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First Syllables in Spanish and Portuguese

Three short lessons for grown-ups on how children in Spanish and Portuguese learn to read: by syllables, built from steady vowels, joined into words.

For grown-ups, from what SilabaTots teaches children at Spark & Anvil.

  1. Lesson 1Steady vowels
  2. Lesson 2Syllable families
  3. Lesson 3Join them into words
At the table · a grown-up and a child, 4 to 7

Syllable cards

You'll need: ten small cards and a pen.

  1. Write one syllable on each card: ma, me, sa, pa, to, ca, la, mi, no, se.
  2. Lay out two cards and read them together: ca + sa = casa.
  3. Let the child find another pair that makes a word.
  4. Clap each word you make. Silly words count too.

Print the guidebook (all lessons + the table activity) →