Closed In: Why the Vowel Stays Short

Here is a handy pattern. When a word has one vowel and a consonant comes after it, the vowel is usually short. The consonant closes the vowel in, like a door.

'Hop', 'sled', 'chin', and 'lunch' all have one vowel shut in by consonants, so they are short. This pattern tells you which sound to try first. Look at 'drum'. One vowel, u, closed in by m. So try short u: /d/ /r/ /u/ /m/, drum.

Most of the words you read in first grade follow this pattern.

• 1One vowel followed by a consonant is usually short.
• 2The consonant closes the vowel in.
• 3Use the pattern to choose a sound first.