What the Teacher Needs to Know about Feature B: Initial Consonant Blends and Digraphs (Description pp. 118-120, Word Lists pp. 204, 201-203) Blend Digraph two or three consonant sequences that are blended together, each of the sounds of the letters are pronounced (bl, tr, sh) two letters that represent one sound (th, sh, ch) Whichever way words are studied (digraphs or blends first), it is a good idea to contrast the blend or digraph with its initial consonant counterpart. But, it is not always needed to break every blend or digraph for comparison. Use your students progression as a guide. S-blends are often a good starting point for blends, as their sounds are easier to isolate and stretch. Some other hints for blends: use words that remain words when the blend letter is dropped (Examples: snap/nap, scat/cat, spit/pit, spin/pin, spot/pot, stop/top, stub/tub, brag/rag, clip/lip) a visual that can help is to sketch a picture of a slide and write letters going down to show how to blend the onset and rime. s n a p Hints for digraphs: when working with digraphs, save wh for last it s difficult to hear a difference in sound between w and wh
Feature B Sort 1c sad hot shot sat sub hen shut ship his shed sad hot shot sat sub hen shut ship his shed
Feature B Sort 1c s h sh sad hot shot sat hen shut sub his ship shed Transfer Words: sun, six, hat, ham, shop, sheep
Feature B Sort 2c cub had chat cut chip him chum hug cab chin cub had chat cut chip him chum hug cab chin
Feature B Sort 2c c h ch cub had chat cut him chip cab hug chum chin Transfer Words: cup, cat, ham, hat, chop, chap
Feature B Sort 3c tan hit than that hop them tap tin then him tan hit than that hop them tap tin then him
Feature B Sort 3c t h th tan hit than tap hop that tin him them then Transfer Words: tag, tub, hat, ham, think, thorn
Feature B Sort 4c shelf chunk this shut that chimp shot chest shift them shelf chunk this shut that chimp shot chest shift them
Feature B Sort 4c sh ch th shelf chunk this shut chimp that shot chest them shift Transfer Words: ship, shop, chin, chop, thorn, think
Feature B Sort 5c win had which wet when hut his wham wax whip win had which wet when hut his wham wax whip
Feature B Sort 5c w h wh win had which wet hut when wax his wham whip Transfer Words: web, wall, ham, hat, whip, wheel
Feature B Sort 6c sip tap step stub sob stink tank stir sit tab sip tap step stub sob stink tank stir sit tab
Feature B Sort 6c s t st sip tap step sob tank stub sit tab stink stir Transfer Words: sun, six, tent, tub, stop, star
Feature B Sort 7c sag peg spend sped pit sap spit sum pop spun sag peg spend sped pit sap spit sum pop spun
Feature B Sort 7c s p sp sag peg spend sap pit sped sum pop spit spun Transfer Words: sun, six, pig, pen, spot, spill
Feature B Sort 8c stem sped skin snip snug spin stop skit stub snow stem sped skin snip snug spin stop skit stub snow
Feature B Sort 8c st sp sk sn stem sped skin snip stop spin skit snug stub snow Transfer Words: stir, spill, skip, snap
Feature B Sort 9c scab smog slap swan swim slip smug scan slot swing scab smog slap swan swim slip smug scan slot swing
Feature B Sort 9c sc sm sl sw scab smog slap swan scan smug slip swim slot swing Transfer Words: scale, smell, sled, swam
Feature B Sort 10c slap flat plan flip plot slid flesh plop slang plod slap flat plan flip plot slid flesh plop slang plod
Feature B Sort 10c sl fl pl slap flat plan slid flip plot slang flesh plop plod Transfer Words: sled, sleep, flag, fly, plus, plug
Feature B Sort 11c blank clog flat glad club flop blink glob blob clam blank clog flat glad club flop blink glob blob clam
Feature B Sort 11c bl cl fl gl blank clog flat glad blink club flop glob blob clam Transfer Words: block, clip, flag, glue
Feature B Sort 12c clasp flesh from crop clod crash flip fresh crush front clasp flesh from crop clod crash flip fresh crush front
Feature B Sort 12c cl fl fr cr clasp flesh from crop clod flip fresh crash front crush Transfer Words: clip, flag, frog, crab
Feature B Sort 13c crust brag grab prom print grin brat crest brush grip crust brag grab prom print grin brat crest brush grip
Feature B Sort 13c cr br gr pr crust brag grab prom crest brat grin print brush grip Transfer Words: crab, brick, grass, pray
Feature B Sort 14c dock rush drag rich drop dust drug dent drink rest dock rush drag rich drop dust drug dent drink rest
Feature B Sort 14c d r dr dock rush drag dust rich drop dent rest drug drink Transfer Words: dog, desk, ring, rug, drum, drip
Feature B Sort 15c test risk trip trot rent trash tank trust tip raft test risk trip trot rent trash tank trust tip raft
Feature B Sort 15c t r tr test risk trip tank rent trot tip raft trash trust Transfer Words: tent, tag, rug, ring, trap, trunk
Feature B Sort 16c drank trot bring grip grand drift brag tramp drug trim drank trot bring grip grand drift brag tramp drug trim
Feature B Sort 16c dr tr br gr drank trot bring grip drift tramp brag grand drug trim Transfer Words: drum, trap, brick, grill