Here's why:
* Short vowels are typically followed by a single consonant. In "paper," the vowel "a" is followed by the consonant "p" and the consonant "er".
* Long vowels can be followed by multiple consonants or a consonant and a silent "e" at the end of the word. The "a" in "paper" is making a long "a" sound.
Let me know if you'd like to explore other vowel sounds!