Script bank · Stage 3
Syllables — the whole engine.
The complete open-syllable matrix — every consonant blended across all five vowels — plus the three spelling-shift rows that trip everyone up (ca·que·qui·co·cu), closed syllables, and the consonant blends that come next. Drill these like times-tables: a minute at a time, light and often, aiming for fast and effortless, not just possible.
Two parents, one script. The Spanish is the real thing; hints sit beneath for the non-native parent and toggle off for the native co-teacher.
Sílabas
La escalera de sílabas The full syllable matrix
Blending a consonant across all five vowels. Read a row together, then have your child solo it; add a new row only when the last is easy. ↗ on the playbook
Las consonantes regulares — one sound, straight across
| + | a | e | i | o | u |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| m | ma | me | mi | mo | mu |
| p | pa | pe | pi | po | pu |
| s | sa | se | si | so | su |
| l | la | le | li | lo | lu |
| t | ta | te | ti | to | tu |
| n | na | ne | ni | no | nu |
| d | da | de | di | do | du |
| f | fa | fe | fi | fo | fu |
| b | ba | be | bi | bo | bu |
| v | va | ve | vi | vo | vu |
| r | ra | re | ri | ro | ru |
| rr | rra | rre | rri | rro | rru |
| ch | cha | che | chi | cho | chu |
| ñ | ña | ñe | ñi | ño | ñu |
| ll | lla | lle | lli | llo | llu |
| j | ja | je | ji | jo | ju |
| y | ya | ye | yi | yo | yu |
Pronunciation: vowels are always ah · eh · ee · oh · oo, so ma me mi mo mu = mah meh mee moh moo. Single r between vowels is a soft tap; rr is rolled.
Success looks like Your child reads a full row smoothly, in and out of order, without sounding out each letter.
Cuidado
The spelling-shift rows
Three sounds keep the same sound across the vowels but change how they're spelled — these are the rows that surprise a new reader. Teach each as a single chant.
Same sound, shifting spelling
| sound | a | e | i | o | u |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| /k/ | ca | que | qui | co | cu |
| /g/ | ga | gue | gui | go | gu |
| /θ/ | za | ce | ci | zo | zu |
| /h/ | ja | ge | gi | jo | ju |
ca · que · qui · co · cukah · keh · kee · koh · koothe /k/ chant — the u in que/qui is silent
ga · gue · gui · go · gugah · geh · gee · goh · goothe hard /g/ chant — the u in gue/gui is silent
za · ce · ci · zo · zuthah · theh · thee · thoh · thoothe /θ/ chant — z and c (before e, i) are the “th” in think (Castilian / Barcelona)
ja · ge · gi · jo · juhah · heh · hee · hoh · hoothe throaty /h/ chant — je/ji can also be spelled ge/gi
Sílabas cerradas
Closed syllables vowel + consonant
Open syllables (consonant + vowel) are 80% of the work, but real words also need closed syllables that end in a consonant — al, en, sol, pan. Drill these once the matrix is automatic.
Las más comunes
- al
- el
- il
- ol
- ul
- an
- en
- in
- on
- un
- as
- es
- is
- os
- us
- ar
- er
- ir
- or
- ur
Then read words built from them:
al·to, can·ta, sol, pan, ár·bolAHL-toh, KAHN-tah, sohl, pahn, AR-bohltall, sings, sun, bread, tree
Grupos consonánticos
Consonant blends two consonants, one breath
The last syllable type: two consonants that glide together before the vowel — bl, br, cl, cr, dr, fl, fr, gl, gr, pl, pr, tr. These unlock a huge swathe of words.
Cada grupo con un ejemplo
- blblanco · white
- brbrazo · arm
- clclase · class
- crcruz · cross
- drdragón · dragon
- flflor · flower
- frfresa · strawberry
- glglobo · balloon
- grgrande · big
- plplato · plate
- prprimo · cousin
- trtren · train
bla · ble · bli · blo · blublah · bleh · blee · bloh · bloodrill any blend across the vowels, just like the matrix
tra · tre · tri · tro · trutrah · treh · tree · troh · troothe tr row
Sílabas
Sílabas relámpago Lightning syllables
Instant, automatic recognition — speed, not just accuracy. Flash a card for a second; child reads it fast, no stretching. ↗ on the playbook
Sets para las cartas — mix within a set so it's not a predictable row
- ma
- si
- lo
- pe
- tu
- na
- de
- fo
- bu
- cha
- ri
- ya
- que
- ge
- lla
- ño
- ci
- gui
Success looks like Your child names the syllable on sight, with no sounding-out. That automaticity is the whole point of this stage.
Sílabas
Encuentra la sílaba Find the syllable
Matching a heard syllable to its written form. Lay out a row; you say one, child points — then swap roles. ↗ on the playbook
Filas para señalar
ma · me · mi · mo · mu → “Señala mi.”seh-NYAH-lah meePoint to mi.
sa · se · si · so · su → “Señala so.”seh-NYAH-lah sohPoint to so.
pa · ta · la · da · na → “Señala la.”seh-NYAH-lah lahmixed consonants, same vowel — harder
que · ge · lla · ño · ci → “Señala ño.”seh-NYAH-lah nyohthe tricky set
Success looks like Your child points to the right syllable quickly, telling the five vowels apart by both sound and sight.