Reading & Phonics · Pre-K – Grade 1
CVC Blending (Decoding Short Words)
Reading printed consonant–vowel–consonant words like cat, pin, mud.
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First, your child should already…
This skill builds directly on:
- Letter Sounds — master this first.
- Oral Blending — master this first.
What your child is learning
Now the two earlier skills combine on the page: the child sounds out each letter left-to-right and blends them into a real printed word. This is the first true reading — decoding a word they’ve never been taught as a whole.
Signs your child is ready
- Blends 3 sounds orally with ease
- Knows the short-vowel sounds
- Tracks print left-to-right
The common stumbling point
Guessing the word from a picture or first letter instead of decoding, and short-vowel substitutions (reading pin as pen). Not moving strictly left-to-right.
Practice this skill
Worksheets and decodable practice for CVC Blending (Decoding Short Words) are in the library.
Practice this skill with All AccessHow to know it’s mastered
The child accurately reads a list of unfamiliar CVC words (no pictures) — about 9 of 10 correct — by decoding, not guessing.
What comes next
Once this is solid, move on to:
Short-Vowel Fluency →