How to Teach Syllable Types & Syllable Division

Why It Matters

When students struggle to read multisyllable words, it’s often not because they don’t recognize sounds—it’s because they don’t know how those sounds come together to form syllables, or how syllables form words.

That’s why we take the time to teach:

• The six syllable types (the building blocks of words)

• And syllable division strategies (how to break longer words into readable parts)

When students understand these two pieces, they can read and spell longer words with confidence, and they finally start to see how everything fits together.

What to Teach

We teach students that:

• Sounds → Syllables → Words → Sentences → Paragraphs → Meaning
  This structure gives them a way to organize and connect everything they’re learning.

The Six Syllable Types

We explicitly introduce students to all six types early on so they understand that different spelling patterns follow different rules:

1. Closed (e.g., cat)

2. Open (e.g., go)

3. Vowel-Consonant-e (e.g., cake)

4. R-Controlled (e.g., car)

5. Vowel Team (e.g., rain)

6. Consonant-le (e.g., table)

We anchor these with visual reference charts and simple examples so students can start identifying them in words right away. >>Grab our Free Syllable Type Anchor Charts<<

Syllable Division Strategies

Once students know syllable types, we teach them how to divide longer words into syllables using predictable patterns. This is important since words are usually made up of more than one syllable! We use clear, memorable anchor charts to model each one:

• Rab/bit – Divide between consonants

• Ti/ger – Keep the first syllable open

• Cam/el – Keep the first syllable closed

• Rep/tile – Keep magic-e syllables together

• Hor/net – Keep r-controlled syllables together

• Tur/tle – Count back three for consonant-le

• Li/on – Usually keep vowel teams together

These strategies give students a toolkit for decoding new words, even ones they’ve never seen before.

If you don’t know about the syllable division patterns or want to learn about these in more depth, you can check out our blog here: Syllable Division Strategies

How we teach it (step by step)

1. Teach the Big Picture

We introduce students to all six syllable types up front using clear anchor charts and reference tools. This gives them the “map” of how English syllables work, so they don’t feel like new words are unpredictable.

We explicitly name each type (Closed, Open, VCE, R-controlled, Vowel Team, Consonant-le) and give simple examples. Then, we show how longer words can be built with one or more of these types.

2. Introduce Division Strategies Visually

Once students know the syllable types, we introduce syllable division patterns with fun, easy-to-remember anchor charts (like Rabbit, Tiger, and Reptile). These visuals help students remember how to spot vowels and consonants, and where to divide longer words.

We love using animal-themed names and memory cues to make these strategies stick.

3. Practice with Word Lists + Strategy Sheets

We walk through each division pattern together using word lists and strategy sheets. Students learn to:

• Spot and dot the vowels

• Mark the consonants

• Apply the correct division rule

After modeling together, we give students a second word list to try on their own or at home, so we can check for understanding and reinforce independent application.

4. Reinforce with Games and Activities

Let’s be honest…

Students need a lot of practice, but drilling word lists alone won’t cut it. That’s why we layer in high-engagement games for each division pattern.

One of our favorites is our Rabbit Hole game. It’s often the first time students truly “get it” and start applying syllable division independently. These moments help students shift from overwhelmed to empowered.

What if students get stuck?

Some students may:

• Confuse syllable types

• Struggle to remember where to divide

That’s okay, and, honestly, expected! We support them with:

• Anchor charts and visuals they can refer back to

• A LOT OF PRACTICE!

• We mix this up with games and collaborative activities to build automaticity without burnout (in fact, we have a game specifically designed to support syllable division that you can check out here!)

Want to teach this with confidence?

Depending on where you are in your teaching journey, here are a few next steps:

Just getting started?

Grab our free Syllable Types Anchor Charts! These visuals introduce students to each syllable type and provide a perfect foundation for everything that follows.

Download the Anchor Charts » Get them here!

Want access to done-for-you resources?

You’ll find our favorite syllable division games, word lists, anchor charts, and more inside the 5CCL Activity Library. All aligned to the Science of Reading and easy to implement.
👉 Join us in the 5CCL Learning Lab » Check out the Learning Lab here

Want to go deeper?

Our Reading Rules We Teach Spotlight PD walks through the full progression of the reading rules with anchor phrases, visual examples, and practical tips.
📘 Explore the PD » Currently available in the 5CCL Learning Lab