What is referred to as vowel blending?

Vowel blending refers to the scenario where two vowels appear together and produce a combined or blended sound rather than two distinct sounds. This is particularly important in early literacy development, as understanding vowel combinations helps young learners process and decode words more effectively.

By recognizing vowel blends, children can improve their reading fluency and phonetic awareness, as these blends often create new sounds that are crucial for pronouncing various words accurately. This phonetic blending differs from scenarios where vowels may create separate sounds or remain silent, which do not contribute to the blending concept in vowel pairs.

Understanding vowel blending is key for educators in supporting children in mastering phonics and reading skills, as it lays the foundation for more complex reading strategies as they advance in their literacy journey.