Rhyme
What is it?
A rhyme is when two or more words end in the same
sound. Being able to identify and generate similarities
in words helps establish the rhythm and patterns of
language, and encourages playfulness with oral
language. Rhyme is one of the predictors of successful
reading development.
Why is it important?
Identifying and generating rhyming words connects to reading and writing as
children learn to identify patterns in words. They gain an understanding that
words with similar sounds may be represented with similar letter patterns.
Furthermore, when children can orally delete and substitute initial sounds of
rhyming words, they are better equipped to use familiar parts of words to help
them write or decode text while reading.
Considerations (what to think about?)
• Be intentional with the purpose and clear with the expectations. “We are
learning about rhyme, that is when words sound the same at the end, like
CAT, BAT, RAT, FAT, MAT, SAT…. (say them slowly, emphasize the
ending, give everyone a chance to hear, repeat it themselves, maybe
generate a new one, and then revisit, “that is rhyme!”
• Generating rhyme with one syllable words is easier. Provide lots of oral
opportunities for children to play with one and then two (or more)
syllable words.
• Rhyme, both generating and recognizing, is an oral skill.
• Research cautions that English language learners can have difficulty with
rhyme as they either focus on making meaning or do not hear our sound
“bits” however, their ability to rhyme continues to develop as they learn
English.
• Vowels are hard to use as a beginning sound for rhyme so identify them
(A,E,I,O,U, (Y)) and show why they are tricky. Put the new sound in front
of the existing vowel–Anna,Banana, Manana or icicle, bicycle, tricycle…
• While generating rhyme, nonsense or “silly” words are still rhyme.
