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Consonant Digraphs Skill Explainer

Flash Card Demo: Digraphs

Ah, digraphs … the mash-ups of the spelling world. Two unique letters, with their own unique sounds, bond to create a completely new sound. And a consistent routine warming up with flash cards will help students build automaticity as they learn these new sounds. In this video, literacy coach Elizabeth Hogan, M.Ed., models how to deliver a flash card routine that helps digraphs stick.

Here’s what you can say when warming up with these flash cards that have the keyword picture:

'ch' - 'c', 'h', chair, /ch/.
'sh' - 's', 'h', shoe, /sh/.
Unvoiced 'th' - 't', 'h', thumb, /th/.
Voiced 'th' - 't', 'h', mother, /TH/.
'wh' - 'w', 'h', whistle, /wh/.
'ph' - 'p', 'h', phone, /f/.

Video thumbnail for Flash Card Demo: Digraphs — Produced by Reading Universe, a partnership of WETA, Barksdale Reading Institute, and First Book

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This is how we warm up the digraph flashcards. Remember, a digraph is two letters that stick together to make one sound. 'ch,' chair, /ch/. 'sh', shoe, /sh/. 'th', thumb, /th/. And 'th' also makes a voice sound /TH/. 'th', mother, /TH/. 'wh', whistle, /wh/. 'ph', phone, /f/.

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Support Materials

Digraphs Flash Cards with Pictures (5x7)

Print these 5x7 letter flash cards with pictures to use in whole class instruction.

Digraphs Flash Cards with Pictures (2x4)

Print these 2x4 letter flash cards with pictures to use with small groups.

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