Learning Resources Reading Rods Alphabet & CVC Words. Reading Rods is the hands-on approach to building essential early years English literacy skills. This set helps young children learn letter recognition, beginning and ending sounds, sound isolation, and consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) words. The rods are easy for little hands to join and are colour-coded blue for consonants and red for vowels. Rods for letters such as b and d feature dots for correct orientation. Includes 60 Reading Rods with lowercase letters in a box with dividers for organisation, and a Teachers Guide with free downloadable content. (Ages 3+)