Phonics pattern

Silent e (VCe) words

In a VCe word, a final e makes no sound of its own and the vowel before it says its long sound, its name: cap becomes cape, pin becomes pine. It is the first long vowel pattern most students learn.

Spellings: a_e, i_e, o_e, u_e, e_e

How to teach it

Write a short vowel word, read it, then add an e and read it again (cap, cape). Show that the e jumps back over one consonant to the vowel.
Read pairs and mixed lists of short and VCe words, so the student has to check the end of the word before reading the vowel.
Dictate short and VCe words in a mix, then read sentences that include both.

Practice words

Read them across, then down. Point under each word as it is read.

cake
rake
cape
plate
name
cave
hide
side
time
nine
pine
dive

Decodable sentences

Jake rode his bike to the lake.
The cake is on a white plate.
Pete has a kite that he made.

Spoken warm-ups

No print. Say the prompt; the student answers aloud. Sounds are written between slashes.

Spoken warm-ups for Silent e (VCe) words
You say	The student says
Listen: /k/ /ā/ /k/. What word?	cake
Say ‘time’. Say each sound.	/t/ /ī/ /m/
Say ‘cap’. Change /a/ to /ā/. What word?	cape

Common errors

Reading the vowel short anyway (cape read as cap). Have the student look at the end of the word first, then the vowel.
Reading every vowel long after learning the rule. Mix short words into every list until the student checks each time.
Forgetting the e in spelling. Say the word, ask whether the vowel says its name, and if so, what goes on the end.

Which lessons teach this

If you teach UFLI Foundations, this pattern comes up in these 9 lessons. Teach from your own manual.

Literacy Trail is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the University of Florida Literacy Institute. It contains no UFLI lesson content, only lesson names and order.

Questions people ask

Are these words from an assessment?

No. The practice words, sentences and warm-ups here are written for teaching and are kept separate from the words in the Literacy Trail assessments, so practicing never teaches the test.

When is a student ready for silent e words?

When they read and spell the pattern before it (ck, tch and dge) accurately and without prompting, most of the time. Keep reviewing earlier patterns for two minutes a session while the new one settles.

How long should practice take?

A few minutes a day beats one long session a week. Read the word list once or twice, dictate three or four words, and read a sentence or two. Rate how it went and bring the pattern back on a short schedule if it is shaky.

Plan sessions for this pattern automatically

Start the 15-day free trial and add a student. When they reach silent e words, Literacy Trail plans the sessions for it automatically, and a Needs support or Developing rating brings it back for review.

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