Do your students often find trouble with vowel sounds? Maybe they use ‘e’ instead of ‘a’, or ‘i’ instead of ‘e’? Or they may simply require more practice? Teaching vowel sounds can be challenging at times. But, there are no shortcuts to this because without differentiating between the vowel sounds, students won’t read, write, or even spell words correctly. 

Fortunately, learning these vowel sounds does not have to be tedious. This post will look at some animated, fun, and engaging vowel games that will help your young student master the sounds easily. 

Are games really needed for learning vowels?

Vowels are the sounds you make just by flowing air over your vocal cords, and their name comes from the Latin word vox, which means “voice.” Linguists believe they don’t require any friction because the sound is produced without the use of the tongue, teeth, or lips. To make distinct vowel sounds, you must change the shape of your mouth. 

You can’t expect your child to know the vowels just by giving a technical description. So, how to get started? Easy! One can begin by having fun and playing online games and apps. These games and apps can benefit in the following ways-

1. Students learn to decrypt and decipher unfamiliar words, as games help them understand a word and the various syllables. This way, little learners do not have to memorize the words that need an extensive vocabulary. ‘Rare words’ that are otherwise challenging to grasp for kindergarteners become easy, as they often hear the word in the games. 
2. Children become more fluent readers right from their inception. When they have fun reading vowels and multisyllabic words, they get into the habit of reading unfamiliar words faster.
3. Classrooms can be super competitive for the student. Many children might even shy away from answering a question because of the fear of answering it incorrectly. However, when they play games, their only competition is themselves. This results in less awkwardness and better results.
4. Games help in understanding the rules of vowels better. The child might be curious to know why ‘umbrella’ starts with ‘an’ but ‘unique’ would not have the ‘an’, even when both start with the letter ‘U.’ This rule of exception can be explained better with the help of games. 

Fun online vowel games for kindergarteners

Unlike consonants, each vowel can make more than one sound or could be completely silent, having no sound at all. The distinction between long and short sounds is the most difficult aspect of teaching vowels. Many of the reading challenges we see in literacy classes at school are caused by confusion with the sounds or a lack of understanding of the role of vowels in words. 

But don’t worry; we’ll help you out. Here are a few of the best vowel games for young learners to help them comprehend the differences between vowel sounds and master them rapidly.

1. Long and Short Vowel Sort

In this game, the students are challenged to sort all the pictures with long vowels into one cart and short vowels into another. This also helps them decipher letter-sound correlations. Thanks to its colorful arrangement and great animations, which keep the students engaged for longer periods.

2. Short and Long Vowels Games for Kids

This is a fun balloon-popping game that helps little kids learn vowels. Spending a few minutes playing this game will improve their skills with short and long vowel sounds. The gameplay involves reading the prompt displayed at the top and popping the balloon, which has a word containing the correct vowel sound.

Players can choose to practice between short vowels, long vowels, or both. Based on the selection, prompts appear on the screen. The catchy music and the fun challenge of popping fast-moving balloons are the highlights of this fun game, which can be played using a mouse or a touchscreen.

3. Vowel Pairs Cat Food Spelling

There is a central character named Roly in this online gameplay who is on the lookout for vowel-pair words. Students are supposed to create words with common vowels they are provided with to obtain food for Roly. But, because the clock is ticking, students need to act quickly. This game is so much fun that the kindergarteners will learn the vowel sounds without even realizing it. It is great for learning simple words and homophones. 

4. Silent E Word Sort

Silent E transforms short vowel words into long vowel words. By spotting this typical spelling pattern, youngsters learn how to categorize long and short vowels in this phonics game. Children can enhance fundamental reading abilities in a fun way by practicing this important rule in this enjoyable school-themed game. 

5. Short A Photoshoot

Challenge your child to locate things in this wonderful evening landscape that shorten the sound to help them develop vowel sounds. He’ll first peek through Officer Ice Cream’s special X-ray camera, then snap photos of all the goods whose names begin with the letter A. This game helps youngsters distinguish vowel sounds in words for genuinely good phonics practice even when they don’t see the words spelled out.

6. Spot The Silent E Words: Camping

Long vowels are important in first grade; let your youngster learn about silent e-words while having fun with this charming camping scenario! Early learners search the campground for silent e-words. Kids will be having so much fun playing detective that they won’t even realize they’re learning long vowel words.

7. Short Vowel Games

In this short vowel game, players are given a set of pictures and their names. But the challenge here is that each name has a missing vowel. Players must pick the correct vowel from the list of vowels displayed at the top and drag it to the empty space provided. If their choice of vowel is correct, the word is read out by a voice prompt. If incorrect, a buzzer sound tells them to try the challenge one more time.

The power of vowels

The way we perceive a language is greatly influenced by vowels. Focusing on them is especially crucial in English, as it is a non-phonetic language.

Knowing vowels is a prerequisite for understanding and writing in the language. Create a string of consonants and ask your young one to read it out. They will quickly realize that vowels give meaning to words and help them read properly. From the initial stages of their reading skills development, kindergarteners must be introduced to the power of vowels.

Once the students have a firm grasp of the vowels and the sounds they reflect, they can apply what they’ve learned. For young children, decoding words and learning the laws of vowels in context opens up a whole new world of learning and reading. One of the essential building elements along the route is the understanding of vowels.

Final thoughts

Initially, children find it challenging to learn short vowels and their sounds. Spelling tests just add to their burden, especially if they find it difficult to distinguish them. As a result, reading is difficult for them as well. When it comes to reading difficulties, children frequently have similar issues across grade levels. If the basics are not clear in the beginning, students may find it challenging to read fluently in the next grades.

It’s easy to teach vowels using fun online games as long as you remember to be consistent and have fun with them. Aim for at least 5-15 minutes each day for such fun sessions. It won’t be long before your young learner is reading it to you.

Manpreet Singh

An engineer, Maths expert, Online Tutor and animal rights activist. In more than 5+ years of my online teaching experience, I closely worked with many students struggling with dyscalculia and dyslexia. With the years passing, I learned that not much effort being put into the awareness of this learning disorder. Students with dyscalculia often misunderstood for having  just a simple math fear. This is still an underresearched and understudied subject. I am also the founder of Smartynote -‘The notepad app for dyslexia’, 

The post 7 Online Vowel Games For Kindergarteners appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

While videos with colorful components can be a good option, a game designed specifically for the purpose is your best choice. A video game, will not only provide the students with audio-visual aids but also help them to indulge in interactive learning. 

How can online games help kids to learn?

Game-based learning is a new phenomenon in the sector of education. While audio and video have been used in schools and institutions for a long time, app-based learning is a new trend. There are many reasons why an online game can prove to be more effective in helping a student get a clear idea of vowels and consonants. Let us look at some of them:-

1. Beneficial to memory 

When a child plays a game to understand a core concept in the English language, they can memorize it better. This is because of the involvement of visual aids which help the brain to retain information. 

2. Increases attention to detail 

To engage in a game, one has to take into consideration a number of factors that go beyond the basic information provided. This is the reason why a student has to focus on all the big and small parts of the gaming procedure to actually indulge in it. 

3. Enhances problem-solving skills 

An online game is different from a video that explains a certain concept and theory. One actually has to play a game, which means the player has to solve problems that arise. This helps the student to gain important skills related to problem-solving. 

Best online Vowel learning games for kids

Online video games for kids about vowels can be of various kinds. Different games include different ways in which they draw the attention of the students, engage them, and make the concepts of vowels and consonants clear to them. Through the following list, let us look at some of the games that are available online that can be used by students to sharpen their skills regarding vowels –

1. Vowel Pairs Cat Food Spelling 

The central character in this game is Roly, the cat. Roly needs to be fed food and that can only happen when the user or the player creates words with vowels that are provided to them. This is a fast-paced game and children need to concentrate and act fast while playing this. This helps them to build and retain concentration for a longer time. Apart from vowels, children also get to practice spelling and homophones.

The engaging nature of the game keeps it from being boring and that is why kids can go on playing it even for hours. This game is best suited for 2nd-grade students. 

Game Link: Web App

2. Long and Short vowel sort

Best suited for kindergarten or first-grade kids, this game deals with long and short vowels as the name suggests. Once in the game, the player is provided with a list of objects ranging from ice cream to elephants. The game is to sort out the words with long vowels from the ones with short vowels. There are separate carts where the child is supposed to put the words that are suitable.

This game concentrates on the sounds of the words and the relationship between a letter and the sound associated with it. With its colorful arrangement and life-like animation, this keeps children hooked to it for long periods of time. 

GameLink: Web App

3. Silent E Word Sort

This is a Phonics game that helps children to differentiate between short and long vowel words. In this game, the player has to sort out the words with short vowel sounds from the words with long vowel words. They are also required to change or transform these words.

The visuals of the game are set in a school. However, the use of bright colors and elements used make it attractive to children. This helps the students playing the game to feel a balance of work and play. This game is best suited for children in the first or second grade. 

Game Link: Appstore | Web App

4. Bossy R Words spelling 

This game deals with “R” words and connects them to the use of vowels. Players are supposed to fix a bridge by completing words that have a vowel and R in them, for example – “nurse” or “fern”. The action to be performed is to save a vehicle from falling off a crack on a bridge, by repairing it with complete words.

This is a fun game because it provides the gamer with a rush to save the bus. This helps the students playing the game to understand how to work under tense situations. The Bossy R words spelling game is best suited for students in the second grade as it helps them to learn complex words and the relationship of vowels to the R-sounding words.

Game Link: Web App

5. Vowel Team Spelling 

This game is similar to the previous one in the list in many aspects. The basic setup of the game includes a bus for school kids and an obstacle in the form of the absence of a bridge. In this game, the player is supposed to use their knowledge of vowel words, and their pronunciation and apply them correctly when necessary.

The player has to provide a word before the bus stops each time. This word will be created by their knowledge of vowel teams and the relationship between letters and sounds related to vowels. Providing the word saves the bus from meeting with an accident. This game helps the students to practice complex words, their spellings, vowel sounds, and homophones. The Vowel Team Spelling game is best suited for second graders. 

Game Link: Web App

6. Short Vowel Sort 

The short vowel sort game has the same interface as the “R” word game discussed before. The game takes place in the setup of a classroom with interesting characters that appeal to a child’s imagination. In this game, the player is supposed to identify and sort out words that have short vowels.

However, the process is lengthy. In the first step, the words are presented to the player, thereafter they have to listen to the pronunciation of the word and only then, they can sort it out. This process is beneficial to the students because it helps them to associate with the words in terms of both reading and hearing. Majorly meant for first-grade children, this fun game can be played by even senior students who face problems in identifying short vowel words. 

Game Link: Web App

Why is the in-depth knowledge of vowels important?

Vowels are an integral part of reading, writing, and speaking. Every word ever created either has a vowel or a vowel sound. This is the main reason why learning vowels is extremely crucial. If a student is unconfident and unaware of the various vowel sounds, it is most likely that they will face problems in reading and writing in the future. This is the reason why children should learn about the versatility of vowels.

Apart from the basic use of vowels, one must also be informed about the importance of it in differentiating between words with the same combination of consonants but different meanings. While vowels have been taught traditionally all this while, with changing times, educators and parents are growing more open to the concept of the use of video games to inculcate the concept of vowels both in terms of writing and speaking, into the children. 

Video games have the power to engage the different senses, especially of children. This leads them to retain concentration and learn more. Video games also provide the players with a feeling of achievement due to the reward systems. Such boosts encourage them and build interest in them as well. We hope that the curated list of games will help your students, children, or wards to get a clear concept of vowels while having fun. 

Manpreet Singh

An engineer, Maths expert, Online Tutor and animal rights activist. In more than 5+ years of my online teaching experience, I closely worked with many students struggling with dyscalculia and dyslexia. With the years passing, I learned that not much effort being put into the awareness of this learning disorder. Students with dyscalculia often misunderstood for having  just a simple math fear. This is still an underresearched and understudied subject. I am also the founder of Smartynote -‘The notepad app for dyslexia’, 

The post 6 Fun Online Games For Learning Vowels appeared first on Number Dyslexia.