Blending

An important step in learning to read is blending the sounds we know together to make words. Check out this handy video from epic phonics to give you and idea of what I mean.

Once we have mastered this skill we will be starting to work on quickly recognising consonant digraphs and blends in words to allow us to blend longer words faster.

A consonant blend is when two or more consonants are blended together, but each sound may be heard in the blend.  The most common beginning consonant blends include: bl, br, cl, cr, dr, fr, tr, fl, gl, gr, pl, pr, sl, sm, sp and st.  Blends can also occur at the end of words as in the word “last”.  There are also blends which contain three consonants.  Common three consonant blends include: str, spl, and spr. 

In a consonant digraph, two consonants stand together to represent a single sound.  the most common consonant digraphs are: sh, ch, th, and wh. 

We have learnt the consonant digraphs as part of our Jolly Phonics sounds, so most of these are familiar to us already.

Check out these two great websites that may help make practising fun.

http://www.scootle.edu.au/ec/viewing/L7860/index.html

and

http://flash.topmarks.co.uk/4100

you will need to have flash enabled.