REVLOC vs. CLOVER: Why Syllable Type Order Matters

If you’ve studied Orton-Gillingham or structured literacy, you’ve probably heard different memory words used to teach syllable types.

Some programs use CLOVER.
Personally, I prefer REVLOC.

Why? Because REVLOC doesn’t just help students remember the syllable types, it also helps them remember the order to check when decoding words. The order really matters.

What Does REVLOC Stand For?

REVLOC represents the six syllable types:

• R – R-controlled
• E – Magic-E
• V – Vowel Team
• L – Consonant-LE
• O – Open
• C – Closed

The reason I like REVLOC is that it follows the thinking process we often use when analyzing syllables.

Instead of memorizing syllable types, students learn which syllable patterns “overrule” others.

Why the Order Matters

Take the syllable: tur

At first glance, many students might label this as a closed syllable because it ends in a consonant.

But when we look closer, we see the vowel is followed by an r.

That means the syllable is actually r-controlled. The R “takes over” the vowel sound.

So instead of using the closed syllable sound, we apply the r-controlled rule first. This is why the order in REVLOC is helpful.

A Simple Way to Teach It

I explain it like this:

Always look for R(-controlled) first.
Then look for E, V, L.
Last look for O and C.

Why This Helps Students

Many struggling readers try to apply the wrong syllable rule because they see only part of the pattern.

Teaching syllable types in a priority order can help students:

• Decode unfamiliar words more accurately
• Understand why vowels make different sounds
• Reduce guessing while reading
• Help students read and spell longer words (even 3+-syllable words can be broken down into syllable types)

Instead of memorizing isolated rules, students begin to notice patterns inside words.

A Final Word

Using CLOVER is fine… but in my experience, REVLOC gives students a more practical way to think through syllable types while reading and spelling.

That’s one reason I continue to teach syllable types using REVLOC in my Orton-Gillingham lessons.