Why is so much attention given to vowel sounds?

Vowels are sounds formed in the throat with the assistance of the tongue and mouth, and can be spoken alone. Consonants are formed by controlling the breath flow and shape of the mouth and tongue, and cannot be spoken alone. Those who think they are teaching a consonant sound are usually adding the schwa sound "uh", such as pronouncing "b" as "buh." Pronouncing a simple word such as cat by sounding "kuh-ah-tuh" confuses many students. By knowing the correct vowel sound or sounds for words, students can avoid saying "uh" with each consonant. The color hints help to minimize guessing and increase confidence.

How does color help students know which sound to use?

A single vowel letter can represent many sounds. This can be very confusing for new readers, but Reading with Color makes the vowel sounds easier to identify and understand. For instance, an A can represent these sounds, shown by six different colors:

• a long vowel a, as in ape

• short vowel a, as in apple

• short u (called schwa), as in around or about

• a sound controlled by an l, r or ng as in ball, bar, bang

• silent, as in meat

• a less common sound such as a in draw

How long should I continue using color hints on my student's words?

You can use color hints as often as you prefer. Many beginning readers will start improving after just a few games or activities. Other students will benefit most with frequent use of color hints. The colors help take the mystery out of reading by letting students know which parts of words should be sounded out and which parts are irregular.

Who thought of the idea for Reading With Color?

The author is Elinor Boeke, a retired reading teacher and tutor. She gives credit to God for inspiring her to use color when she taught her students. Over many years of using color letters for reading activities, she has refined her techniques. Elinor wants to share her ideas with others so more people can learn to read God's word in the Bible. To contact Elinor, use the Contact Form. She hopes to hear from you!