Let’s talk about diphthongs! Specifically, we’re going to dive into the /ou/ and /ow/ sounds. A diphthong is just a fancy word for a sound made by combining two vowels. The tricky thing about these two is that both “ou” and “ow” can make the exact same sound, which can be confusing for young readers.
This article is designed to help educators like you find the best and most effective ways to teach the ins and outs of /ou/ and /ow/ words to your students.
Understanding the /ou/ and /ow/ Sounds
The letters “ou” and “ow” often make the same sound, but not always. To understand why, it helps to know a little bit about diphthongs, phonemes, and graphemes.
What are diphthongs?
A diphthong is when you blend two vowel sounds together within one syllable. When you say a word with a diphthong, your mouth moves as you pronounce the sound.
Both /ou/ and /ow/ represent a single sound, even though they’re spelled with two letters.
Phonemes and graphemes
A phoneme is a unit of sound in a language, and a grapheme is the way that sound is represented with letters. The /ou/ and /ow/ sounds are each represented by different graphemes.
The letter combinations “ou” and “ow” are sometimes called “vowel digraphs” or “vowel teams” because they’re two letters that team up to make one vowel sound.
Decoding /ou/ and /ow/: Spelling Patterns and Rules
The “ou” and “ow” letter combinations can be tricky, but there are some helpful rules to remember.
- “ou” usually comes at the start of a word or in the middle. Think of words like ouch, out, and shout.
- “ow” usually comes at the end of a word or right before the letters ‘n’ or ‘l’. Some examples are bow, cow, and brown.
Of course, there are always exceptions! Sometimes, “ow” sounds more like the long “o” in the word “window.” As you learn, pay attention to which sound each word makes.
When in doubt, try sounding out the word both ways to see which pronunciation makes the most sense!
What should students know before learning about ou and ow?
Before tackling the ou and ow sounds, kids should have a few skills locked down. First, they need a solid understanding of phonological awareness – that’s being able to hear and play with the sounds in words. They should also know their short and long vowel sounds. Can they pick out the different sounds in a word and move them around? If so, they’re probably ready to learn ou and ow. You can test their readiness with a quick pre-assessment.
Instructional strategies for teaching /ou/ and /ow/
Here are some techniques that can help you teach kids to read and spell words with the /ou/ and /ow/ sounds.
Explicit instruction and modeling
Start by telling students about the /ou/ and /ow/ sounds and pointing out the different ways they can be spelled. Model the correct way to pronounce words containing the sounds.
Sound mapping
Use evidence-based practices like sound mapping to help kids connect sounds to letter combinations. Give them chances to practice with interactive tools and games.
Multi-sensory activities
Get students involved and reinforce their learning with activities that tap into multiple senses. Word sorts, matching games, and clip cards can be very helpful. You can even color-code cards to help kids keep track of the different spellings of the /ou/ and /ow/ sounds.
Oral manipulation
Encourage kids to play around with words and sounds to help them understand where the sounds fit into different words. For example, you might ask them to change “cow” into “how” or “loud” into “found.”
Activities and games for practicing /ou/ and /ow/
Once your students have had some instruction in how the /ou/ and /ow/ sounds are formed, you can reinforce the concepts with fun activities and games.
- Word sorts: Have students group words based on whether they contain “ou” or “ow.”
- Games: Incorporate games like tic-tac-toe, using /ou/ and /ow/ words. The “Firefighter Phonics” game is a favorite with many teachers.
- Word building: Use word-building cards to allow students to create words containing the target sounds.
- Diphthong word mapping templates: Templates like these are a great way for students to visually represent the sounds they are learning.
These activities can make learning the /ou/ and /ow/ sounds more engaging and effective for students.
Resources for Teaching /ou/ and /ow/
There are tons of great tools and platforms to help kids learn to read words with the /ou/ and /ow/ sounds. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Wordabase: This free website has word lists, games, and other resources.
- The Hive: This is a digital platform with phonics apps and activities.
- RAN word lists: These lists are great for extra practice.
- Florida Center for Reading Research: This website has free resources for teachers and parents.
- West Virginia Phonics: Another great source of free phonics materials.
Final Thoughts
Mastering the /ou/ and /ow/ diphthongs can be tricky! Remember that explicit instruction, engaging multi-sensory activities, and plenty of practice are key. If you’re a teacher, I hope the resources and strategies shared here will help you guide your students toward reading success.