Same Reading › Advanced phonics and spelling › Syllable division
What is syllable division?
Syllable division is splitting a long word into parts so each part can be read on its own. Many classes name the main patterns after animals: rabbit (rab/bit), tiger (ti/ger) and camel (cam/el).
- Rabbit: two consonants in the middle, split between them.
- Tiger: one consonant, split before it; the first vowel is long.
- Camel: if tiger doesn't sound right, split after the consonant; the vowel is short.
Why schools teach it
Long words stop being scary
By third grade, kids decode words with several syllables (RF.3.3c). Instead of guessing at a long word, they find the vowels, look at the consonants between them, and split. Each piece is a short, readable syllable.
The animals are memory hooks. Rabbit and tiger cover most two-syllable words. Camel is the backup when the tiger split gives a word that sounds wrong.
At the kitchen table
What to say, and what to skip
Say this
Find the vowels. Put a dot under each one.
How many consonants are between them?
Two: rabbit split. One: try tiger.Read each part, then the whole word.
Does that sound like a real word?
If not, try the camel split.
Skip this
- Clapping instead of looking at the letters.Clapping counts syllables; splitting the letters is what helps reading.
Just break it anywhere.
The patterns tell you where, and that tells you the vowel sound.- Starting with three-syllable words.Get two-syllable words easy first.
See it in action
Reading “napkin”
Find the vowels
napkinTwo consonants between them: rabbit split
nap / kinRead each closed syllable, then blend
napkin
Pencil slashes on the word are normal and encouraged.
Free practice sheet
Make a syllable division sheet
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Fridge cheat sheets
Reading Fridge Cheat Sheets
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Teacher? This method has a classroom pack on TeachersPayTeachers: an anchor chart, a parent letter and practice sheets with answer keys, $4. See the pack
Parents: tell your child's teacher about this guide
Parents also ask
Why animal names?
They're easy hooks: each animal word shows its own pattern.
What about words like table?
Words ending in consonant-le split before the consonant: ta/ble, can/dle.
Does the split always work?
For most words. When the result sounds wrong, try the other split.
Is this the same as clapping syllables?
Related. Clapping counts syllables by ear; division finds them in print.