There are two sections in this resource:

Overview of Adding Vowel Suffixes to CVC and Silent e Base Words
Video Demonstration

The estimated time to complete this resource is 25 minutes.

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Lesson Plan
Lesson Materials
Word List
Video Transcript

Vowel suffixes are simply suffixes that begin with a vowel, such as -ed, -es, -ing, -er, -y, -en, -est, or -able. Remember, a suffix is always added to the end of a base word.

Here's a helpful strategy designed to help students spell CVC and silent e base words that change when adding a vowel suffix.

If the word has a vowel suffix, use the following rules:

• If the base word ends in a CVC pattern, double the final consonant in the base word before adding the suffix (the doubling rule). For example, when the vowel suffix -er is added to the word big, the final g is doubled and the word becomes bigger (big + er = bigger).
• If the base word ends in a silent e, drop the e before adding the suffix (the silent e rule). For example, when the vowel suffix -ing is added to the word make, the silent e is dropped and the word becomes making (make + ing = making).

If a double consonant precedes a vowel suffix, the vowel in the base word is short. If a single consonant precedes a vowel suffix, the vowel in the base word is long.

Teaching students about vowel suffixes will help students to read larger, more complex words and discover their meaning.

This video demonstrates how to teach students to read and spell CVC and silent e base words that change when a vowel suffix is added.

Click play on the video when you're ready to begin.

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