What phonics skill should be taught next to students who have mastered closed-syllable words but not long-vowel-pattern words?

Teaching students how to decode and spell words with the silent -e pattern is a natural next step after they have mastered closed-syllable words. Closed-syllable words, like "man" or "cat," have a short vowel sound, which students can recognize and decode easily. The introduction of the silent -e pattern, as seen in words such as "made" or "cake," effectively extends their understanding of vowel sounds.

When students learn that adding a silent -e at the end of a word changes the vowel sound from short to long, they can begin to apply this knowledge to a broader set of vocabulary. This skill also reinforces their understanding of how letters can modify the sounds of other letters, enhancing overall phonics proficiency.

The silent -e pattern bridges their existing knowledge of closed syllables with longer vowel sounds, thereby forming a crucial part of their reading and spelling development.