Final answer:
The best keyword to introduce the short e sound is 'Elbow.' Words like 'slept,' 'fell,' and 'stress' have the short [e], whereas 'green' and 'beam' have the long [ē]. Spelling patterns like and in endings also relate to the vowel being short or long, respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best keyword for introducing the short e (/ə/) sound is b. Elbow, as it contains the short e sound at the beginning of the word. When labeling the vowel sound in words, it's important to listen for the length and quality of the vowel. For example:
- slept - short [e]
- green - long [ē]
- me - long [ē]
- dense - short [e]
- fell - short [e]
- beam - long [ē]
- stress - short [e]
- peace - long [ē]
- wedge - short [e]
Understanding the spelling patterns that correspond with the short and long vowel sounds, such as ck for a short vowel followed by the ending as in trickle, versus c for a long vowel as in cycle, is also key for proper pronunciation and spelling.