Letter sounds: h, b, f, ff, l, ll, ss

Method. Find the picture whose name starts with the sound /h/.

1. Look at the start of each name. The first letter, or first letters, give the first sound. A grown-up can read each name aloud.
   bus starts with b · leaf starts with l · hen starts with h
2. Find the sound /h/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /h/ is at the start of hen.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   hen

Check. Say hen slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /h/. ✓

Watch out. Look at the start of the name, not at the end or the middle.

Method. Find the picture whose name starts with the sound /h/.

1. Look at the start of each name. The first letter, or first letters, give the first sound. A grown-up can read each name aloud.
   hat starts with h · ball starts with b · fish starts with f
2. Find the sound /h/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /h/ is at the start of hat.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   hat

Check. Say hat slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /h/. ✓

Watch out. Look at the start of the name, not at the end or the middle.

Method. Find the picture whose name starts with the sound /b/.

1. Look at the start of each name. The first letter, or first letters, give the first sound. A grown-up can read each name aloud.
   lamp starts with l · bus starts with b · hat starts with h
2. Find the sound /b/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /b/ is at the start of bus.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   bus

Check. Say bus slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /b/. ✓

Watch out. Look at the start of the name, not at the end or the middle.

Method. Find the picture whose name starts with the sound /b/.

1. Look at the start of each name. The first letter, or first letters, give the first sound. A grown-up can read each name aloud.
   hen starts with h · fan starts with f · bed starts with b
2. Find the sound /b/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /b/ is at the start of bed.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   bed

Check. Say bed slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /b/. ✓

Watch out. Look at the start of the name, not at the end or the middle.

Method. Say the name of the picture. Then find the letter that makes its first sound.

1. Read the name. Read every letter in the name.
   hen
2. Find the first sound. The first letter tells the first sound.
   The first sound is /h/.
3. Choose the letter for that sound. Choose from h, b, n.
   h

Check. The word hen starts with h. ✓

Watch out. Some letters make a different sound in other words. Check the start of this word only.

Method. Say the name of the picture. Then find the letter that makes its first sound.

1. Read the name. Read every letter in the name.
   ball
2. Find the first sound. The first letter tells the first sound.
   The first sound is /b/.
3. Choose the letter for that sound. Choose from b, d, p.
   b

Check. The word ball starts with b. ✓

Watch out. Some letters make a different sound in other words. Check the start of this word only.

Method. Say the word, sound by sound. Then write one letter, or one group of letters, in each box.

1. Say the name of the picture. A grown-up says the word slowly.
   hat
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   h - a - t
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   h-a-t

Check. Read the letters back: h-a-t. They spell hat. ✓

Watch out. Write the sounds from left to right, and leave no box out.

Method. Say the word, sound by sound. Then write one letter, or one group of letters, in each box.

1. Say the name of the picture. A grown-up says the word slowly.
   bed
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   b - e - d
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   b-e-d

Check. Read the letters back: b-e-d. They spell bed. ✓

Watch out. Write the sounds from left to right, and leave no box out.

Method. Read the parts in order. Then say the sounds together, faster and faster, to make the word.

1. Read each part, one at a time. Each part makes one sound. Read them from left to right.
   h - e - n
2. Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word.
   /h/ /e/ /n/
3. Write the word. The blended sounds make the word.
   /h/ /e/ /n/ = hen

Check. Check the picture of a hen. The picture matches the word. ✓

Watch out. Do not say each sound as a separate word. Join them together.

Method. Look at the start of each name. One of them starts with a different sound.

1. Look at the first letter of each name. Read the names as a grown-up points to them.
   hat: h · hen: h · bus: b
2. Find the one that is different. The other names all start with h.
   bus is different.
3. Write the answer. Say what the odd one starts with.
   bus (starts with b)

Check. The other pictures start with h, so bus is the odd one. ✓

Watch out. Find the sound that most names share first. The odd one is the name that does not match.

Method. Look at the first letter of each name.

1. Look at hat. hat starts with h.
   hat: h
2. Look at bus and bed. bus and bed both start with b.
   bus: b; bed: b
3. Write the two names.
   bus and bed

Check. Only bus and bed start with b. ✓

Watch out. Check the first letter of every name.

Method. Look at the first letter of each word.

1. Look at hat. The first letter is h.
   hat: h
2. Look at bed. The first letter is b.
   bed: b
3. Give your answer. Say whether the first letters match.
   Accept any answer that says no: hat starts with h, and bed starts with b.

Check. h and b are different sounds. ✓

Watch out. Compare the first letters only.

Method. Find the picture whose name starts with the sound /f/.

1. Look at the start of each name. The first letter, or first letters, give the first sound. A grown-up can read each name aloud.
   ball starts with b · fan starts with f · hat starts with h
2. Find the sound /f/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /f/ is at the start of fan.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   fan

Check. Say fan slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /f/. ✓

Watch out. Look at the start of the name, not at the end or the middle.

Method. Find the picture whose name starts with the sound /f/.

1. Look at the start of each name. The first letter, or first letters, give the first sound. A grown-up can read each name aloud.
   fish starts with f · bus starts with b · lamp starts with l
2. Find the sound /f/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /f/ is at the start of fish.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   fish

Check. Say fish slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /f/. ✓

Watch out. Look at the start of the name, not at the end or the middle.

Method. Say the name of the picture. Then find the letter that makes its first sound.

1. Read the name. Read every letter in the name.
   fan
2. Find the first sound. The first letter tells the first sound.
   The first sound is /f/.
3. Choose the letter for that sound. Choose from f, h, b.
   f

Check. The word fan starts with f. ✓

Watch out. Some letters make a different sound in other words. Check the start of this word only.

Method. Say the name of the picture. Then find the letter that makes its first sound.

1. Read the name. Read every letter in the name.
   hat
2. Find the first sound. The first letter tells the first sound.
   The first sound is /h/.
3. Choose the letter for that sound. Choose from h, f, b.
   h

Check. The word hat starts with h. ✓

Watch out. Some letters make a different sound in other words. Check the start of this word only.

Method. Say the word, sound by sound. Then write one letter, or one group of letters, in each box.

1. Say the name of the picture. A grown-up says the word slowly.
   fig
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   f - i - g
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   f-i-g

Check. Read the letters back: f-i-g. They spell fig. ✓

Watch out. Write the sounds from left to right, and leave no box out.

Method. Say the word, sound by sound. Then write one letter, or one group of letters, in each box.

1. Say the name of the picture. A grown-up says the word slowly.
   puff
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   p - u - ff
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   p-u-ff

Check. Read the letters back: p-u-ff. They spell puff. ✓

Watch out. Write the sounds from left to right, and leave no box out.

Method. Read the parts in order. Then say the sounds together, faster and faster, to make the word.

1. Read each part, one at a time. Each part makes one sound. Read them from left to right.
   f - a - n
2. Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word.
   /f/ /a/ /n/
3. Write the word. The blended sounds make the word.
   /f/ /a/ /n/ = fan

Check. Check the picture of a fan. The picture matches the word. ✓

Watch out. Do not say each sound as a separate word. Join them together.

Method. Say the word off, sound by sound.

1. Say off. off has two sounds: o and f.
   o - ff
2. Find the last sound. The last sound is /f/, and ff makes it.
   last sound: /f/
3. Write the answer.
   ff

Check. The two letters ff make one sound at the end. ✓

Watch out. Write both letters together.

Method. Look at the end of each word.

1. Look at if and fin. if ends with f. fin ends with n.
   if: f; fin: n
2. Look at off. off ends with ff.
   off: ff
3. Write the answer.
   off

Check. Only off ends with two f letters. ✓

Watch out. Look for two letters at the end, not one.

Method. Say the word puff, one sound at a time.

1. Say the sounds. Each box is one sound.
   p - u - ff
2. Count the sounds. ff is one sound.
   p, u, ff
3. Write the answer.
   3 sounds.

Check. Count again: p, u, ff. There are 3. ✓

Watch out. Count sounds, not letters.

Method. Look at the start of each name. One of them starts with a different sound.

1. Look at the first letter of each name. Read the names as a grown-up points to them.
   fan: f · fish: f · hat: h
2. Find the one that is different. The other names all start with f.
   hat is different.
3. Write the answer. Say what the odd one starts with.
   hat (starts with h)

Check. The other pictures start with f, so hat is the odd one. ✓

Watch out. Find the sound that most names share first. The odd one is the name that does not match.

Method. Say the word, sound by sound. Then write one letter, or one group of letters, in each box.

1. Say the name of the picture. A grown-up says the word slowly.
   fig
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   f - i - g
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   f-i-g

Check. Read the letters back: f-i-g. They spell fig. ✓

Watch out. Write the sounds from left to right, and leave no box out.

Method. Read the parts in order. Then say the sounds together, faster and faster, to make the word.

1. Read each part, one at a time. Each part makes one sound. Read them from left to right.
   p - u - ff
2. Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word.
   /p/ /u/ /f/
3. Write the word. The blended sounds make the word.
   /p/ /u/ /f/ = puff

Check. Check the picture of a puff. The picture matches the word. ✓

Watch out. Do not say each sound as a separate word. Join them together.

Method. Say the word, sound by sound. Then write one letter, or one group of letters, in each box.

1. Say the name of the picture. A grown-up says the word slowly.
   huff
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   h - u - ff
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   h-u-ff

Check. Read the letters back: h-u-ff. They spell huff. ✓

Watch out. Write the sounds from left to right, and leave no box out.

Method. Find the picture whose name starts with the sound /f/.

1. Look at the start of each name. The first letter, or first letters, give the first sound. A grown-up can read each name aloud.
   hen starts with h · fish starts with f · bell starts with b
2. Find the sound /f/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /f/ is at the start of fish.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   fish

Check. Say fish slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /f/. ✓

Watch out. Look at the start of the name, not at the end or the middle.

Method. Count the sounds, not the letters.

1. Say the sounds. Each sound is one part of the word.
   p - u - ff
2. Count the sounds. ff is one sound, even with two letters.
   p, u, ff
3. Give your answer. Say why Sam is wrong.
   Accept any answer that says no: puff has three sounds, p, u and ff, because ff is one sound.

Check. Three sounds: p, u and ff. ✓

Watch out. Two letters can make one sound.

Method. Find the picture whose name starts with the sound /l/.

1. Look at the start of each name. The first letter, or first letters, give the first sound. A grown-up can read each name aloud.
   leaf starts with l · hen starts with h · bus starts with b
2. Find the sound /l/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /l/ is at the start of leaf.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   leaf

Check. Say leaf slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /l/. ✓

Watch out. Look at the start of the name, not at the end or the middle.

Method. Find the picture whose name starts with the sound /l/.

1. Look at the start of each name. The first letter, or first letters, give the first sound. A grown-up can read each name aloud.
   fan starts with f · lamp starts with l · ball starts with b
2. Find the sound /l/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /l/ is at the start of lamp.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   lamp

Check. Say lamp slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /l/. ✓

Watch out. Look at the start of the name, not at the end or the middle.

Method. Say the name of the picture. Then find the letter that makes its first sound.

1. Read the name. Read every letter in the name.
   leaf
2. Find the first sound. The first letter tells the first sound.
   The first sound is /l/.
3. Choose the letter for that sound. Choose from l, f, b.
   l

Check. The word leaf starts with l. ✓

Watch out. Some letters make a different sound in other words. Check the start of this word only.

Method. Say the name of the picture. Then find the letter that makes its first sound.

1. Read the name. Read every letter in the name.
   bell
2. Find the first sound. The first letter tells the first sound.
   The first sound is /b/.
3. Choose the letter for that sound. Choose from b, l, h.
   b

Check. The word bell starts with b. ✓

Watch out. Some letters make a different sound in other words. Check the start of this word only.

Method. Say the word, sound by sound. Then write one letter, or one group of letters, in each box.

1. Say the name of the picture. A grown-up says the word slowly.
   bell
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   b - e - ll
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   b-e-ll

Check. Read the letters back: b-e-ll. They spell bell. ✓

Watch out. Write the sounds from left to right, and leave no box out.

Method. Say the word, sound by sound. Then write one letter, or one group of letters, in each box.

1. Say the name of the picture. A grown-up says the word slowly.
   hill
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   h - i - ll
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   h-i-ll

Check. Read the letters back: h-i-ll. They spell hill. ✓

Watch out. Write the sounds from left to right, and leave no box out.

Method. Read the parts in order. Then say the sounds together, faster and faster, to make the word.

1. Read each part, one at a time. Each part makes one sound. Read them from left to right.
   b - a - ll
2. Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word.
   /b/ /a/ /l/
3. Write the word. The blended sounds make the word.
   /b/ /a/ /l/ = ball

Check. Check the picture of a ball. The picture matches the word. ✓

Watch out. Do not say each sound as a separate word. Join them together.

Method. Read the parts in order. Then say the sounds together, faster and faster, to make the word.

1. Read each part, one at a time. Each part makes one sound. Read them from left to right.
   b - e - ll
2. Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word.
   /b/ /e/ /l/
3. Write the word. The blended sounds make the word.
   /b/ /e/ /l/ = bell

Check. Check the picture of a bell. The picture matches the word. ✓

Watch out. Do not say each sound as a separate word. Join them together.

Method. Say the word ball, sound by sound.

1. Say ball. Each sound is one box.
   b - a - ll
2. Find the last sound. The last sound is /l/, written ll.
   last sound: /l/
3. Write the answer.
   ll

Check. ll makes one sound at the end of ball. ✓

Watch out. Write both letters together.

Method. Look at the end of each name.

1. Look at bell. bell ends with ll.
   bell: ll
2. Look at bed and hen. bed ends with d. hen ends with n.
   bed: d; hen: n
3. Write the answer.
   bell

Check. Only bell ends with ll. ✓

Watch out. Check the last letters of each name.

Method. Look at the start of each name. One of them starts with a different sound.

1. Look at the first letter of each name. Read the names as a grown-up points to them.
   leaf: l · lamp: l · ball: b
2. Find the one that is different. The other names all start with l.
   ball is different.
3. Write the answer. Say what the odd one starts with.
   ball (starts with b)

Check. The other pictures start with l, so ball is the odd one. ✓

Watch out. Find the sound that most names share first. The odd one is the name that does not match.

Method. Say the word, sound by sound. Then write one letter, or one group of letters, in each box.

1. Say the name of the picture. A grown-up says the word slowly.
   hill
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   h - i - ll
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   h-i-ll

Check. Read the letters back: h-i-ll. They spell hill. ✓

Watch out. Write the sounds from left to right, and leave no box out.

Method. Read the parts in order. Then say the sounds together, faster and faster, to make the word.

1. Read each part, one at a time. Each part makes one sound. Read them from left to right.
   d - o - ll
2. Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word.
   /d/ /o/ /l/
3. Write the word. The blended sounds make the word.
   /d/ /o/ /l/ = doll

Check. Check the picture of a doll. The picture matches the word. ✓

Watch out. Do not say each sound as a separate word. Join them together.

Method. Say the word, sound by sound. Then write one letter, or one group of letters, in each box.

1. Say the name of the picture. A grown-up says the word slowly.
   lid
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   l - i - d
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   l-i-d

Check. Read the letters back: l-i-d. They spell lid. ✓

Watch out. Write the sounds from left to right, and leave no box out.

Method. Blend the sounds together.

1. Read the sounds. Each letter makes one sound.
   b - e - d
2. Blend them. Join the sounds quickly.
   b + e + d
3. Write the word.
   bed

Check. The word bed uses b, e and d. ✓

Watch out. Check that the picture shows a bed, not a leaf.

Method. Look at the last letters of each word.

1. Look at leaf. The last letter is f.
   leaf: f
2. Look at bell. The last letters are ll.
   bell: ll
3. Give your answer. Say what the last letters are.
   Accept any answer that says no: leaf ends with f, and bell ends with ll, which is one sound /l/.

Check. leaf does not end with l. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole word before you decide.

Method. Say the word, sound by sound. Then write one letter, or one group of letters, in each box.

1. Say the name of the picture. A grown-up says the word slowly.
   hiss
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   h - i - ss
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   h-i-ss

Check. Read the letters back: h-i-ss. They spell hiss. ✓

Watch out. Write the sounds from left to right, and leave no box out.

Method. Say the word, sound by sound. Then write one letter, or one group of letters, in each box.

1. Say the name of the picture. A grown-up says the word slowly.
   fuss
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   f - u - ss
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   f-u-ss

Check. Read the letters back: f-u-ss. They spell fuss. ✓

Watch out. Write the sounds from left to right, and leave no box out.

Method. Say the word, sound by sound. Then write one letter, or one group of letters, in each box.

1. Say the name of the picture. A grown-up says the word slowly.
   bus
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   b - u - s
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   b-u-s

Check. Read the letters back: b-u-s. They spell bus. ✓

Watch out. Write the sounds from left to right, and leave no box out.

Method. Say miss, sound by sound.

1. Say miss. Each sound is one box.
   m - i - ss
2. Find the last sound. The last sound is /s/, written ss.
   last sound: /s/
3. Write the answer.
   ss

Check. ss makes one sound at the end. ✓

Watch out. Write both s letters together.

Method. Look at the end of each word.

1. Look at bus. bus ends with one s.
   bus: s
2. Look at boss. boss ends with ss.
   boss: ss
3. Write the answer.
   boss

Check. Only boss has two s letters at the end. ✓

Watch out. Look for two letters at the end, not one.

Method. Look at the end of each name.

1. Look at bus. bus ends with one s.
   bus: s
2. Look at bell and ball. bell ends with ll. ball ends with ll.
   bell: ll; ball: ll
3. Write the answer.
   bus

Check. Only bus ends with one s. ✓

Watch out. Check the last letters.

Method. Read the parts in order. Then say the sounds together, faster and faster, to make the word.

1. Read each part, one at a time. Each part makes one sound. Read them from left to right.
   h - i - ss
2. Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word.
   /h/ /i/ /s/
3. Write the word. The blended sounds make the word.
   /h/ /i/ /s/ = hiss

Check. Check the picture of a hiss. The picture matches the word. ✓

Watch out. Do not say each sound as a separate word. Join them together.

Method. Read the parts in order. Then say the sounds together, faster and faster, to make the word.

1. Read each part, one at a time. Each part makes one sound. Read them from left to right.
   m - i - ss
2. Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word.
   /m/ /i/ /s/
3. Write the word. The blended sounds make the word.
   /m/ /i/ /s/ = miss

Check. Check the picture of a miss. The picture matches the word. ✓

Watch out. Do not say each sound as a separate word. Join them together.

Method. Say the word, sound by sound. Then write one letter, or one group of letters, in each box.

1. Say the name of the picture. A grown-up says the word slowly.
   boss
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   b - o - ss
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   b-o-ss

Check. Read the letters back: b-o-ss. They spell boss. ✓

Watch out. Write the sounds from left to right, and leave no box out.

Method. Read the parts in order. Then say the sounds together, faster and faster, to make the word.

1. Read each part, one at a time. Each part makes one sound. Read them from left to right.
   b - u - s
2. Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word.
   /b/ /u/ /s/
3. Write the word. The blended sounds make the word.
   /b/ /u/ /s/ = bus

Check. Check the picture of a bus. The picture matches the word. ✓

Watch out. Do not say each sound as a separate word. Join them together.

Method. Think of a short word, then add ss at the end.

1. Think of a short word. Use one vowel, like i or u.
   h - i - ss
2. Check the end of the word. The last two letters make one sound.
   hiss ends with ss
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any word that ends with ss, such as hiss, miss, fuss or boss.

Check. Each word ends with the two letters ss. ✓

Watch out. Write both s letters together at the end.

Method. Say the last sound of each word.

1. Say bus. The last sound is /s/.
   bus: /s/
2. Say hiss. The last sound is /s/, written ss.
   hiss: /s/
3. Give your answer. Say how the two words are spelled.
   Accept any answer that says yes: both end with /s/. Bus has one s, and hiss has ss.

Check. Both words end with the sound /s/. ✓

Watch out. The sound can be the same, even when the spelling is different.

Method. Look at the last letters of each word.

1. Look at puff and off. Both end with ff.
   puff: ff; off: ff
2. Look at hill. It ends with ll.
   hill: ll
3. Give your answer. Say whether all three end with a double letter.
   Accept any answer that says yes: puff ends with ff, off ends with ff, and hill ends with ll.

Check. All three end with two of the same letter. ✓

Watch out. Double letters at the end are written together.

Method. Find the picture whose name starts with the sound /b/.

1. Look at the start of each name. The first letter, or first letters, give the first sound. A grown-up can read each name aloud.
   hen starts with h · fan starts with f · bell starts with b
2. Find the sound /b/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /b/ is at the start of bell.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   bell

Check. Say bell slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /b/. ✓

Watch out. Look at the start of the name, not at the end or the middle.

Method. Find the picture whose name starts with the sound /f/.

1. Look at the start of each name. The first letter, or first letters, give the first sound. A grown-up can read each name aloud.
   fish starts with f · hen starts with h · bus starts with b
2. Find the sound /f/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /f/ is at the start of fish.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   fish

Check. Say fish slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /f/. ✓

Watch out. Look at the start of the name, not at the end or the middle.

Method. Say the name of the picture. Then find the letter that makes its first sound.

1. Read the name. Read every letter in the name.
   fish
2. Find the first sound. The first letter tells the first sound.
   The first sound is /f/.
3. Choose the letter for that sound. Choose from f, h, s.
   f

Check. The word fish starts with f. ✓

Watch out. Some letters make a different sound in other words. Check the start of this word only.

Method. Say the name of the picture. Then find the letter that makes its first sound.

1. Read the name. Read every letter in the name.
   ball
2. Find the first sound. The first letter tells the first sound.
   The first sound is /b/.
3. Choose the letter for that sound. Choose from b, l, p.
   b

Check. The word ball starts with b. ✓

Watch out. Some letters make a different sound in other words. Check the start of this word only.

Method. Say the word, sound by sound. Then write one letter, or one group of letters, in each box.

1. Say the name of the picture. A grown-up says the word slowly.
   lid
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   l - i - d
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   l-i-d

Check. Read the letters back: l-i-d. They spell lid. ✓

Watch out. Write the sounds from left to right, and leave no box out.

Method. Read the parts in order. Then say the sounds together, faster and faster, to make the word.

1. Read each part, one at a time. Each part makes one sound. Read them from left to right.
   h - e - n
2. Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word.
   /h/ /e/ /n/
3. Write the word. The blended sounds make the word.
   /h/ /e/ /n/ = hen

Check. Check the picture of a hen. The picture matches the word. ✓

Watch out. Do not say each sound as a separate word. Join them together.

Method. Look at the start of each name. One of them starts with a different sound.

1. Look at the first letter of each name. Read the names as a grown-up points to them.
   bed: b · bus: b · hen: h
2. Find the one that is different. The other names all start with b.
   hen is different.
3. Write the answer. Say what the odd one starts with.
   hen (starts with h)

Check. The other pictures start with b, so hen is the odd one. ✓

Watch out. Find the sound that most names share first. The odd one is the name that does not match.

Method. Say hill sound by sound.

1. Say hill. Each sound is one box.
   h - i - ll
2. Find the last sound. The last sound is /l/, written ll.
   last sound: /l/
3. Write the answer.
   ll

Check. ll makes one sound at the end. ✓

Watch out. Write both l letters together.

Method. Look at the end of each name.

1. Look at hen and hat. hen ends with n. hat ends with t.
   hen: n; hat: t
2. Look at bell. bell ends with ll, a double letter.
   bell: ll
3. Write the answer.
   bell

Check. Only bell ends with a double letter. ✓

Watch out. Look at the last two letters.

Method. Read the parts in order. Then say the sounds together, faster and faster, to make the word.

1. Read each part, one at a time. Each part makes one sound. Read them from left to right.
   f - u - ss
2. Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word.
   /f/ /u/ /s/
3. Write the word. The blended sounds make the word.
   /f/ /u/ /s/ = fuss

Check. Check the picture of a fuss. The picture matches the word. ✓

Watch out. Do not say each sound as a separate word. Join them together.

Method. Start with h, then end with ll.

1. Start with h. The first letter is h.
   h - ...
2. Finish with ll. The end is one sound, /l/.
   h - i - ll
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any word that starts with h and ends with ll, such as hill.

Check. The word starts with h and ends with ll. ✓

Watch out. Check the first and last letters.

Method. Look at the sounds at the end of bell and ball.

1. Look at bell. bell ends with one sound, /l/.
   bell: /l/
2. Look at ball. ball ends with one sound, /l/.
   ball: /l/
3. Give your answer. Say what the double letter makes.
   Accept any answer that says yes: ll makes one sound, /l/, at the end of a short word.

Check. Each word ends with one /l/ sound. ✓

Watch out. Two letters can make one sound.

Method. Find the picture whose name starts with the sound /h/.

1. Look at the start of each name. The first letter, or first letters, give the first sound. A grown-up can read each name aloud.
   bus starts with b · hen starts with h · leaf starts with l
2. Find the sound /h/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /h/ is at the start of hen.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   hen

Check. Say hen slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /h/. ✓

Watch out. Look at the start of the name, not at the end or the middle.

Method. Say the name of the picture. Then find the letter that makes its first sound.

1. Read the name. Read every letter in the name.
   fan
2. Find the first sound. The first letter tells the first sound.
   The first sound is /f/.
3. Choose the letter for that sound. Choose from b, f, h.
   f

Check. The word fan starts with f. ✓

Watch out. Some letters make a different sound in other words. Check the start of this word only.

Method. Say the word, sound by sound. Then write one letter, or one group of letters, in each box.

1. Say the name of the picture. A grown-up says the word slowly.
   hat
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   h - a - t
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   h-a-t

Check. Read the letters back: h-a-t. They spell hat. ✓

Watch out. Write the sounds from left to right, and leave no box out.

Method. Say puff sound by sound.

1. Say puff. Each sound is one box.
   p - u - ff
2. Find the last sound. The last sound is /f/, written ff.
   last sound: /f/
3. Write the answer.
   ff

Check. ff makes one sound at the end. ✓

Watch out. Write both f letters together.

Method. Read the parts in order. Then say the sounds together, faster and faster, to make the word.

1. Read each part, one at a time. Each part makes one sound. Read them from left to right.
   b - e - d
2. Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word.
   /b/ /e/ /d/
3. Write the word. The blended sounds make the word.
   /b/ /e/ /d/ = bed

Check. Check the picture of a bed. The picture matches the word. ✓

Watch out. Do not say each sound as a separate word. Join them together.

Method. Look at the end of each name.

1. Look at hat. hat ends with t.
   hat: t
2. Look at ball. ball ends with ll.
   ball: ll
3. Look at bus. bus ends with s.
   bus: s
4. Write the answer.
   ball

Check. Only ball ends with ll. ✓

Watch out. Look at the last letters.

Method. Say the word, sound by sound. Then write one letter, or one group of letters, in each box.

1. Say the name of the picture. A grown-up says the word slowly.
   hiss
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   h - i - ss
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   h-i-ss

Check. Read the letters back: h-i-ss. They spell hiss. ✓

Watch out. Write the sounds from left to right, and leave no box out.

Method. Say the name of the picture. Then find the letter that makes its first sound.

1. Read the name. Read every letter in the name.
   leaf
2. Find the first sound. The first letter tells the first sound.
   The first sound is /l/.
3. Choose the letter for that sound. Choose from l, f, b.
   l

Check. The word leaf starts with l. ✓

Watch out. Some letters make a different sound in other words. Check the start of this word only.

Method. Look at the start of each name. One of them starts with a different sound.

1. Look at the first letter of each name. Read the names as a grown-up points to them.
   bus: b · bed: b · hat: h
2. Find the one that is different. The other names all start with b.
   hat is different.
3. Write the answer. Say what the odd one starts with.
   hat (starts with h)

Check. The other pictures start with b, so hat is the odd one. ✓

Watch out. Find the sound that most names share first. The odd one is the name that does not match.

Method. Say the sounds, then count them.

1. Say bell. Say each sound in order.
   b - e - ll
2. Count the sounds. ll is one sound.
   b, e, ll
3. Give your answer. Use the words one sound.
   Accept any answer that says b, e and ll are three sounds, because ll is one sound.

Check. Three sounds: b, e and ll. ✓

Watch out. Two letters can make one sound.

Method. Find the picture whose name starts with the sound /b/.

1. Look at the start of each name. The first letter, or first letters, give the first sound. A grown-up can read each name aloud.
   hat starts with h · bus starts with b · fan starts with f
2. Find the sound /b/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /b/ is at the start of bus.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   bus

Check. Say bus slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /b/. ✓

Watch out. Look at the start of the name, not at the end or the middle.

Method. Say the name of the picture. Then find the letter that makes its first sound.

1. Read the name. Read every letter in the name.
   leaf
2. Find the first sound. The first letter tells the first sound.
   The first sound is /l/.
3. Choose the letter for that sound. Choose from l, h, f.
   l

Check. The word leaf starts with l. ✓

Watch out. Some letters make a different sound in other words. Check the start of this word only.

Method. Say the word, sound by sound. Then write one letter, or one group of letters, in each box.

1. Say the name of the picture. A grown-up says the word slowly.
   hill
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   h - i - ll
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   h-i-ll

Check. Read the letters back: h-i-ll. They spell hill. ✓

Watch out. Write the sounds from left to right, and leave no box out.

Method. Look at the end of each name.

1. Look at bus. bus ends with one s.
   bus: s
2. Look at bell and fan. bell ends with ll. fan ends with n.
   bell: ll; fan: n
3. Write the answer.
   bus

Check. Only bus ends with one s. ✓

Watch out. Look at the last letters.

Method. Say the word, sound by sound. Then write one letter, or one group of letters, in each box.

1. Say the name of the picture. A grown-up says the word slowly.
   fuss
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   f - u - ss
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   f-u-ss

Check. Read the letters back: f-u-ss. They spell fuss. ✓

Watch out. Write the sounds from left to right, and leave no box out.

Method. Read the parts in order. Then say the sounds together, faster and faster, to make the word.

1. Read each part, one at a time. Each part makes one sound. Read them from left to right.
   h - a - t
2. Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word.
   /h/ /a/ /t/
3. Write the word. The blended sounds make the word.
   /h/ /a/ /t/ = hat

Check. Check the picture of a hat. The picture matches the word. ✓

Watch out. Do not say each sound as a separate word. Join them together.

Method. Say the word puff sound by sound.

1. Say the sounds. Each box is one sound.
   p - u - ff
2. Count the sounds. ff is one sound.
   p, u, ff
3. Write the answer.
   3 sounds.

Check. Count again: p, u, ff. There are 3. ✓

Watch out. Count sounds, not letters.

Method. Read the parts in order. Then say the sounds together, faster and faster, to make the word.

1. Read each part, one at a time. Each part makes one sound. Read them from left to right.
   f - a - n
2. Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word.
   /f/ /a/ /n/
3. Write the word. The blended sounds make the word.
   /f/ /a/ /n/ = fan

Check. Check the picture of a fan. The picture matches the word. ✓

Watch out. Do not say each sound as a separate word. Join them together.

Method. Look at the end of hiss.

1. Say hiss sound by sound. The last sound is /s/.
   h - i - ss
2. Look at the end of the word. The last sound is written with two letters, ss.
   ss at the end
3. Give your answer. Say why Ben is right.
   Accept any answer that says yes, because hiss ends with the sound /s/, written ss.

Check. The sound at the end is /s/. ✓

Watch out. The sound is /s/, but the spelling is ss.

Method. Start with b, and end with ll.

1. Start with b. The first letter is b.
   b - ...
2. End with ll. The last two letters make one sound.
   b - e - ll
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any word that starts with b and ends with ll, such as ball or bell.

Check. The word starts with b and ends with ll. ✓

Watch out. Write both l letters together at the end.

Method. Read the parts in order. Then say the sounds together, faster and faster, to make the word.

1. Read each part, one at a time. Each part makes one sound. Read them from left to right.
   b - a - ll
2. Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word.
   /b/ /a/ /l/
3. Write the word. The blended sounds make the word.
   /b/ /a/ /l/ = ball

Check. Check the picture of a ball. The picture matches the word. ✓

Watch out. Do not say each sound as a separate word. Join them together.