams. For example, for “ai” you could say, “When ‘a’ and ‘i’ are together, they play a game and say ‘a’ (as in ‘rain’).”
  • Word Sorting: Have students sort words into categories based on their vowel teams. This helps them recognize patterns and understand the different sounds.
  • Interactive Activities: Use games, songs, and hands-on activities to make learning fun. Activities like matching games, word hunts, and vowel team bingo can be very effective.
  • Repetition and Practice: Provide plenty of opportunities for students to practice reading and writing words with vowel teams. Repetition helps reinforce their learning.

  • Contextual Reading: Encourage students to read books or passages that contain a high number of their target vowel teams. This helps them see how these teams function in context.
  • Word hunts: Turn your classroom into a treasure hunt by organizing word hunts that focus on team vowels. Provide clues or riddles that lead students to find words containing specific team vowels. This activity not only promotes critical thinking but also allows learners to actively search for and identify team vowels in context.
  • Collaborative projects: Foster teamwork and creative thinking by assigning collaborative projects centered around team vowels. For example, you could have students create comic strips or write short stories that incorporate words with team vowels. This encourages them to think outside the box and apply their knowledge in a meaningful way.
  • Phonics Rules: Teach the general rules for when to use certain vowel teams (like “ai” in the middle of words and “ay” at the end).
  • Assessment and Feedback: Regularly assess students’ understanding and provide feedback. Use both formal and informal assessments to gauge their progress.
  • Differentiated Instruction: Tailor your teaching methods to meet the diverse needs of your students. Some may need more visual cues, while others might benefit from auditory or kinesthetic learning activities.
  • Encourage Writing: Have students use vowel teams in their own writing. This could be through journaling, creative writing, or sentence construction exercises.

Remember, the key to successful teaching is to make learning enjoyable and relatable. By incorporating these tips and fun ideas into your teaching repertoire, you'll create an engaging environment that inspires your learners to confidently master team vowels.


So go ahead and try out these strategies in your classroom or learning setting. Embrace the joy of teaching and watch as your learners become more proficient in their understanding and usage of team vowels. Happy teaching!


You can find some fantastic resources related to team vowels to explore further:


Vowel Team Word List Fluency Practice Cards

Vowel Team Mini Word Books

Vowel Team Word Search Puzzle

 Long a AI AY Vowel Team Worksheets and Activities NO PREP


These resources will complement your teaching strategies and provide additional support for your learners. Enjoy exploring and incorporating them into your classroom!


XOXO    Vanessa

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