Thinking about words like tofu, origami, ski, broccoli, raj, improv, and caribou, shows that words ending with I, J, U, or V, have either been imported from other languages or are new to any language. Of course, there are a couple of exceptions that your students, you, and I just have to live with.
Remind students that the final silent E can have more than one purpose in a word. Let them explore how words that end with TH are changed when a final silent E is added.
Pronunciation often depends upon where you were born or where you live now. For example, when I pronounce the following words, I hear and say two syllables: fire, tire, spire, ire, gyre, wire, and lyre. To my mind, 'hire' sounds like 'higher. Empire, umpire, conspire, inspire, and vampire, have three syllables ~ when I say them.
Every spoken syllable has one vowel sound with or without consonants attached. In English, every written syllable must include at least one vowel letter. When there is no strong vowel sound in the final syllable, silent E is added.
