In the sequence followed for learning to read by the Phonics Pow Toolkit, the syllable type learned after Open & Closed Syllables, Silent e, Bossy R, and Diphthongs is Vowel Teams.
Two letters that work together, some vowels work as a team. Two vowels can be a set in a seat and the first one likes to speak.
Digraphs are two letters that work together to make one sound. Vowel Digraphs can make new sounds like the Diphthongs. After learning Diphthongs, the remaining Vowel Teams are often long, making the sound of the 1st vowel & the 2nd vowel is silent. This guideline is sometimes not reliable, however. There can be many exceptions. EA often makes the long E sound (eat), but sometimes a short E (bread) or long A (steak). IE often makes the long I sound, but sometimes a long E sound (pie or thief).
AY is often used at the end of a word or syllable, AI at the beginning or middle of a word or syllable. Practice this with the phonemic awareness activity above, an online word sort, and a wordsearch.
WATCH videos and PLAY online games at the Vowel Team tutorial at Wakelet
Some online games require flash, which is no longer supported after 12/31/2020. Learn more at The End of Flash.
WATCH more videos at Kids vs Phonics: A (5:02), E (4:56), I (6:13) O (1:23) U (1:50).
Long Vowel Pattern Chart from This Reading Mama, & Long Vowel Pattern Chart from All About Learning Press (1 page, color)
SORTS Use the words & pictures from Vowel Digraph flashcards at Lanternfish ESL, Long Vowel Match-up from Liz’s Early Learning Spot, AI/AY picture sort & OA/OW picture sort from 1st Grade & Fabulous (B&W), AI/AY words & pictures, OA/OW color pictures from the measured mom
ACTIVITY Vowel Team Clip Cards from Fairy Poppins (includes diphthongs)
PLAY Printable Change game from Adrian Bruce (OA/OW & IE/IGH), Long A Train game & Long E Get the Sheep to the Jeep game from themeasuredmom. Long O Oh no! Toad! game from Fun in 1st with Ms B.
From the Super Tutor Tools store at Teachers Pay Teachers: Long A board game with AI & AY, Long I Oh my! A fly! game & Long U Goose on the Loose game.
Some words have both vowel teams and consonant digraphs. Learn more at the Smooth Beach post. Vowel Teams (III.d in the sequence) are included in the Phonics Pow Toolkit.
See also Long Vowel Patterns and More Ways Vowels Can Be Long.
Phonics Pow 