★Count the Syllables
Kindergarten Reading Worksheet
NameDate
Say the name of each picture. Clap the parts. Write how many.
PencilGoKindergarten · Reading · Phonological awareness
Kindergarten Count the Syllables worksheets
6 printable versionsOn LevelAbout 4 minutes eachFree · no account
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About this worksheet
A syllable is a beat in a word, the part you can clap. Cat has one clap, apple has two and banana has three. Hearing syllables is one of the earliest reading skills, because it shows a child that spoken words can be broken into parts, long before any letters are involved. On this page every item is a picture with nothing printed under it, so the child has to say the word aloud, clap the parts and write how many.
Support sheets use mostly short, one-clap words with a few two-clap words. Standard sheets mix one, two and three claps in equal measure, and challenge sheets lean towards the longer, three-clap words. Say the word slowly with a clap on each part, and put a hand under the chin: the chin drops once for every syllable. After the page, clap the names of family members and pets.
What your child will learn
- Hear the parts of a spoken word
- Clap once for each syllable
- Count to 1, 2 or 3
- Write the number of syllables
Common Core standard: RF.K.2.B
Worked example
The picture shows an apple. Say it with claps: ap (clap) ple (clap). That is 2 claps, so write 2.
Common mistake
Counting the letters in the word, or clapping once for every sound instead of every beat.
Helpful hint
Say the word and put your hand under your chin: it drops once for every beat.
Questions parents ask
What is the most common mistake with count the syllables?
Counting the letters in the word, or clapping once for every sound instead of every beat.
How can I help my child with count the syllables?
Say the word and put your hand under your chin: it drops once for every beat.
Are these kindergarten reading worksheets free to print?
Yes. All 6 printable versions on this page are free to download and print, with no account needed.
Similar: Break Words into Sounds
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