Study Zone Institute Teaching and learning made easy
The English language can be a maze for young learners and English as a Second Language (ESL) students. One of the biggest hurdles is navigating the different sounds a single letter can represent. Take the letter “o” for example. It can be both the short O sound in words like ‘dog’ and ‘got’, and the stretched-out, open ‘O long O’ sound in words like ‘old’, ‘total’, and ‘piano’.
This is where learning the ‘O long O’ sound becomes crucial. Our free downloadable word list and worksheet focusses specifically on words spelled with the letter O representing the long O sound. This resource is a valuable tool for helping children and ESL students gain confidence in their reading and spelling abilities.
Understanding the letter O as long O sound is important because the letter ‘o’ by itself can also represent the short O sound. This distinction can be confusing for new learners. By focussing on words spelled with this letter, children can solidify their understanding of this specific sound without the confusion of the short O.
Why learn letter O long O sound?
This approach of learning phonics, where children learn the relationship between sounds and letters, is far more beneficial than simply memorising words. Phonics empowers learners to become independent decoders, allowing them to sound out new words they encounter for the first time.
This is a valuable skill, especially when compared to simply memorising words through reading books. Not all children have access to a vast library, nor will they encounter every word in the English language through reading alone. Learning the sound equips them with the tools to tackle these tricky words head-on, regardless of their reading experience.
So, the next time you’re helping a young learner or ESL student with their English skills, consider incorporating resources that focus on the O making the long O sound. It’s a small investment that can yield big results in terms of reading fluency and spelling confidence.
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