Vowels: Short Sounds a e i o u

Each vowel has a short sound and long sound. We learn the short sounds first.

a ant

This is the short sound of the vowel /a/

Watch the video, then draw the letter a, saying the letter-sound and the key word “ant” as you draw the letter (you can look at the practice sheet for reference for correct letter formation).

Common spellings of /a/ sound: ant, mat, sat, Pat, tap

Very rare spellings of the /a/ sound include: a_e as in the word ‘have’, ai as in ‘plaid’, al as in ‘half’, au as in ‘laugh’.

e egg

This is the short sound of the vowel /e/

Watch the video, then draw the letter, saying the letter-sound and the key word “egg” as you draw the letter e (you can look at the practice sheet for reference for correct letter formation).

Common spellings of the /e/ sound: bed, ten, leg, men, pen

Advanced/rare spellings of the /e/ sound include 'ea' (head), 'ai' (said), 'ie' (friend)

i in

This is the short sound of the vowel /i/

Watch the video, then draw the letter i, saying the letter-sound and the key word “in” as you draw the letter (you can look at the practice sheet for reference for correct letter formation).

Common spellings of the /i/ sound: it, is, in, fit, sit, big, tip, dig

Advanced spellings of the /i/ sound include the letter ‘y’ in words like gym, myth, and ‘i_e’ in words like give

o on

This is the short sound of the vowel /o/

Watch the video, then draw the letter o, saying the letter-sound and the key word “on” as you draw the letter (you can look at the practice sheet for reference for correct letter formation).

Common spellings of the /o/ sound: on, hot, dog, lot, got, frog, stop

Rare spellings of the /o/ sound often follow the letters w or qu in words like was, want, watch, qualify

u up

The is the short sound of the vowel /u/

Watch the video, then draw the letter u, saying the letter-sound and the key word “up” as you draw the letter (you can look at the practice sheet for reference for correct letter formation).

Common spellings of the /u/ sound: up, bug, fun, run, sun, nut, jump

Super advanced spelling of the /u/ sound include:
- the spelling ‘ou’ like in ‘country’, ‘enough’, ‘young’, ‘touch’
- the spelling ‘o’ like in ‘love’, ‘some’, ‘honey’, ‘mother’, ‘son’
- the spelling ‘oo’ like in ‘flood’, ‘blood’