Scroll to the bottom to download the best syllable freebies from TPT authors.

Teaching syllables to kindergarten students can sometimes be the same as catching a greased pig. It is difficult. Kids this age want to count the sounds and not the beats of the words.

As a kindergarten teacher for 20 years, I have found some tricks to make this task as painless as possible. But, it still can cause a few teacher headaches along the way especially in the beginning.

In addition, I have also found the best syllable freebies that will provide reinforcement and fun. Understanding the reasons why we teach a certain concept is important to teaching it well.

Take a look below to incorporate some new ideas on how to teach syllables effectively to our youngest students.

What is a syllable?

A syllable is a single unbroken sound of a spoken or written word.
It has one vowel sound with or without surrounding consonants.
Syllables are different from phonemes. This is where the confusion begins in kindergarten. Students want to count each small unit that makes a sound instead of the parts. They are counting the phonemes. So, emphasizing the fact that syllables are the word parts is important.
The number of times you hear a vowel in a word is equal to the number of syllables in a word.

Why do students need to learn about syllables?

Knowing how many syllables a word contains doesn’t seem like the most important concept for kindergarten students. Honestly, it really isn’t. However, it is part of understanding phonemic awareness and how words are spelled.

In addition, an understanding of syllables helps students learn to decode words more effectively. They won’t just guess at longer words but will read each part.

I teach my students to break words into parts when they are using invented spelling. Each part needs a vowel sound.

What are some good tips to teach syllables to kindergarten students?

Tell students that syllables are “chunks” that each word is broken into.
Everyone knows clapping is a great way to teach syllables. Clap as you say each word part and encourage the students to join in after a couple of examples.
Have the students put their hand under their chins. Every time their jaws hits their hand, that is a new syllable.
Stomp or jump every time you hear a new syllable in a word.
Play hopscotch outside. Have the students jump in a box every time they say a word part.
Sing or hum the word using emphasis on the syllable parts.

Syllable activities and free printables!

Mix it up. That has been my main motto in kindergarten. Kids at this age have the attention span of a fruit fly. Common knowledge. Having various effective syllable activities is important to students staying engaged and learning.

Basketball Syllables is a free TPT product that is included in the free file download at the end of this article. It is made by livelaughilovekindergarten, As a center, the basketballs with 1,2, and 3 can be glued onto individual bags. Students then place the pictures inside the bag with the correct number of syllables.

The basketballs can also be placed on a pocket chart. Students can be called up to place the pictures underneath the basketballs with the correct number of syllables.

This syllable resource has it all. There are center activities and plenty of cut and paste and other worksheets for each season. Students will learn about the seasons, vocabulary and syllables at the same time.

Final Thoughts

Syllabication is a big standard in kindergarten. It is confusing for five year olds, so the more engaging and varied the syllable activities that are used, the better. This free download will provide you with whole group as well as individual practice. I hope you enjoy and will visit the amazing stores of each of these TPT authors.