Improve your students' decoding and spelling skills! With these syllable division games and independent closed and open syllable activities for Syllable Juncture Patterns, word study can be transformed into a fun and engaging time for our students in the Syllables and Affixes stage! This syllable division games bundle focuses on teaching students to identify the point at which two syllables join in conjunction with the consonant/vowel spelling pattern of the word in order to give them clues about how to appropriately pronounce, decode, and spell a word. Students will learn how to identify where syllables join in words with VCV, VCCV, and VV spelling patterns. They will also learn how to use their knowledge of open and closed syllables to determine whether a vowel sound is long or short.

The download for each sort includes a partner game and an independent game (that can also be modified to play with a partner). The partner games found in Unit 3 include a follow-the-path board game. The independent activities found in Unit 3 include a "Four In A Row" game.

It is my hope that these activities help you increase student engagement and personal teaching joy during word study, spelling, or word work. (Aligned to Word Sorts for Syllables and Affixes Spellers Unit 3: Sort 13-Sort 17)

→ → Save 33% with this bundle for the Syllable Juncture Syllables and Affixes Games and Activities Bundle Unit 3!

While these games and activities are aligned to Words Their Way, they can be used to complement any word study program or focus with your students. See the preview for detailed lists of the included words!

Sort Sets Included in the Unit 3 Bundle:

13: Syllable Juncture in VCV and VCCV Patterns

14: More Syllable Juncture in VCV and VCCV Patterns

15: Syllable Juncture in VCV and VVCV Patterns

16: Syllable Juncture in VCCCV and VV Patterns

17: Open and Closed Syllables and Inflected Endings

Whether you're looking for hands-on, engaging activities students can complete independently, partner games, centers, or ideas to spice up your small group lessons, these activities covering Syllable Juncture Patterns have done the creative thinking and planning for you! Versatility and consistency (not an oxymoron!) are built right in for you with all of the activities in the Unit 3 bundle having the same format, you won’t have to teach students how to play with each new word sort!

★ Partner Games ★

In the board games (sorts 13-17), students take turns determining which words on the game board correspond with the picture or spelling pattern hint they draw. Played much like "Candyland" with a little "Shoots and Ladders" twist.

✔ Teacher Directions

✔ Board Game

✔ Game Cards

✔ Student-Friendly Directions

✔ Recording Sheet

✔ Answer Key

Each partner game involves friendly competition and a recording sheet that makes it easy to check that students understood the word study concepts being studied and to hold them accountable for staying on task.

★ Independent Activities ★

In Four In A Row (sorts 13-17), students spin a spinner and find a word or image depicting a word on the game board that follows the vowel pattern or spelling change spun. They must cover the word or image, build the word with letter tiles (optional), and record it on their recording sheet. Their goal is to cover four words/images in a row (vertically, horizontally, or diagonally).

✔ Teacher Directions

✔ 4 Word Boards

✔ 2 Spinners with Student Friendly Directions Versions

✔ Letter Tiles for Building Words

✔ Recording Sheet

✔ Answer Key

* Everything comes in black and white and color versions!

Who are these games and activities for?

> > > These resources were developed with 3rd - 5th graders in mind, but could successfully be used in lower grades within small group lessons and with teacher guidance.

> > > These games and activities are designed for students in the middle of the Syllables and Affixes stage. These students often make spelling errors where syllable join, showing that they do not yet understand the connection between open and closed syllables and long and short vowel sounds. For example, they may spell "summer" as "sumer" or "tiger" as "tigger".

These activities provide a great way to add meaningful variety to your word study routine, keeping it fresh and interesting for students. With these activities, your word study block will be a time that students look forward to as they work to master these key spelling and word study concepts!