Long Words:
A Comprehensive Evaluation
of Explicit Phonics Instruction
Natasha Axelson, Ed.D., BWRSD
Devin Kearns, Ph.D., University of Connecticut
Introduction
• Why is it important to read polysyllabic words
correctly?
• Why is it so hard to read polysyllabic words
correctly?
• What to authors of reading programs propose to do
about it?
Polysyllabic Words
Why does it matter if we read them correctly?
Definition of “polysyllabic words”
Contain more than one syllable
po
ly
syl
ic
lab
pɑ li sɪ læb ık
Syllables are defined by sounds, not letters
/l æ b/
―rime ―
onset
peak
coda
Syllables always have a peak, usually a vowel
Clements & Keyser (1983)
Polysyllabic words become more
common in texts in the upper grades
Renaissance Learning, 2012; Zeno, Iven, Millard, & Duvvuri, 1995
Exposure to polysyllabic words—1st to 3rd grade
Word Counts for Three Widely-Used Reading Programs
Syllables
Grade 1
Grade 3
N (types)
%
N (types)
%
1
2
3
4
5
6
Total types
1,698
1,210
281
44
3
47%
3,236
N (tokens)
1
2
3
4
5
6
Total tokens
52.5%
37.4%
8.7%
1.3%
0.9%
28,470
4,928
944
105
4
34,451
Carlisle, Kearns & Hiebert (2016)
%
82.6%
14.3%
2.7%
0.3%
0.0%
1,260 24.8%
2,488 49.1%
1,001 19.7%
276 5.4%
42 0.8%
5 0.1%
5,072
N (tokens)
69,776
18,918
4,429
815
84
10
94,032
%
74.2%
20.1%
4.7%
0.9%
0.1%
0.0%
Morphemes
Grade 1
N (types)
%
1,787 55.0%
1,347 41.4%
112 3.4%
4 0.1%
75%
3,250
N (tokens)
Grade 3
N (types)
%
1,951 38.2%
2,728 53.4%
405 7.9%
22 0.4%
5,106
%
N (tokens)
%
28865 83.6%
5409 15.7%
225 0.7%
9 0.0%
75022 79.7%
17951 19.1%
1104 1.2%
56 0.1%
34,508
94,133
Polysyllabic words are critical in
content-area texts
aesthetic photosynthesis
constitutional polynomial
Bryant, Ugel, Thompson, & Hamff, 1999
Difficulty Reading
Polysyllabic Words
Why are they so hard to read?
Vowel letters make multiple sounds
minor /aɪ/
linen /ɪ/
hi
/aɪ/
glorious
/i/
rabbit /ɨ/
hit
/ɪ/
flexible /ə/
raisin / /
i
Stress assignment is hard
reakade
/ˈri keɪd/
/rɨ ˈkeɪd/
Rastle & Coltheart (2000)
Teaching reading of
polysyllabic words
If they’re so complicated,
what can we do about it?
Two possibly important useful features of
polysyllabic words
they contain…
syllable types
they can be decoded using…
syllable division
© Devin Kearns, Ph.D. ([email protected])
Syllable Types: Closed and
Open
pillow
pil
pĭl
pi
pilot
pī
Treiman, Bowey, & Bourassa, 2002; Treiman, Mullennix, Bijeljac-Babic, & Richmond-Welty, 1995; Treiman &
Zukowski, 1990; Open Court Reading (McGraw-Hill, 2014); Wilson Reading System (Wilson, 2005)
Other Syllable Types
vowel-consonant-E
• exercise
• replacement
vowel
team
• discount
• turmoil
• charcoal
R-controlled
• carbon
• certificate
• barber
• burglar
consonant-LE
• syllable
• rectangle
Syllable Division: VC|CV and
V|CV
VCCV
/mɪn/
minnow
VCCV
VCV
/mɑi/
minor
VCV
multi-step explicit syllable division procedure
Treiman, Bowey, & Bourassa, 2002; Treiman, Mullennix, Bijeljac-Babic, & Richmond-Welty, 1995; Treiman &
Zukowski, 1990; Open Court Reading (McGraw-Hill, 2014); Wilson Reading System (Wilson, 2005)
Other Syllable Division Rules
VC|V
• clos|et
• sal|ad
• lim|it
V|V
li|on
ne|on
gi|ant
VC|CCV
VCC|CV
• pil|grim • sand|wich
• hun|dred • pump|kin
• ex|tra
VCC|CCV VC|CCCV
land|slide in|strument
con|struct
If you use syllable types to read polysyllabic
words, will it help you get the right answer?
© Devin Kearns, Ph.D. ([email protected])
Does English follow syllable division rules?
V|CV rule
pilot
raven
habit
lapel
V1CV2
avid reduction
coffee
rainy
lion
All a words
How often
does a
say @?
Bisyllabic a words
How many
words are
there
altogether?
How often
does a
say @?
How many
words are
there
altogether?
Data from an analysis of 118,000 words
Letter
% Long
Bisyllabic
% Long
All Polysyllabic
A
70.2
45.7
E
55.0
36.9
I
66.8
46.7
O
76.3
83.6
Summary
U• The V|CV
88.2
59.2
rule words more
than
words
Y half the time
90.8with bisyllabic
75.5
• It does not work well across
polysyllabic words of all lengths
What are the implications of this
reality?
An multi-step explicit syllable division strategy
might not be an effective tool for teaching children
to read polysyllabic words
Devin Kearns, Ph.D. ([email protected]
Cognitive psychology to the rescue
/ˈlaɪ ən/
How does this happen?
massive exposure
statistical/aɪ/
learning
Seidenberg & McClelland (1989)
/aɪ/
What would this look like in a program?
teaching closed and open syllables
flexible division without a specific rule
(with a requirement of a vowel letter in a syllable and extensive practice)
So…
Is that what is taught in programs
for struggling readers?
Programs with Polysyllabic
Word Instruction
What is taught in them about
syllable types and syllable division?
Research Questions
Syllable Type Questions:
• Are syllable types used to help students decode
polysyllabic words?
• If so, which syllable types are taught?
• Do programs explain the critical features of closed and open
syllables (i.e., short and long vowel sounds, presence of a
consonant after the vowel)?
• How long are the definitions and explanations of syllable types?
Syllable Division Questions:
• Are syllable division rules taught?
• If so, what division rules are taught?
Method
Program Inclusion Criteria
(N = 28)
• Used for Tier 2 and 3 reading interventions
• From
• the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) database
• the Best Evidence Encyclopedia
• the International Dyslexia Association list of recommended
intervention programs
• the list of intervention programs by Schacter (2001)
• the recommendation of any of 4 leading experts on word
reading instruction
• Accessible to us (we could not access all programs)
Coding Procedure
• Located any instruction and instructional activity
related to teaching about how to read words
using syllabic parts
• Recorded the language verbatim
• Determined the kinds of syllable types used and
syllable division strategies taught
Table 2.
Program Use of Syllable Types
Program
Closed Syllables
Units
BLAST
Foundations
Syllable types
Strategy (see Table
XXXX)
Flexible syllable
division.
Syllable
Explanation
Taught? Language
Yes
Open Syllables
Other Syllables
Taught?
Language
Taught?
Language
“Some syllables are called
Closed Syllables, and all
Closed Syllables have
some things in common.
Closed Syllables have one
vowel letter, and only one
vowel letter, with one or
more consonant letters
after the vowel….It’s very
important to remember
that the vowel phoneme in
a Closed Syllable is usually
short” (Book 1, p.60)
Yes
“An Open Syllable occurs when a
single vowel letter is at the end of
a syllable. There are no
consonant letters following the
vowel letter in the syllable.

"The strategy of teaching two specific syllable types (Open and
Closed) and knowing the limited set of sounds a letter or letter
combination can spell makes decoding and reading unfamiliar
words easier than thinking through a set of rules.” (Bk 2, p.70)

vowel team (briefly practiced; not
introduced)
vowel-consonant-E (briefly
practiced; not introduced)
The vowel sound in an Open
Syllable is usually long.” (Bk 2,
p.41)
Failure Free
Reading
N/A
N/A
No
N/A
No
N/A
No
HD Word
Syllable Types
Flexible Syllable
division
Yes
“In this lesson, we will
learn about syllables. We
will learn about one type
of syllable called a Closed
Syllable, and we will also
learn that the most
common vowel phoneme
in a Closed Syllable is the
short vowel phoneme.”
(Bk 1, p.28)
Yes
“Remember that when there is
only one vowel letter followed by
one or more consonants, as in got,
it is a Closed Syllable with a short
vowel sound.




N/A
vce
vowel team
r-controlled vowel
consonant-le
When there is only one vowel
letter with no consonants after it,
as in go, it is an Open Syllable with
a long vowel sound.
“What kind of syllable has a vowel letter followed by one
consonant and the letter e? A:vowel-consonant-e
What kind of vowel sound is usually in a v-c-e syllable?
A: long
Which two letters work together to spell the long vowel
sound in a vowel-consonant-e syllable? A: the vowel and
the e.” (Bk 1, p.314)
p.387 Vowel Teams
Remember that an Open Syllable
has one vowel letter at the end of
the syllable.” (Bk 1, p.233)
R-Controlled Syllables: Refer to it more as r-controlled phoneme,
than r-controlled syllable, but they do say syllable in the sorts. (Bk
2, p.14)
“In this lesson, we will learn how to read two-syllable words with
another syllable type called a consonant-le syllable.” (Bk 3, p.44)
Imagine It!
(Open Court
Intervention)
Grade 1
No
Listen for syllables
p.59 “Identify and count
vowel spelling and syllables
in words
“Syllables are word parts
that each contain a vowel
sound.”
No
N/A
No
N/A
N/A
-le syllable wkbk p.47 (Level 1 p.156)
Add the –le syllable to the word
Only place mentioned in program
Question 1: Syllable Type Instruction in Programs
A. Are syllable types used to help students
decode polysyllabic words?
B. If so, which syllable types are taught?
C. Do programs explain the critical features of
closed and open syllables (i.e., short and long
vowel sounds, presence of a consonant after
the vowel)?
A. Are syllable types used to help students decode
polysyllabic words?
B. If so, which syllable types are taught?
Open and closed syllables are
taught in most programs that
teach syllable types at all
Teaching Reading Sourcebook
A widely used strategy book
recommended for teaching students of
all abilities beginning reading skills
6 syllable types
• closed
• open
• vowel team
• consonant-LE
• R-controlled
• vowel-consonant-E
Lexia
A widely-used computerbased reading program
6 syllable types
• closed
• open
• vowel team (vowel combination syllable)
• consonant-LE
• R-controlled (vowel + r syllable)
• vowel-consonant-E (silent e syllable)
Lexia
Project Read
Project Read Phonics curriculum uses
multisensory activities (VAKT) and direct
instruction to apply sound/symbol knowledge
7 syllable types
• closed
• open
• vowel team
• consonant-LE
• R-controlled
• vowel-consonant-E (final magic e)
• diphthong
Online diagnostic and instruction that
combines independent, on-line student
learning and direct teacher instruction
iReady
4 syllable types
• closed
• open
• vowel team
• R-controlled
Closed Syllables
Touch the Syllables….
Letterland
Letterland is a phonicsbased approach for
grades pre-K to 2
teaching reading,
writing, and spelling.
6 syllable types
• closed
• open
• vowel team
• consonant-LE (candle L syllable)
• R-controlled (robot syllable)
• vowel-consonant-E (magic e syllable)
Blast Foundations
Program for grades K-2 that focuses
on phonics and phonemic awareness. It
includes multi-sensory, manipulativebased instruction. 15 minutes a day,
five days per week for 18 weeks.
4 syllable types
• closed
• open
• vowel team
• vowel-consonant-E
C. Do programs explain the critical
features of closed and open syllables?
Different types of explanations:
• Concise, accurate definitions
• Longer accurate definitions
• Examples without clear definitions
• Longer unusual (possibly inaccurate) definitions
The Granddaddy of Them All:
-
The Granddaddy of Them All: Orton-Gillingham
Orton-Gillingham was one of the first programs
for children with serious reading difficulty
It included an emphasis on syllable types;
many definitions appear to be derived from it
Orton-Gillingham Syllable Type Definitions
A closed syllable ends with a
consonant. The vowel before the final
consonant has a short sound.
17 words
An open syllable ends with a vowel.
The vowel has a long sound (says its
own name). An open syllable can be
just one letter if that letter is a vowel.
31 words
How Long Are Syllable Type Descriptions?
The average definition is
about the same length as
the Orton-Gillingham one
Concise, accurate syllable type explanations (< 50 words)
Program
Closed Syllable
Open Syllable
iReady Reading
A closed syllable ends with a consonant
that closes in the vowel. The vowel makes
a short sound.
An open syllable usually has a long vowel
sound. An open syllable has 1 vowel at the
end.
Lexia
Closed syllables contain one vowel and
end in one or more consonants. The vowel
sound is short.
Open syllables end in a single vowel. The
vowel sound is long.
Linguistics
(Language Circle)
A closed syllable has one vowel, closed in
by a consonant. The vowel is short.
An open syllable ends with one vowel. The
vowel is long.
Project Read
1. One vowel 2. The vowel is closed in at
the end by a consonant. 3. The vowel
sound is short.
1. One vowel 2. The vowel is open at the
end. 3. The vowel sound is long.
Wilson Reading
System
A closed syllable has one vowel only and must
be closed in. A closed syllable gives the vowel
a short sound.
Open Syllable: Ends with a single vowel (this
might be the only letter in the syllable), the vowel
has the long sound.
Wonders
A closed syllable ends in a consonant. A
closed syllable usually has a short vowel
sound.
The first syllable ends in one vowel. This is
called an open syllable. Most open syllables
have a long vowel sound.
Words
Each closed syllable ends in one or more
consonants, with a vowel preceding the
consonants… the vowel will have its short
sound.
An open syllable contains a vowel at the end of
a syllable. The vowel usually has its long sound.
Longer accurate syllable type definitions (≥ 50 words)
Program
Closed Syllable
Open Syllable
Blast Foundations
Closed Syllables have one vowel letter,
and only one vowel letter, with one or
more consonant letters after the vowel. …
It’s very important to remember that the
vowel phoneme in a Closed Syllable is
usually short.
An Open Syllable occurs when a single
vowel letter is at the end of a syllable. There
are no consonant letters following the vowel
letter in the syllable. … The vowel sound in
an Open Syllable is usually long.
HD Word
In this lesson, … we will learn about one
type of syllable called a Closed Syllable,
and we will also learn that the most
common vowel phoneme in a Closed
Syllable is the short vowel phoneme.
When there is only one vowel letter with no
consonants after it, as in go, it is an Open
Syllable with a long vowel sound. …
Remember that an Open Syllable has one
vowel letter at the end of the syllable.
Phonics Boost
1. In print some syllables are called closed
syllables. 2. Closed syllables have one
vowel letter followed by one or more
consonant letter. 3. The vowel sound in a
closed syllable is usually short.
An open syllable occurs when a single
vowel letter is at the end of a syllable. The
vowel sound in an open syllable is usually
long.
Patterns for Success
The syllable is called a closed syllable
when the vowel is followed by a
consonant. The vowel is usually short,
unless the vowel is a schwa in an
unaccented syllable.
You may remember that a vowel at the end
of a syllable has a long sound and is called
an open syllable.
Syllable type examples given without definitions
Program
Closed Syllable
Open Syllable
Lindamood
The [syllables] with a consonant at the
end, are any of those vowels hanging out
in the open? No. So, do you think they’ll
get to say their names? No. No, they’ll
have to say their sounds.
When a vowel is last like these, they syllable
is called an open syllable because the vowel
is out in the open, and the vowel often says
its name, even though there’s no signal for it.
Voyager
Write the word napkin on the board.
Underline the first syllable, nap. This syllable
ends with a consonant and the vowel
makes the short sound. Underline the
remaining syllable. What is this word part?
Kin. This syllable ends with a consonant
and the vowel makes the short sound.
Write vowels on board. These are vowels. If a
word has two or three letter and ends in a
vowel, we usually say the name for the
vowel. Count the letters. Students count letters.
Is this a two-or three-letter word? Yes. Does it
end with a vowel? Yes. What do we say for
the vowel? Its name. Read the word. Go.
Longer unusual (possibly inaccurate)
syllable type definitions
Program
Closed Syllable
Open Syllable
Letterland
A Vowel Sound feels safe in saying his or
her usual sound when there is a friendly
consonant or two after to close off any
Vowel Stealing Robots from moving in.
Vowel Man likes to shout him name in the
Reading Direction into the open air when he
doesn’t have to worry about shouting in
anyone else’s ear.
Syllable Division
Syllable Division Questions:
A. Are syllable division rules taught?
B. If so, what division rules are taught?
A. Are Syllable Rules Taught?
Division is often taught in
reading intervention programs
Some programs have adopted a flexible
(i.e., not Orton-Gillingham-like) strategy
B. Which Syllable Rules (if any) are Taught
The most frequently occurring patterns
(VC|CV and V|CV) are taught in most
reading intervention programs with division
Teaching Reading Sourcebook
5 division patterns
VC|CV
V|CV or VC|V
VC|CCV or VCC|CV
A widely used strategy book
recommended for teaching students of
all abilities beginning reading skills
A widely-used computerbased reading program
Lexia
Division patterns:
VC|CV
V|CV or VC|V
VC|CCV or VCC|CV
Project Read
Project Read Phonics curriculum uses
multisensory activities (VAKT) and direct
instruction to apply sound/symbol knowledge
Division patterns:
VC|CV
V|CV or VC|V
VC|CCV
VC|CCCV or
VCC|CCV
V|V
Letterland
Division patterns:
VC|CV
V|CV or VC|V
VC|CCV or VCC|CV
VC|CCCV or VCC|CCV
V|V
Letterland is a phonicsbased approach for
grades pre-K to 2
teaching reading,
writing, and spelling.
“To divide words into syllables:
Look for consonants that come between vowels
Use these rules to help you decide where to divide.
(No need to divide between Silent Magic e and the
vowel that it sparks.)”
Divide between two consonants
With three consonants, divide after the first or the
second. Keep blends and digraphs together.
Divide before one consonant or after it.
In words ending with consonant –le keep the
consonant with the le.
In a few words, divide between two vowels.
Phonics Blitz
Division patterns:
None
Flexible strategy:
Students locate parts in
words and read them.
For single-letter vowels,
students try either long or
short sound
50 lessons for students in
grades 4 - 12 (and
adults) with mild or
moderate decoding
skills.
p.164 “Phonics Blitz lessons do
not focus on rules when teaching
students to hear syllables and
orally break words into syllables.
The important aspect of orally
hearing syllables is that all of the
syllables and all of the phonemes
are represented. For example,
some students will break the
word basket as bas-ket and
others will break it as bask-et.
Both are correct.”
Summary of Results
Most programs teach open
and closed syllables
The average definition is
similar to the OrtonGillingham definition
Programs are similar in
how they explain
open/closed syllables
Division is often taught in
reading intervention programs
Some programs have adopted a flexible
(i.e., not Orton-Gillingham-like) strategy
Program authors have
come up with correct
descriptions
Less consistent use of
teaching syllable
division
Many successful programs
utilize flexible strategies
Discussion
Syllable Types
Many (but not the plurality) of programs now use
flexible approaches aligned with cognitive psychology
Programs used mostly concise definitions,
helping struggling readers understand them
Good!
Good!
Syllable Division
Open and closed syllables are most
useful and most frequently taught
Good!
VC|CV and V|CV are most common
and most frequently taught
Some programs teach (sometimes many)
other rules that occur infrequently
OK
Problematic
Questions
Contact Information:
• Devin Kearns, Ph.D.
[email protected]
• Natasha Axelson, Ed.D.
[email protected]