Vowels
Long vowels and silent e
Silent e is the first spelling pattern that changes a word a student already reads: “cap” becomes “cape”, “kit” becomes “kite”. The e at the end makes no sound of its own and reaches back over one consonant to make the vowel say its own name.
Often called magic e or bossy e. Teaching it alongside the matching short vowel word, as a pair, is what makes the rule visible rather than memorised.
Patterns and example words
Every word below is from the word list Cody generates from, not a hand-picked sample. The count is how many words in that list carry the pattern.
long a
9,947 wordssay saying sayings made make makes making take taken takes taking came gave way ways day days may change changed changes changing place placed
long e
4,806 wordsbe being beings he we these me she people even here before became report reported reporting area areas believe believed believes idea ideas presented
long i
9,503 wordsi my by like liked likes liking time timed times timing find finding findings finds right child life write writes writing writings tried tries
long o
10,800 wordsthose go going so more no also over overs before wrote home homed homes homing open opened openings opens close closed closes closing program
long u
1,616 wordsuse used include includes issue issued issues continue continued continues value valued values figured future futures rule ruled rules produce true due reduce influence
1 syllable silent e
1,536 wordsare were have those these gone there more whose like liked likes made make makes time timed times take takes came use used gave
Curricula that teach this
Cody generates material against the scope and sequence you already teach. This skill appears in Custom Pattern Selection, Reading Simplified: 1st Grade Pathway, Reading Simplified: 2nd Grade & Up Pathway, Reading Simplified: Kindergarten Pathway, Slant System, UFLI Inspired.
Common questions
Why is it called silent e?
Because the e makes no sound itself. Its whole job is changing the vowel before it from short to long, as in hop and hope.
Make a decodable story for this skill
Cody generates stories, word lists and worksheets constrained to the patterns a student has already been taught, so practice on long vowels and silent e does not smuggle in something they have not met yet.