Blending Routine for Multisyllabic Words

Multisyllabic words are a big milestone for students. Supporting them as they become more skilled and confident is an important job and I know you’re up for the task! Luckily, there are short and effective routines we can add to each of our student’s toolboxes to help them decode larger words. This is the third post in the Decoding Multi-Syllable Words series. For previous posts, scroll to the end of this page for all the links.

Decoding Multisyllabic Words

If you prefer watching and listening, here's a great video tutorial that walks you through the five steps in this blending routine.

Step 2: Guided Practice

This portion of the lesson is a lot of “We Do.” You'll start by adding a list of words to the board that all include the silent E syllable in them. An example multisyllabic word list is: include, homework, inside, ninety. Go through your list of words and underline the silent E syllable in each word. Continue to vocalize everything you are doing and thinking while you underline. As a group, work together to sound out the syllable with silent E and long vowels. Then, sound out the second syllable and blend the two syllables together to read the whole word.

Step 3: Practice Using Longer Words

Now, we're beginning that slow release of responsibility to your students. Start by writing down two columns of words.

1. In the first column write a few more vowel plus silent E syllables. For example pole, side, lone, pede, and line.
2. In the second column write down multisyllabic words that contain those syllables. For example tadpole, sidewalk, alone, stampede, and feline.
3. Ask your students to chorally read the word or syllables in the first column. You've been practicing this so they should feel pretty confident.

If students are struggling to read the syllables in the first column then stop and take a step back. Take a look at the How to Introduce the 6 Syllable Types post. It has strategies and activities to use for specific syllable types your students may be struggling with.

1. Once they've read the first column of words, ask students to find and say the silent E syllable in the words in the second column.
2. At this point, you can underline for them on your teacher board or students can write down the words on their own boards (or notebook) to underline.
3. Have students chorally read the entire word. You can point to each word in random order and at varying speeds. This builds fluency and helps your students pay close attention to the syllable patterns in each word.

This scaffolding allows students to readily recognize common words parts and longer unfamiliar words. It makes the reading of multi-syllable words much easier for students.

Step 4: Building Multisyllabic Words

Help students build words containing the syllable type you’re currently practicing. For our example, students will practice building words with silent E syllables using letter cards, tiles, or magnets.

If you need letter sets for students the Small Group & Intervention Literacy Kit has printable letter cards that can be crafted into DIY student word-building tools.

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