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Help your beginning reader learn to hear the difference between short and long vowels.

This Vowels Lapbook will also help beginning readers to understand short and long vowels. You can use the pockets and cards for various pre-reading or reading games.

Thanks to Jodi Small for creating the original Short and Long Vowels Lapbook for Homeschool Share.

Short and Long Vowels Lapbook

This Short and Long Vowels Lapbook contains the following:

  • Ten Pockets (one for each short vowel and one for each long vowel)
  • Four word cards for each short vowel and long vowel (40 total); the cards come in color and black and white. Decide which set you want before you print.

The pockets and cards can be used for a variety of activities and games.

  • This lapbook also includes 16 “two vowel rule” flap books. You can also use the two vowel rule flap books to paste on the sides of your lapbook for extra reading practice. These are great for helping your student remember when to use the short vowel sound and when to use the long vowel sound. Remember the rule: When two vowels go walking, the first one does the talking.

How to Use the Short and Long Vowels Lapbook

Decide if you want to use the color cards or the black and white cards. Print everything you need.

After you assemble the pockets, you’ll need to decide how you want to use this lapbook. Here are a few different options (and I’m sure you can think of more!).

Option 1: Leave the cards unfolded as one large bookmark. Have child read the word and match the card to the correct pocket.

Option 2: Fold and tape/glue them shut

Have child look at the picture and match the sound they hear with the correct pocket.

Have child read the word (opposite side) and match the sound they hear with the correct pocket.

Use the cards only as flashcards. Child can read the word and check their answer with the picture.

Option 3: Cut cards apart—separating the words from their pictures.

Have child place cards into their correct pockets.

Play a matching game with some or all the cards. Matching the picture with the word scores you that set.

Have child draw a specified number of cards and make up a story using those words.

Get Your Free Short and Long Vowels Lapbook

To access the Short and Long Vowels Lapbook, subscribe to Homeschool Share’s email list by using the form below.

More Learning to Read Resources

When your student is ready for more reading practice, try one of our Henry and Mudge Lapbooks.

Henry and Mudge and the Best Day of All Lapbook
Henry and Mudge and the Happy Cat Lapbook