Understanding the Short A Sound
The short a makes the sound /ă/ like in the word apple. This sound is quick and sharp, and we hear it in many common words.
- a → at
- a → cat
- a → hat
- a → map
- a → bat
The short a sound is the same sound we make when a doctor asks us to open our mouth and say “ah.”
CVC Words with Short A
CVC words are words made up of a consonant, vowel, and consonant. Many CVC words use the short a sound.
- c-a-t → cat
- b-a-g → bag
- m-a-n → man
- r-a-t → rat
- h-a-m → ham
When sounding out a CVC word, tap each sound slowly and then blend them together. For example: /c/ - /ă/ - /t/ → cat.
Word Families with Short A
Word families are groups of words that share the same ending. Learning word families helps us read new words more easily.
- -at family → cat, bat, hat, mat
- -an family → man, can, fan, pan
- -ap family → cap, map, nap, tap
Start with the ending sound, then add the beginning consonant. For example, start with -at and add c → cat.
Practicing Short A in Sentences
Reading short a words in sentences helps us build fluency and confidence while reading.
- The cat sat on the mat.
- Sam has a red hat.
- Dad can tap the map.
- The man fed the fat rat.
Read the sentence slowly first. Then try again more smoothly. Listen for the short a sound each time.