Thread Academy

Digraphs and Blends

Read two-letter sounds such as sh, ch and th, plus blends like st and br.

  • Define and explain Digraphs and Blends in your own words
  • Use key terms such as blending accurately
  • Apply what you have learned to new examples and questions
  • Avoid the common mistakes learners make with this topic

This lesson focuses on Digraphs and Blends: read two-letter sounds such as sh, ch and th, plus blends like st and br.

Definition: Digraphs and Blends

Read two-letter sounds such as sh, ch and th, plus blends like st and br.

Key ideas

Blend from left to right

Point under each letter and say the sounds in order, then say them faster until they join into the word. Stretching sss-aaa-t until it becomes sat is the skill that turns decoding into real reading.

Sounds before letter names

Always learn the sound a letter makes, not its name. The letter s says sss, not ess. Sounds can be pushed together into words; letter names get in the way of blending.

Key term — blending: Pushing individual sounds together to read a word: s-a-t becomes sat. Blending turns letter sounds into real words.

Blend and read: cat

Read the word c a t by blending its sounds.

Say each sound separately, pointing at each letter: c, a, t. Say the sounds again, a little closer together: c-a-t. Speed up until the sounds join: cccaaat. Say the whole word smoothly: cat. Check it makes sense: a cat is a small furry pet.

Answer: cat.

Common mistakes
  • Saying letter names instead of sounds Say sss, a, t — not ess, ay, tee. Letter names cannot be blended into words.
  • Guessing from the first letter Always read every sound in the word. Guessing from the first letter causes mistakes like reading horse as house.

Practice

How many sounds are in the word fish?
Say it slowly: f-i-sh.

3 — the letters sh make one sound.

What is a digraph?
Think about sh.

Two letters that make one sound.

Split pin into its separate sounds.
Clap once for each sound.

p-i-n.

Which word do you make by blending s-u-n?
Push the three sounds together.

sun.

Quick check

Digraphs and Blends — quick check

Which of these best defines "blending"?

Pushing individual sounds together to read a word: s-a-t becomes sat. Blending turns letter sounds into real words.

Which of these best describes "grapheme"?

The letter or letters that spell a sound. In ship, the letters sh are a single grapheme.
Key takeaways
  • Digraphs and Blends: read two-letter sounds such as sh, ch and th, plus blends like st and br.
  • Blend from left to right: Point under each letter and say the sounds in order, then say them faster until they join into the word.
  • grapheme: The letter or letters that spell a sound.
  • Watch out for: saying letter names instead of sounds
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