A phonics blend occurs when two or more letters appear together in a word and you can hear each sound that each consonant would normally make. Understanding how letters sound when strung together is a vital skill in helping children learn how to read.
Here are some helpful activities parents/caregivers and try at home to support children in learning blending skills.
Initial blends
Initial blends are when two consonants at the beginning of a word that are stringed together to make a distinctive sound. This video provides tips on how to teach and practice initial blends.
Final blends
Final blends are two consonants at the end of a word with each letter retaining its individual sound. This video provides tips on how to teach and practice final blends with children.
Blending three letter words
Understanding how to blend letter sounds assists children in honing on the sound for every individual letter in a word. This skill helps kids read words quickly and effectively. This video provides tips on how teach and practice blending sounds within a word with children.