Phonics pattern

Consonant digraphs

A digraph is two letters that spell one sound: sh, ch, th and wh, with ph later. The student has to learn to see two letters and say one sound, which is a new idea after CVC words.

Spellings: sh, ch, th, wh, ph

How to teach it

Introduce one digraph at a time. Show the two letters together, say the one sound, and have the student say it while writing both letters.
Build words with the digraph on a single tile or card, so the student treats it as one unit, and tap one finger for the digraph, not two.
Read a list that mixes the new digraph with ones already taught, dictate a few words, and read sentences that use them.

Practice words

Read them across, then down. Point under each word as it is read.

shut
rush
cash
dash
mash
such
chum
thin
math
that
whim
sang

Decodable sentences

Seth sang a song with Mom.
The moth sat on the shed.
Which dish is hot?

Spoken warm-ups

No print. Say the prompt; the student answers aloud. Sounds are written between slashes.

Spoken warm-ups for Consonant digraphs
You say	The student says
Listen: /sh/ /i/ /p/. What word?	ship
Say ‘chin’. Say each sound.	/ch/ /i/ /n/
Say ‘chop’. Change /ch/ to /sh/. What word?	shop

Common errors

Saying both letters (sh read as /s/ /h/). Keep the digraph on one card and practice it as a unit.
Confusing sh and ch. Contrast them orally: /sh/ is a long, quiet sound; /ch/ is a short burst.
Spelling th as f or v (math as maf). Have the student look at your mouth: the tongue shows between the teeth for /th/.

Which lessons teach this

If you teach UFLI Foundations, this pattern comes up in these 10 lessons. Teach from your own manual.

Literacy Trail is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the University of Florida Literacy Institute. It contains no UFLI lesson content, only lesson names and order.

Questions people ask

Are these words from an assessment?

No. The practice words, sentences and warm-ups here are written for teaching and are kept separate from the words in the Literacy Trail assessments, so practicing never teaches the test.

When is a student ready for consonant digraphs?

When they read and spell the pattern before it (mixed short vowel words) accurately and without prompting, most of the time. Keep reviewing earlier patterns for two minutes a session while the new one settles.

How long should practice take?

A few minutes a day beats one long session a week. Read the word list once or twice, dictate three or four words, and read a sentence or two. Rate how it went and bring the pattern back on a short schedule if it is shaky.

Plan sessions for this pattern automatically

Start the 15-day free trial and add a student. When they reach consonant digraphs, Literacy Trail plans the sessions for it automatically, and a Needs support or Developing rating brings it back for review.

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