Mia wrote the word cap. Then she put an e at the end. Now it says cape! The e makes no sound. It helps the a say its name.
kitekit + ehopehop + ecubecub + e
It works with every vowel
The same trick works with every vowel. Kit turns into kite. Hop turns into hope. Cub turns into cube. Each time, the vowel says its name.
robshort orobelong o
Short or long?
How do you know which sound to use? Look at the end of the word first. See a silent e? Try the long sound. No silent e? Try the short sound.
cape
Do not say the e
The e stays quiet. Cape is not cap ee. You only hear the vowel change. The silent e is a helper you see but never hear.
tapshort atapelong a
Try this
Read tap, then tape. Which one has a long a? Tape does. Now read pin and pine. Which one has a long i? Pine does, thanks to its silent e.
For parents
Goal: Your child learns that a silent e at the end of a word makes the vowel say its name.
Write cap on paper, then add an e and read cape together. Talk about what changed.
Practice pairs: cap and cape, pin and pine, hop and hope, cub and cube, tub and tube, can and cane.
Say: the e is silent, but it is a helper. It makes the vowel say its name.
Away from the screen: Write short words like can, kit and hop on cards. Give your child an e card to slide onto the end, then read the new word together.