The letter a can sound like a short o. This is one of the Short Vowel Variations covered in the Phonics Pow Toolkit as it follows a sensible sequence.
a can say ŏ
Watch the dog play squash with the ball
This can happen three ways…
1. Before a double L
The -all word family is special! (these are flossy words)
all
ball
call
fall
hall
mall
tall
wall
small
stall
WATCH a Prezi and a Super Simple turn and learn video. PLAY a word search game at Turtle Diary.
2. Sometimes after a w-
watch
wasp
wash
want
swan
swat
swap
More than one syllable: waffle, wallet, water, waddle, swallow, wander
Exceptions: wag, swag, wax, swam, was
3. Sometimes after qua-
qualm
squash
squat
squad
squall
squawk
More than one syllable: quality, quantity, qualify
Exceptions: square, quart, quail, quake, quack
Remember the letter a can say short ŏ before -ll, and after w and qu. Try an online word sort. A Sounds of A worksheet is available at the Super Tutor Tools store at Teachers Pay Teachers. Free bookmarks with Short Vowel Variations are also available there.
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