Consonant blends and digraphs are common phonics patterns that help students read and spell words more accurately. A consonant blend is a group of consonants where each sound can still be heard, like /b/ and /l/ in “blue.” A consonant digraph is two consonants that work together to make one sound, like /sh/ in “ship.” Second grade students benefit from learning blends and digraphs through decodable texts, sound charts, word sorts, phonics centers, and repeated reading practice.
For young readers, blends and digraphs can trip them up while reading. What’s up with that jumble of letters at the beginning of a word, anyway? In this post, we will take a closer look at consonant blends and digraphs, and how to teach them to second grade learners.
What You’ll Find in This Post
- The difference between consonant blends and digraphs
- Common examples of blends and digraphs
- Tips for teaching blends and digraphs in 1st & 2nd grade
- Hands-on centers for blends and digraphs
- Videos for reviewing blends and digraphs
- More 2nd grade phonics skills to teach next
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What Is the Difference Between a Blend and a Digraph?
The main difference between a blend and a digraph is the number of sounds students hear.
- In a blend, each consonant keeps its own sound. For example, in the word “frog,” students can hear both /f/ and /r/.
- In a digraph, two consonants work together to make one new sound. For example, in the word “ship,” the letters s and h work together to make /sh/.
Teacher Tip: Teach blends and digraphs separately before asking students to compare them. Students usually understand the difference more clearly when they first practice hearing each sound in a blend, then contrast that with a digraph that makes one sound.
How Do You Teach Consonant Blends and Digraphs in 1st & 2nd Grade?
- Decodable Phonics Mats
Once you start looking, consonant blends and digraphs are everywhere! A great way to introduce blends and digraphs is with our decodable phonics mats. Students will read along, identify the spelling pattern, and also answer comprehension questions. This is a great resource for whole class, small group, or independent review.
Why it works: Decodable phonics mats give students controlled reading practice with the target sound pattern, helping them connect phonics skills to real reading.
2. Phonics Sound Chart
Students keep a copy of this helpful blends phonics sound chart for their own review when working independently.
Why it works: A sound chart gives students a visual reference they can use when reading, spelling, and reviewing common blend and digraph patterns.
What Phonics Resources Help Teach Blends and Digraphs?
Did you know Lucky Little Learners has a Phonics curriculum? Being Science of Reading aligned and research based, Lucky to Learn Phonics is an amazing tool for your teacher toolbox. Units two and three are all about Blends & Digraphs.
Each unit is packed with easy to use resources inclduing:
- Decodable passages
- Phonics ladders
- Word & picture cards
- Word & sentences lists
- Centers
- Fold ‘N’ Decode booklets
- Digital or printable daily lesson plans
- Cut & paste sound sorts
- Roll the dice quick reads
- Phoneme posters
Peruse all things Lucky to Learn Phonics below!
Lucky to Learn Phonics Unit 2: Blends
Lucky to Learn Phonics Unit 3: Digraphs
Or, peruse everything Lucky to Learn Phonics at the Lucky to Learn Phonics lesson directory.
What Are Some Hands-On Activities for Teaching Blends and Digraphs?
1. Hands-On Centers
Smoothie Stand Center
Hungry to learn more about blends? Give this hands-on Smoothie Stand Center a try! Students will use a spinner to match pictures and words to create new blend words. This is available in print or digital format!
Why it works: Matching pictures and words gives students hands-on practice hearing, reading, and building words with consonant blends.
Final Blends Ladder Center
For final blends practice, give this center a try! Students will identify words with final ending blends then write the correct words for the pictures on ladder pieces.
Why it works: Final blend activities help students pay attention to the sounds at the end of words, which can be easy for young readers to skip.
2. Digital Games
Looking for a digital center? Students can use their personal devices to complete this picture word hunt for digraph words. Students will then arrange the words in a sentence to solve the clues.
Why it works: Digital phonics centers give students independent practice identifying digraph words while keeping the activity interactive and engaging.
You can check out our digital digraph center here.
3. Digraph Word Sorting
The ck digraph is often overlooked and can lead to student confusion. Try a quick practice activity, like the one featured below.
Why it works: C, K, and CK practice helps students understand spelling patterns that can be confusing when multiple letters represent similar sounds.
What Videos Help Teach Consonant Blends and Digraphs?
Are you ready to give these activities a try? Tell us your favorite way to introduce blends and digraphs in the comments below!
What Other 2nd Grade Phonics Concepts Should I Teach?
Ready to teach another phonics skill? We’ve got a post for that!
Multisensory Phonics Activities
Syllable Patterns/Multisyllabic Words
How to Introduce the 6 Syllable Types
New & Fun Ways to Teach Contractions
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