Which pattern refers to vowel teams?

The correct choice is the term "vowel teams," which specifically describes a pattern where two or more vowels work together to create a single vowel sound, such as in the words "team," "peak," or "boat." This pattern is distinct because it highlights the combination of vowels that alter pronunciation in a way that differs from single vowels or the other patterns referred to in the options.

Understanding vowel teams is essential for decoding and spelling, as they often lead to different sound representations than can be typically expected from isolated vowels. By recognizing this pattern, students can improve their reading fluency and comprehension as they encounter various words that utilize these combinations.

The other options refer to different phonetic patterns. The open pattern typically ends in a vowel that is pronounced with its long sound and occurs in syllables where the vowel is not closed in by a consonant. The closed pattern features a short vowel sound followed by at least one consonant, effectively "closing" the vowel sound in the syllable. The vowel-consonant-silent e pattern is characterized by an "e" at the end of a word that usually makes the preceding vowel sound long. Each of these patterns plays a role in phonics, but they do not specifically encapsulate the