Advanced

Tutor model

i62 💰:9.4

i52 💰:7.9

🏆 i67 💰:62.5

i70 💰:125.0

i68 💰:125.0

🏆 i66 💰:75.0

i65 💰:125.0

i63 💰:62.5

i61 💰:75.0

i60 💰:9.4

i60 💰:37.5

i58 💰:62.5

i57 💰:22.5

i57 💰:37.5

i56 💰:45.0

⚡ i55 💰:11.25

i55 💰:37.5

i54 💰:62.5

i52 💰:35.0

i51 💰:37.5

i49 💰:15.0

i49 💰:62.5

i48 💰:11.3

i47 💰:7.5

i44 💰:25.0

i43 💰:37.5

i42 💰:187.5

i40 💰:5.0

i39 💰:100.0

i38 💰:37.5

i37 💰:11.0

i36 💰:187.5

i34 💰:12.5

i33 💰:37.5

i30 💰:1.0

i29 💰:1.5

i28 💰:150.0

i23 💰:20.0

i20 💰:4.0

i18 💰:1.0

i16 💰:25.0

i13 💰:1.5

Keep session private

What would you like to learn?

Override for the tutor's lesson content generation calls. Auto uses the system default (Claude Sonnet 5 for lesson text, Opus 5 for diagrams).

Lesson generation model

System default

i58 💰:18.8

i31 💰:11.0

i25 💰:31.3

Tutoring abilities

What do words like **cat**, **bed**, and **sun** all have in common?

They are all three-letter words built like a tasty **sound sandwich**!

The alphabet is split into two special teams: **vowels** and **consonants**.

The letters **A, E, I, O, U** are vowels, and the other 21 letters are consonants.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<meta name="aspect-ratio" content="4:3">
<title>CVC Word Structure</title>
<style>
  * { box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0; padding: 0; }
  body {
    font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, sans-serif;
    background: #f8f9fa;
    color: #1e2945;
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    align-items: center;
    justify-content: center;
    min-height: 100%;
    padding: 12px;
  }

  /* Word Picker */
  .picker {
    display: flex;
    flex-wrap: wrap;
    justify-content: center;
    gap: 8px;
    margin-bottom: 16px;
  }
  .word-btn {
    background: #ffffff;
    border: 2px solid #e5e7eb;
    border-radius: 9999px;
    padding: 6px 14px;
    font-size: 15px;
    font-weight: 700;
    color: #4b5563;
    cursor: pointer;
    transition: all 0.2s ease;
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    gap: 6px;
  }
  .word-btn.active {
    background: #1e2945;
    border-color: #1e2945;
    color: #ffffff;
  }

  /* CVC Tiles Row */
  .cvc-container {
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    justify-content: center;
    gap: 8px;
    width: 100%;
    max-width: 440px;
  }

  .slot {
    flex: 1;
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    align-items: center;
    gap: 6px;
  }

  .role-tag {
    font-size: 13px;
    font-weight: 800;
    letter-spacing: 0.5px;
    text-transform: uppercase;
    padding: 3px 8px;
    border-radius: 6px;
  }

  .consonant-tag {
    background: #e0f2fe;
    color: #0284c7;
  }

  .vowel-tag {
    background: #ffedd5;
    color: #ea580c;
  }

  .tile {
    width: 100%;
    aspect-ratio: 1;
    max-width: 100px;
    background: #ffffff;
    border-radius: 16px;
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    justify-content: center;
    font-size: clamp(38px, 9vw, 52px);
    font-weight: 900;
    box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.06);
    transition: transform 0.25s ease, border-color 0.25s ease;
    border: 3px solid transparent;
  }

  .slot-c .tile {
    border-color: #38bdf8;
    color: #0284c7;
  }

  .slot-v .tile {
    border-color: #fb923c;
    color: #ea580c;
  }

  .operator {
    font-size: 20px;
    font-weight: 800;
    color: #cbd5e1;
    margin-top: 24px;
  }

  /* Result Badge */
  .result-card {
    margin-top: 18px;
    background: #ffffff;
    border: 2px solid #e5e7eb;
    border-radius: 16px;
    padding: 10px 24px;
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    gap: 12px;
    box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.04);
  }

  .result-emoji {
    font-size: 38px;
    line-height: 1;
  }

  .result-word {
    font-size: 28px;
    font-weight: 900;
    letter-spacing: 2px;
  }

  .c-text { color: #0284c7; }
  .v-text { color: #ea580c; }
</style>
</head>
<body>

  
  <div class="picker">
    <button class="word-btn active" onclick="setWord(0)"><span>🐱</span> CAT</button>
    <button class="word-btn" onclick="setWord(1)"><span>🛏️</span> BED</button>
    <button class="word-btn" onclick="setWord(2)"><span>🐷</span> PIG</button>
    <button class="word-btn" onclick="setWord(3)"><span>☀️</span> SUN</button>
    <button class="word-btn" onclick="setWord(4)"><span>🐶</span> DOG</button>
  </div>

  
  <div class="cvc-container">
    
    <div class="slot slot-c">
      <span class="role-tag consonant-tag">C</span>
      <div class="tile" id="letter-c1">C</div>
    </div>

    <span class="operator">+</span>

    
    <div class="slot slot-v">
      <span class="role-tag vowel-tag">V</span>
      <div class="tile" id="letter-v">A</div>
    </div>

    <span class="operator">+</span>

    
    <div class="slot slot-c">
      <span class="role-tag consonant-tag">C</span>
      <div class="tile" id="letter-c2">T</div>
    </div>
  </div>

  
  <div class="result-card">
    <span class="result-emoji" id="res-emoji">🐱</span>
    <div class="result-word">
      <span class="c-text" id="res-c1">C</span><span class="v-text" id="res-v">A</span><span class="c-text" id="res-c2">T</span>
    </div>
  </div>

  <script>
    const words = [
      { c1: 'C', v: 'A', c2: 'T', emoji: '🐱' },
      { c1: 'B', v: 'E', c2: 'D', emoji: '🛏️' },
      { c1: 'P', v: 'I', c2: 'G', emoji: '🐷' },
      { c1: 'S', v: 'U', c2: 'N', emoji: '☀️' },
      { c1: 'D', v: 'O', c2: 'G', emoji: '🐶' }
    ];

    let currentIndex = 0;
    const buttons = document.querySelectorAll('.word-btn');
    const elC1 = document.getElementById('letter-c1');
    const elV = document.getElementById('letter-v');
    const elC2 = document.getElementById('letter-c2');
    const elEmoji = document.getElementById('res-emoji');
    const elResC1 = document.getElementById('res-c1');
    const elResV = document.getElementById('res-v');
    const elResC2 = document.getElementById('res-c2');

    function setWord(index) {
      currentIndex = index;
      buttons.forEach((btn, idx) => {
        btn.classList.toggle('active', idx === index);
      });

      const w = words[index];
      elC1.textContent = w.c1;
      elV.textContent = w.v;
      elC2.textContent = w.c2;
      elEmoji.textContent = w.emoji;
      elResC1.textContent = w.c1;
      elResV.textContent = w.v;
      elResC2.textContent = w.c2;
    }
  </script>
</body>
</html>

What happens when we put these two teams together to make a word?

A **CVC word** is a three-letter word made of a **C**onsonant, then a **V**owel, and then another **C**onsonant.

Think of it like a sandwich: two consonant slices of bread holding a yummy vowel filling right in the middle!

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<meta name="aspect-ratio" content="4:3">
<style>
  * { box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, sans-serif; }
  body {
    background: #f8f9fa;
    color: #1e2945;
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    align-items: center;
    justify-content: center;
    min-height: 100%;
    padding: 16px;
  }
  .app-container {
    width: 100%;
    max-width: 480px;
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    align-items: center;
    gap: 20px;
  }
  .word-tabs {
    display: flex;
    gap: 8px;
    flex-wrap: wrap;
    justify-content: center;
  }
  .tab-btn {
    background: #ffffff;
    border: 2px solid #e2e8f0;
    color: #475569;
    font-size: 16px;
    font-weight: 700;
    padding: 8px 16px;
    border-radius: 999px;
    cursor: pointer;
    transition: all 0.2s ease;
    user-select: none;
  }
  .tab-btn.active {
    background: #22b7ff;
    border-color: #22b7ff;
    color: #ffffff;
  }
  .sandwich-grid {
    width: 100%;
    display: grid;
    grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr;
    gap: 12px;
  }
  .column {
    background: #ffffff;
    border-radius: 16px;
    padding: 16px 8px;
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    align-items: center;
    gap: 12px;
    box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.04);
    border: 2px solid transparent;
    transition: transform 0.2s ease;
  }
  .column.consonant {
    border-color: #bae6fd;
    background: #f0f9ff;
  }
  .column.vowel {
    border-color: #fde68a;
    background: #fffbeb;
  }
  .letter-tile {
    width: 56px;
    height: 56px;
    border-radius: 12px;
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    justify-content: center;
    font-size: 32px;
    font-weight: 800;
    text-transform: uppercase;
  }
  .consonant .letter-tile {
    background: #22b7ff;
    color: #ffffff;
  }
  .vowel .letter-tile {
    background: #f59e0b;
    color: #ffffff;
  }
  .meta-label {
    font-size: 13px;
    font-weight: 700;
    text-align: center;
  }
  .consonant .meta-label {
    color: #0369a1;
  }
  .vowel .meta-label {
    color: #b45309;
  }
  .icon-badge {
    font-size: 28px;
    line-height: 1;
  }
  .sandwich-role {
    font-size: 12px;
    font-weight: 600;
    color: #64748b;
    text-align: center;
  }
</style>
</head>
<body>

<div class="app-container">
  <div class="word-tabs">
    <button class="tab-btn active" onclick="setWord('CAT', 0)">CAT</button>
    <button class="tab-btn" onclick="setWord('BED', 1)">BED</button>
    <button class="tab-btn" onclick="setWord('PIG', 2)">PIG</button>
    <button class="tab-btn" onclick="setWord('SUN', 3)">SUN</button>
  </div>

  <div class="sandwich-grid">
    
    <div class="column consonant">
      <div class="letter-tile" id="c1">C</div>
      <div class="meta-label">Consonant</div>
      <div class="icon-badge">🍞</div>
      <div class="sandwich-role">Bread</div>
    </div>

    
    <div class="column vowel">
      <div class="letter-tile" id="v1">A</div>
      <div class="meta-label">Vowel</div>
      <div class="icon-badge">🧀</div>
      <div class="sandwich-role">Filling</div>
    </div>

    
    <div class="column consonant">
      <div class="letter-tile" id="c2">T</div>
      <div class="meta-label">Consonant</div>
      <div class="icon-badge">🍞</div>
      <div class="sandwich-role">Bread</div>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<script>
  const words = ['CAT', 'BED', 'PIG', 'SUN'];
  const tabs = document.querySelectorAll('.tab-btn');
  const c1El = document.getElementById('c1');
  const v1El = document.getElementById('v1');
  const c2El = document.getElementById('c2');

  function setWord(word, index) {
    c1El.textContent = word[0];
    v1El.textContent = word[1];
    c2El.textContent = word[2];

    tabs.forEach((tab, i) => {
      tab.classList.toggle('active', i === index);
    });
  }
</script>
</body>
</html>

Can we spot the consonant-vowel-consonant pattern in other words?

Look at the word **dog**: **d** is a consonant, **o** is a vowel, and **g** is a consonant.

Now look at **sun**: **s** is a consonant, **u** is a vowel, and **n** is a consonant.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<meta name="aspect-ratio" content="4:3">
<title>What Is a CVC Word?</title>
<style>
  * { box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0; padding: 0; }
  body {
    font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, sans-serif;
    background: #f8f9fa;
    color: #1e2945;
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    align-items: center;
    justify-content: center;
    min-height: 100%;
    padding: 16px;
    user-select: none;
  }

  .diagram-area {
    width: 100%;
    max-width: 480px;
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    align-items: center;
    gap: 20px;
  }

  /* Word selector tabs */
  .word-tabs {
    display: flex;
    justify-content: center;
    gap: 8px;
    width: 100%;
  }

  .tab-btn {
    flex: 1;
    max-width: 80px;
    padding: 8px 0;
    font-size: 16px;
    font-weight: 700;
    text-transform: lowercase;
    border: 1px solid #e2e8f0;
    background: #ffffff;
    color: #64748b;
    border-radius: 10px;
    cursor: pointer;
    transition: all 0.25s ease;
    text-align: center;
  }

  .tab-btn.active {
    background: #22b7ff;
    color: #ffffff;
    border-color: #22b7ff;
    box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(34, 183, 255, 0.35);
  }

  /* Tile Grid */
  .tiles-container {
    display: grid;
    grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
    gap: 12px;
    width: 100%;
    position: relative;
  }

  .tile {
    background: #ffffff;
    border-radius: 16px;
    padding: 16px 8px;
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    align-items: center;
    gap: 8px;
    box-shadow: 0 4px 16px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05);
    border: 2px solid transparent;
    transition: transform 0.25s ease, border-color 0.25s ease;
  }

  .tile.consonant {
    border-color: #bae6fd;
    background: #f0f9ff;
  }

  .tile.vowel {
    border-color: #fde68a;
    background: #fffbeb;
    transform: scale(1.04);
    box-shadow: 0 6px 20px rgba(245, 158, 11, 0.15);
  }

  .letter {
    font-size: 48px;
    font-weight: 800;
    line-height: 1;
    height: 52px;
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    justify-content: center;
    transition: opacity 0.2s ease, transform 0.2s ease;
  }

  .tile.consonant .letter { color: #0284c7; }
  .tile.vowel .letter { color: #d97706; }

  .badge {
    font-size: 13px;
    font-weight: 800;
    letter-spacing: 0.5px;
    padding: 4px 10px;
    border-radius: 999px;
  }

  .tile.consonant .badge {
    background: #e0f2fe;
    color: #0369a1;
  }

  .tile.vowel .badge {
    background: #fef3c7;
    color: #b45309;
  }

  .type-label {
    font-size: 12px;
    font-weight: 600;
    color: #64748b;
  }

  /* Bottom Pattern Formula */
  .formula-bar {
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    justify-content: center;
    gap: 12px;
    background: #ffffff;
    padding: 10px 24px;
    border-radius: 999px;
    box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.04);
    border: 1px solid #e2e8f0;
  }

  .tag {
    font-size: 15px;
    font-weight: 800;
  }

  .tag.c { color: #0284c7; }
  .tag.v { color: #d97706; }
  .tag.eq { color: #94a3b8; font-weight: 500; }
  .tag.result {
    color: #1e2945;
    background: #f1f5f9;
    padding: 2px 10px;
    border-radius: 6px;
  }
</style>
</head>
<body>

<div class="diagram-area">
  <div class="word-tabs">
    <button class="tab-btn active" data-word="sun">sun</button>
    <button class="tab-btn" data-word="cat">cat</button>
    <button class="tab-btn" data-word="bed">bed</button>
    <button class="tab-btn" data-word="pig">pig</button>
    <button class="tab-btn" data-word="fox">fox</button>
  </div>

  <div class="tiles-container">
    <div class="tile consonant">
      <span class="badge">C</span>
      <div class="letter" id="l1">s</div>
      <span class="type-label">Consonant</span>
    </div>

    <div class="tile vowel">
      <span class="badge">V</span>
      <div class="letter" id="l2">u</div>
      <span class="type-label">Vowel</span>
    </div>

    <div class="tile consonant">
      <span class="badge">C</span>
      <div class="letter" id="l3">n</div>
      <span class="type-label">Consonant</span>
    </div>
  </div>

  <div class="formula-bar">
    <span class="tag c">C</span>
    <span class="tag eq">+</span>
    <span class="tag v">V</span>
    <span class="tag eq">+</span>
    <span class="tag c">C</span>
    <span class="tag eq">=</span>
    <span class="tag result">CVC Word</span>
  </div>
</div>

<script>
  const words = [
    { text: 'sun', letters: ['s', 'u', 'n'] },
    { text: 'cat', letters: ['c', 'a', 't'] },
    { text: 'bed', letters: ['b', 'e', 'd'] },
    { text: 'pig', letters: ['p', 'i', 'g'] },
    { text: 'fox', letters: ['f', 'o', 'x'] }
  ];

  let currentIndex = 0;
  let timer = null;

  const buttons = document.querySelectorAll('.tab-btn');
  const l1 = document.getElementById('l1');
  const l2 = document.getElementById('l2');
  const l3 = document.getElementById('l3');

  function renderWord(index) {
    currentIndex = index;
    const word = words[index];

    buttons.forEach((btn, idx) => {
      btn.classList.toggle('active', idx === index);
    });

    [l1, l2, l3].forEach(el => {
      el.style.opacity = '0';
      el.style.transform = 'translateY(4px)';
    });

    setTimeout(() => {
      l1.textContent = word.letters[0];
      l2.textContent = word.letters[1];
      l3.textContent = word.letters[2];

      [l1, l2, l3].forEach(el => {
        el.style.opacity = '1';
        el.style.transform = 'translateY(0)';
      });
    }, 150);
  }

  function startAutoCycle() {
    clearInterval(timer);
    timer = setInterval(() => {
      const nextIndex = (currentIndex + 1) % words.length;
      renderWord(nextIndex);
    }, 3200);
  }

  buttons.forEach((btn, idx) => {
    btn.addEventListener('click', () => {
      renderWord(idx);
      startAutoCycle();
    });
  });

  startAutoCycle();
</script>

</body>
</html>

Whenever you see a three-letter word, check the middle: if you see a vowel hugging two consonants, you have found a **CVC word**!

What Is a CVC Word? Consonant–Vowel–Consonant. Understand that a CVC word has a consonant, a vowel and another consonant.

Phonics: How to Blend Sounds to Read CVC Words

Foundation English: Blend Each Sound to Read CVC Words and Match with Pictures

Early Reading and Phonics: Making and Reading CVC Words

For Foundation students (Australian Curriculum v9: AC9EFLY12), instruction must follow systematic, synthetic phonics principles. Emphasize continuous voicing (holding continuous sounds without pausing) to reduce working memory load during early decoding. Integrate multisensory strategies such as finger-tapping phonemes, using manipulatives with Elkonin boxes, and color-coding vowels versus consonants to cement pattern recognition before progressing to CCVC/CVCC structures.

What Is a CVC Word? Consonant–Vowel–Consonant

The Two Letter Teams

The CVC Sandwich

Spotting CVC Words