Reading & Phonics · Pre-K – Grade 1
Consonant Digraphs
Two letters that make one sound: sh, ch, th, wh, ck.
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First, your child should already…
This skill builds directly on:
- Short-Vowel Fluency — master this first.
What your child is learning
The child learns that some letter pairs work as a team for a single sound. This is the first big “it’s not always one-letter-one-sound” step, and it unlocks a huge number of common words (ship, chin, that, duck).
Signs your child is ready
- Fluent with single-letter short-vowel words
- Notices when a word “doesn’t sound right” decoded letter-by-letter
The common stumbling point
Reading the two letters separately (s–h instead of /sh/), especially with th and ch. Confusing the two th sounds (thin vs. this) is normal and comes with exposure.
Practice this skill
Worksheets and decodable practice for Consonant Digraphs are in the library.
Practice this skill with All AccessHow to know it’s mastered
The child reads digraph words accurately (about 9 of 10), treating the pair as one sound without prompting.
What comes next
Once this is solid, move on to:
Consonant Blends →