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Words have beats
- but-ter-fly
Say butterfly slowly.
But … ter … fly.
That is three beats.
Get Ready
Clap once for each beat in a word.
Learn It
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Clap each beat
Say the word. Clap as you say it.
But, ter, fly. Clap, clap, clap!
One clap for each beat.
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Your chin can count
Put your hand under your chin.
Say a word. Your chin drops.
It drops once for each beat.
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A long word, one beat
- straight
Straight looks long.
Say it. Clap it. Just one beat!
Clap the word. Do not count letters.
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Clap your name
- Sam
- A-na
- I-sa-bel
Sam is one clap.
Ana is two claps.
How many claps in your name?
Your Turn
Answer each question in the yellow box.
Question 1 of 7
How many beats in elephant?
Question 2 of 7
Clap straight. How many beats?
Question 3 of 7
How many beats in cat?
Question 4 of 7
How many beats in rabbit?
Question 5 of 7
Which word has just one beat?
Question 6 of 7
Hand under your chin. Say monkey. How many drops?
Question 7 of 7
How many beats in the name Ana?
What You Learned
- Words have beats.
- Clap once for each beat.
- Your chin drops for each beat.
- A long word can have one beat.
For the grown-up
A beat is a syllable. Clapping, or a hand under the chin that drops with each vowel, turns an abstract count into something the child can feel.
Syllables are not letters: butterfly has nine letters and three syllables, straight has eight and one. Later, a long word is read a syllable at a time, so this is groundwork for decoding.