Syllables are the smaller sounds that make up words, and all syllables must have a vowel. Syllables are like beats that can be heard, and they are the parts of a word. The number of syllables in a word is equal to the number of times you hear a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) in the word. For example, the word "banana" has three syllables because you can clap three times when you say it: ba-na-na.
Learning about syllables is part of learning how to decode and spell words, and it helps children understand the conventions of English spelling, including when to double letters and how to pronounce the vowels in words they might not have seen before. Teachers often get children to clap out the syllables of a word to help them understand the concept. Writing haikus is another way to encourage children to think about syllables and to think carefully about their word choices.
