Word Analysis:
Diphthongs
Introduction:
Students who have learned about vowel digraphs are ready to learn about an exception:
diphthongs. This strategy provides direct instruction for words that contain four common
diphthongs: ou, ow, oi, and oy.
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Strategy: Reading Words with Vowel Diphthongs Materials Needed:
Show the student the card with the words out and cow.
Say: Here are two words that have two vowels together. For these words, the two
vowels put together make a sound that is entirely different from the sound each
vowel usually makes. Say these words after me as I read them. Listen to the vowel
sound in each one.
Point to out.
Say: This word is out. The o and the u say /ou/ in out. Read out now, and listen to the
vowel sound that you hear.
After the student says “out,” point to cow.
Say: This word is cow. The o and the w say /ou/ in cow. Read cow now, and listen to the
vowel sound that you hear.
After the student says “cow,”
Say: When you read out and cow, there is no difference in the vowel sound that you
hear in the word. But there is a difference in the letters you see that make this
vowel sound. There are two ways that this vowel sound can be spelled. Look at out
and cow. What are the two ways that /ou/ can be spelled in a word? (ou and ow)
Show the student the Practice Words Card for ou/ow.
Say: Now read these words.
On the Student Record Form, record the student’s responses.
If the student was able to read most of the words, show the student the Sentences Card for
ou/ow.
Say: These sentences contain many words like those you just read. Read these
sentences.
On the Student Record Form, record the student’s responses.
Show the student the card with the words join and boy.
Say: Here are two more words that have two vowels together. These two vowels put
together also make a sound that is entirely different from the sound each vowel
usually makes. Say these words after me as I read them. Listen to the vowel sound
in each one.
Point to join.
Say: This word is join. The o and the i say /oi/ in join. Say join now, and listen to the
vowel sound that you hear.
After the student says “join,” point to boy.
Say: This word is boy. The o and the y say /oi/ in boy. Say boy now, and listen to the
vowel sound that you hear.
After the student says “boy,”
Say: When you read join and boy, there is no difference in the vowel sound that you
hear in the word. Is there a difference in the letters you see that make this vowel
sound? (yes) There are two ways that this vowel sound can be spelled. What are
the two ways that /oi/ can be spelled in a word? (oi and oy)
Show the student the Practice Words Card for oi/oy.
Say: Now read these words.
On the Student Record Form, record the student’s responses.
If the student was able to read most of the words, show the student the Sentences Card for oi/oy.
Say: Now read these sentences.
On the Student Record Form, record the student’s responses.
Interpreting and Using TTS Results:For those students who have difficulty acquiring this decoding skill, word sorts using cards that
contain vowel digraphs and vowel diphthongs can be helpful. As with many phonics skills,
simple games also can be constructed to provide variety in practice activities.
