Create a Special Closed Syllable box to hold keyword objects
Just when your students finally have their short vowel sounds down, along comes special closed syllables such as ind, ild, old and all that break the short vowel rules. In order to help students remember the keywords that help them remember the special closed syllables, I created a “Special Closed Syllable Box.”
As each special closed syllable is introduced, an object representing the keyword is put in the box. In each subsequent lesson, have the student tell you what’s in the box to make sure they can remember all the special closed syllables they have previously worked on.
For the box, I used a check box, and printed out an index card with a closed door (representing the closed syllable) and a star (representing “special!”) You can download a copy of this graphic to print on a 3×5 index card HERE.
As for the objects to put in the box, for “ind,” I used keyword blind and made a “Braille” index card that had “ind” punched into it using a push-pin. For “ild,” I put an UNO WILD card into the box. For “old,” I put in a “gold” charm, and for “all,” used a Ping-Pong ball.
Having tangible objects that students can pick up and put in (and take out of) the box helps them remember which sounds are the special exceptions to the closed syllable sounds.