About this activity
Twelve words to blend from their sounds, growing in length: /c/ /a/ /t/, /d/ /o/ /g/ and /s/ /u/ /n/ are three sounds; /f/ /i/ /sh/ and /sh/ /i/ /p/ are three sounds with a digraph; /s/ /t/ /o/ /p/, /f/ /l/ /a/ /g/, /h/ /a/ /n/ /d/ and /s/ /w/ /i/ /m/ are four. The progression matters — a child who blends three sounds cannot necessarily blend four.
How to use it in a session
Compress the gaps rather than repeating at the same speed. Saying the sounds progressively closer together is what produces the blend, and it works when repetition does not. Do the three-sound words first and stop there if they are not solid; the four-sound words with clusters are a genuine step up. Eight minutes covers the twelve.
What to listen for
Watch the digraph words. Fish is three sounds and four letters, and a child who blends /f/ /i/ /s/ /h/ has been misled by the spelling. Notice where four-sound words break down — usually at the cluster, where two consonants have to be held together before the vowel arrives.
Carrying it home
Blending games need nothing at all. Saying a word in sounds and asking what it is takes five seconds, and letting the child do one for you is half the fun.
Questions
- What grades is this for?
- Kindergarten through second, as core phonemic awareness work.
- Is it free?
- Yes, all twelve words play with no account.
- Why is 'fish' three sounds and not four?
- Because sh is one sound written with two letters. Children who are already reading sometimes count letters instead of sounds, which is worth catching early.