* Vowel Sounds, Not Letters: It's the *sound* a vowel makes, not the letter itself, that determines if it's long or short.
* Multiple Pronunciations: Many words have multiple pronunciations, some with long vowels, some with short. For example, "read" can have a long "e" sound (as in "reed") or a short "e" sound (as in "red").
* Vowel Combinations: Vowel combinations like "ai," "ee," "oa," and "ow" can create both long and short vowel sounds.
Instead of "long vowel words" and "short vowel words," consider focusing on:
* Syllable Structure: Words with more syllables tend to have longer vowels.
* Spelling Patterns: Certain spelling patterns often indicate long or short vowel sounds. (e.g., "ate" usually has a long "a" sound, "at" usually has a short "a" sound).
* Contextual Meaning: The surrounding letters and the meaning of the word can help you determine vowel sounds.
Here's a better approach:
1. Focus on sounds: Instead of sorting by letters, listen to how the vowel sounds in a word.
2. Identify spelling patterns: Notice patterns in how words are spelled that often indicate long or short vowels.
3. Practice: The more you read and listen, the more familiar you'll become with different vowel sounds and their spelling patterns.
Example:
Instead of "long vowel words" and "short vowel words," you could create a word list based on the *sound* of the vowel:
* Words with a long "e" sound: meet, tree, see, these, etc.
* Words with a short "e" sound: bed, pen, get, ten, etc.
Remember, the best way to understand vowel sounds is through practice and exposure to language.