This post is all about CVC words and how to teach them in a fun way! CVC words, or consonant-vowel-consonant words, are some of the first words that young learners are introduced to when they begin to read. This ultimate guide will provide you with everything you need to know to make teaching CVC words a success. Read on for printable word lists, and activities for teaching the CVC pattern.
What are CVC words?
CVC simply stands for Consonant Vowel Consonant. These are the simple (usually) three-letter words that beginning readers learn to read first. A few examples of CVC words are cat, dog, map, hot, etc. CVC words can be read when little ones can blend the sounds in the word together. To read these simple words, children need to know letter sounds including short vowel sounds, and have a strong phonemic awareness understanding.
What are short vowels?
Short vowels are the standard pronunciation of vowels. In the English language, the vowel letters: a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes y. Vowels are letters that represent speech sounds where air leaves the mouth without any blockage by the tongue, lips, or throat. These are examples of short vowel words:
- a as cat
- i as in six
- e as in bed
- o as in cob
- u as in rug
Are CVC words closed syllable words?
A closed syllable is a syllable that ends in a consonant. The vowel will always be a short vowel when it is closed in by a consonant. CVC words are an example of closed syllables and the first syllable type to teach.
Why are CVC words important for young readers?
CVC words are important for young readers because they provide a foundation for reading and phonics skills. By learning to sound out and read CVC words, children develop their ability to decode and recognize words, which is essential for reading fluency. Additionally, CVC words are often used in early reading materials, so mastering them early on can help children feel confident and successful in their reading abilities.
When should students learn CVC words?
CVC words are typically taught in Kindergarten and reviewed again in first grade. At this age, students are learning the sounds that individual letters make so it makes sense that they are ready to blend these sounds together. Lots of practice is helpful in the early stages of reading.
CVC Word Lists
Below you will find a list of CVC words organized by the vowel. These lists include a variety of CVC words.
Short A Words
- cat
- hat
- mat
- sat
- pat
- rat
- bat
- fat
- chat
- flat
- glad
- mad
- dad
- pad
- sad
- bag
- rag
- tag
- wag
- jam
- ham
- clam
- plan
- van
- fan
- pan
- tan
- can
- ran
Short E Words
- bed
- red
- wet
- net
- pet
- jet
- pen
- hen
- men
- ten
- beg
- leg
- peg
- den
- fed
- led
- wed
- web
- vet
- met
- get
- set
- bet
- let
Short I Words
- bib
- lid
- dig
- tin
- pin
- win
- sit
- kit
- hit
- bit
- rip
- hip
- dip
- nip
- lip
- fix
- mix
- six
- wig
- jig
- big
- fig
- pig
- rig
- zip
Short O Words
- cot
- dot
- hot
- lot
- not
- pot
- rot
- got
- jog
- fog
- hog
- log
- sob
- mob
- rob
- top
- hop
- pop
- mop
- cop
- box
- fox
- cod
- pod
- nod
Short U Words
- bun
- fun
- gun
- hut
- nut
- rut
- cut
- gut
- jut
- hut
- mug
- dug
- tug
- bug
- hug
- jug
- bus
- cub
- bud
- mud
- sun
- run
- gum
- sum
- hum
Free CVC Word List
Below you will find a list of CVC words organized by the vowel. These free printable lists can be used by younger readers to practice reading short vowel CVC words.
This word list can be used as a warm-up activity for a small group. Students can practice reading each word and highlighting them as they go. You can also cut them apart into smaller word lists too!
Teaching CVC Words
Teaching little ones to read is an exciting time! The first step in teaching CVC words is teaching letter sounds. Once students understand consonant sounds and short vowel sounds; they are ready for blending sounds together.
Elkonin Boxes
Elkonin boxes have always been one of my favorite tools for helping beginning readers hear individual phonemes in words and practice segmenting and blending. The Science of Reading program focuses heavily on this type of instruction as well.
Using these boxes helps give students a visual to represent sounds. Students will also begin thinking about whole words including the beginning sound, middle sound, and ending sound.
What are Elkonin boxes?
Elkonin boxes, also called sound boxes are a visual tool for helping students to map the phonemes that they hear in a word. Hearing the sounds in each word is an auditory skill and a great place to start teaching CVC words. You can draw your own boxes or use these printable ones! Using Elkonin boxes and counters (like bingo chips) students will orally segment phonemes or sounds in various three phoneme words.
On each card you will find a picture of a CVC word and one box for each sound. Start with putting three counters on the mat, one below each box. Then say the word to students. Then students will repeat the word back. Next, say the word slowly together separating the sounds in the word. Then, students will say the word slowly and push a counter into each box as they say each sound in the word. Finally, students will say the word again and slide their fingers across the arrow.
For example, for the word “gum”, you would push a counter forward into each box for each sound that you say. “g/u/m”. After you push the sounds forward, you then slide your finger across the arrow to exaggerate how the word is read, left to right.
Check out, Elknonin Boxes to print these cards for your students! Blank three-sound boxes are also included and can be used with any three phoneme words. A list of three phoneme words is also included in the resource!
Decodable Readers and Workbooks
Decodable readers are books that are specifically designed to help children learn to read and contain words that children are learning to decode. They are usually arranged in a specific order to match the child’s reading level. The aim of decodable readers is to provide children with the opportunity to practice their phonics skills and build their confidence as they read real words.
The books contain a high proportion of words made up of the phonemes (sounds) that children have been taught, as well as a small number of words that cannot yet be decoded. This allows children to practice their newly acquired phonics knowledge in a meaningful context and practice reading simple sentences.
Here are a few decodable readers and workbooks to help with learning:
Sight words are also prevalent in early reading books. You can learn more about teaching high-frequency words in this post, Complete List of Kindergarten Sight Words.
Fun Activities for CVC Words
These fun activities are a great way for students to practice building, reading, and writing CVC words.
CVC Word Picture Match
Beginning readers will love using these CVC Word Picture Match Cards to practice reading CVC words! Students will read each CVC word and find the matching picture.
Headers are included in this resource for students to sort CVC words and/or pictures by short vowel sound or word family as well. Over 150 CVC words are included!
CVC Words Printable Worksheet
Printable worksheets can be helpful for students to practice reading. These printable worksheets are included as a free bonus worksheet inside this product.
First, students will read each word. Then they will cut and glue the word next to the matching picture. This CVC worksheet makes a great assessment activity for younger children and perfect for independent practice.
Puzzles with CVC Words
These simple puzzles are perfect for practicing CVC words! They require no preparation or printing and they can be used again and again. Plus. the picture support helps little ones!
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Big Box of Little Word Puzzles (20 Puzzles)
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CVC Word Puzzles (12 Puzzles)
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3 Letter Word Puzzles (20 Puzzles)
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$18.80
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$11.99
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$11.99
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CVC Word Bingo
BINGO is a fun way to learn! This CVC Word Bingo Game comes with 22 different game boards so it can be played in a small or whole group. Students will love reading simple CVC words while looking for matching pictures on their boards. This game is so much fun and helps develop a strong foundation for reading.
CVC Word Egg Hunt
In this fun activity, students will open each different colored plastic egg and find a picture inside. Then students will find the new word on the response sheet and color it to match the plastic egg. You can download this activity for free in this post, CVC Word Egg Hunt Activity.
This is a wonderful spring or Easter activity, but can definitely be used at any point during the school year!
CVC Word Stamping
For this activity, students will stamp and spell the CVC word that goes with each picture! Each box represents the individual sounds in each CVC word. These worksheets are perfect for small-group practice or to use in a word work center.
You could even give students two different stamp pad colors and encourage them to stamp the consonants and vowels in different colors. These worksheets are part of the product, Word Work Activities for Kindergarten Using Letter Stamps.
Picture Cards
Picture cards with boxes to fill in each missing letter are a great way to practice different words.
You can easily make your picture cards own or purchase some already made! Here are a few sets available on Amazon for purchase!
In conclusion, CVC words are words that follow the consonant-vowel-consonant pattern. The vowel makes the short sound in each word. After students have mastered CVC words they are ready to read more complex words!