Two letters, one sound: consonant digraphs

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

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.
   ship starts with sh · chick starts with ch · van starts with v
2. Find the sound /sh/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /sh/ is at the start of ship.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   ship

Check. Say ship slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /sh/. ✓

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 /ch/.

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.
   ship starts with sh · web starts with w · chick starts with ch
2. Find the sound /ch/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /ch/ is at the start of chick.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   chick

Check. Say chick slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /ch/. ✓

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 /ch/.

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.
   jug starts with j · chair starts with ch · ship starts with sh
2. Find the sound /ch/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /ch/ is at the start of chair.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   chair

Check. Say chair slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /ch/. ✓

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.
   ship
2. Find the first sound. The first letter tells the first sound.
   The first sound is /sh/.
3. Choose the letter for that sound. Choose from sh, s, h.
   sh

Check. The word ship starts with sh. ✓

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.
   chair
2. Find the first sound. The first letter tells the first sound.
   The first sound is /ch/.
3. Choose the letter for that sound. Choose from ch, c, h.
   ch

Check. The word chair starts with ch. ✓

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.
   ship
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   sh - i - p
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   sh-i-p

Check. Read the letters back: sh-i-p. They spell ship. ✓

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.
   chick
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   ch - i - ck
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   ch-i-ck

Check. Read the letters back: ch-i-ck. They spell chick. ✓

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.
   sh - i - p
2. Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word.
   /sh/ /i/ /p/
3. Write the word. The blended sounds make the word.
   /sh/ /i/ /p/ = ship

Check. Check the picture of a ship. 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.
   ch - i - ck
2. Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word.
   /ch/ /i/ /k/
3. Write the word. The blended sounds make the word.
   /ch/ /i/ /k/ = chick

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

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

Method. Say the first sound of chick.

1. Say chick slowly. Listen for the first sound.
   ch - i - ck
2. Find the first sound. ch makes one sound, /ch/.
   first sound: /ch/
3. Write the answer. Write both letters together.
   ch

Check. ch is one sound at the start of chick. ✓

Watch out. Do not write c and h as two sounds.

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.
   chick: ch · chair: ch · ship: sh
2. Find the one that is different. The other names all start with ch.
   ship is different.
3. Write the answer. Say what the odd one starts with.
   ship (starts with sh)

Check. The other pictures start with ch, so ship 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 first sound of ship.

1. Say ship. Say the first sound once.
   sh - i - p
2. Count the sounds at the start. sh is one sound.
   first sound: /sh/
3. Give your answer. Say why Ben is wrong.
   Accept any answer that says no: sh is one sound, /sh/, so ship starts with one sound.

Check. sh makes one sound, /sh/. ✓

Watch out. Two letters can make one sound.

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

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.
   king starts with k · jug starts with j · thumb starts with th
2. Find the sound /th/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /th/ is at the start of thumb.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   thumb

Check. Say thumb slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /th/. ✓

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 /k/.

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.
   king starts with k · thumb starts with th · van starts with v
2. Find the sound /k/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /k/ is at the start of king.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   king

Check. Say king slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /k/. ✓

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.
   thumb
2. Find the first sound. The first letter tells the first sound.
   The first sound is /th/.
3. Choose the letter for that sound. Choose from th, t, h.
   th

Check. The word thumb starts with th. ✓

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.
   king
2. Find the first sound. The first letter tells the first sound.
   The first sound is /k/.
3. Choose the letter for that sound. Choose from k, c, n.
   k

Check. The word king starts with k. ✓

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.
   thumb
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   th - u - m
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   th-u-m

Check. Read the letters back: th-u-m. They spell thumb. ✓

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.
   ring
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   r - i - ng
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   r-i-ng

Check. Read the letters back: r-i-ng. They spell ring. ✓

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.
   th - u - m
2. Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word.
   /th/ /u/ /m/
3. Write the word. The blended sounds make the word.
   /th/ /u/ /m/ = thumb

Check. Check the picture of a thumb. 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.
   r - i - ng
2. Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word.
   /r/ /i/ /ng/
3. Write the word. The blended sounds make the word.
   /r/ /i/ /ng/ = ring

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

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

Method. Say ring sound by sound.

1. Say ring. Each sound is one box.
   r - i - ng
2. Find the last sound. The last sound is /ng/, written ng.
   last sound: /ng/
3. Write the answer. Write both letters together.
   ng

Check. ng makes one sound at the end of ring. ✓

Watch out. Write n and g together.

Method. Look at the end of each name.

1. Look at king. king ends with ng.
   king: ng
2. Look at thumb and web. thumb ends with m. web ends with b.
   thumb: m; web: b
3. Write the answer.
   king

Check. Only king ends with ng. ✓

Watch out. Look at the last letters.

Method. Say ring one sound at a time.

1. Say the sounds. Each box is one sound.
   r - i - ng
2. Count the sounds. ng is one sound.
   r, i, ng
3. Write the answer.
   3 sounds.

Check. Count again: r, i, ng. There are 3. ✓

Watch out. Count sounds, not letters.

Method. Look at the start of the word.

1. Look at thumb. The first two letters are t and h.
   t - h - u - m
2. Say the first sound. Together, th makes one sound.
   first sound: /th/
3. Write the answer.
   th

Check. th is one sound at the start of thumb. ✓

Watch out. Write t and h 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.
   k - i - ng
2. Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word.
   /k/ /i/ /ng/
3. Write the word. The blended sounds make the word.
   /k/ /i/ /ng/ = king

Check. Check the picture of a king. 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.
   king
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   k - i - ng
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   k-i-ng

Check. Read the letters back: k-i-ng. They spell king. ✓

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

Method. Look at the first letters of each word.

1. Look at thumb. The first two letters th make one sound.
   th = /th/
2. Look at king. The first letter is k. ng comes at the end.
   k = /k/; ng at the end
3. Give your answer. Say what is the same and what is different.
   Accept any answer that says no: th is two letters, one sound, but king starts with k, one letter.

Check. Only thumb starts with two letters that make one sound. ✓

Watch out. Look at each word on its own.

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

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.
   thumb starts with th · jug starts with j · van starts with v
2. Find the sound /th/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /th/ is at the start of thumb.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   thumb

Check. Say thumb slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /th/. ✓

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

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.
   thin
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   th - i - n
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   th-i-n

Check. Read the letters back: th-i-n. They spell thin. ✓

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

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

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.
   jug starts with j · web starts with w · van starts with v
2. Find the sound /j/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /j/ is at the start of jug.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   jug

Check. Say jug slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /j/. ✓

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 /v/.

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.
   ship starts with sh · van starts with v · jug starts with j
2. Find the sound /v/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /v/ is at the start of van.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   van

Check. Say van slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /v/. ✓

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 /w/.

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.
   van starts with v · chick starts with ch · web starts with w
2. Find the sound /w/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /w/ is at the start of web.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   web

Check. Say web slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /w/. ✓

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.
   jug
2. Find the first sound. The first letter tells the first sound.
   The first sound is /j/.
3. Choose the letter for that sound. Choose from j, g, v.
   j

Check. The word jug starts with j. ✓

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.
   web
2. Find the first sound. The first letter tells the first sound.
   The first sound is /w/.
3. Choose the letter for that sound. Choose from w, v, b.
   w

Check. The word web starts with w. ✓

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.
   van
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   v - a - n
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   v-a-n

Check. Read the letters back: v-a-n. They spell van. ✓

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.
   jug
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   j - u - g
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   j-u-g

Check. Read the letters back: j-u-g. They spell jug. ✓

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.
   w - e - b
2. Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word.
   /w/ /e/ /b/
3. Write the word. The blended sounds make the word.
   /w/ /e/ /b/ = web

Check. Check the picture of a web. 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.
   v - a - n
2. Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word.
   /v/ /a/ /n/
3. Write the word. The blended sounds make the word.
   /v/ /a/ /n/ = van

Check. Check the picture of a van. 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.
   van: v · vase: v · web: w
2. Find the one that is different. The other names all start with v.
   web is different.
3. Write the answer. Say what the odd one starts with.
   web (starts with w)

Check. The other pictures start with v, so web 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.
   vet
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   v - e - t
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   v-e-t

Check. Read the letters back: v-e-t. They spell vet. ✓

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

Method. Look at the first letter of each word.

1. Look at jug. The first letter is j.
   jug: j
2. Look at van. The first letter is v.
   van: v
3. Give your answer. Say whether the first letters match.
   Accept any answer that says no: jug starts with j, but van starts with v.

Check. j and v are different letters and sounds. ✓

Watch out. Read each word slowly.

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

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.
   ship starts with sh · web starts with w · jug starts with j
2. Find the sound /w/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /w/ is at the start of web.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   web

Check. Say web slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /w/. ✓

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

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.
   j - u - g
2. Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word.
   /j/ /u/ /g/
3. Write the word. The blended sounds make the word.
   /j/ /u/ /g/ = jug

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

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

Method. Think of a word that starts with v.

1. Look at the pictures. van starts with v.
   van
2. Write another word. The first letter is v.
   vet
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any word that starts with v, such as van or vet.

Check. The first letter is v, and it makes /v/. ✓

Watch out. Check the first letter, not the rest of the word.

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

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.
   yo-yo starts with y · queen starts with qu · zip starts with z
2. Find the sound /z/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /z/ is at the start of zip.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   zip

Check. Say zip slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /z/. ✓

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 /y/.

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.
   yo-yo starts with y · zip starts with z · king starts with k
2. Find the sound /y/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /y/ is at the start of yo-yo.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   yo-yo

Check. Say yo-yo slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /y/. ✓

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 /qu/.

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.
   yo-yo starts with y · queen starts with qu · zip starts with z
2. Find the sound /qu/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /qu/ is at the start of queen.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   queen

Check. Say queen slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /qu/. ✓

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.
   zip
2. Find the first sound. The first letter tells the first sound.
   The first sound is /z/.
3. Choose the letter for that sound. Choose from z, s, x.
   z

Check. The word zip starts with z. ✓

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.
   queen
2. Find the first sound. The first letter tells the first sound.
   The first sound is /qu/.
3. Choose the letter for that sound. Choose from qu, q, k.
   qu

Check. The word queen starts with qu. ✓

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.
   zip
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   z - i - p
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   z-i-p

Check. Read the letters back: z-i-p. They spell zip. ✓

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.
   box
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   b - o - x
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   b-o-x

Check. Read the letters back: b-o-x. They spell box. ✓

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.
   z - i - p
2. Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word.
   /z/ /i/ /p/
3. Write the word. The blended sounds make the word.
   /z/ /i/ /p/ = zip

Check. Check the picture of a zip. 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 - o - x
2. Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word.
   /b/ /o/ /ks/
3. Write the word. The blended sounds make the word.
   /b/ /o/ /ks/ = box

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

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

Method. Say box sound by sound.

1. Say box. Each sound is one part of the word.
   b - o - x
2. Find the last sound. The last sound is /ks/, written with the letter x.
   last sound: /ks/
3. Write the answer. x is written in one box.
   x

Check. The word box ends with x. ✓

Watch out. Write x as one letter.

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

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.
   zip starts with z · yo-yo starts with y · box starts with b
2. Find the sound /y/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /y/ is at the start of yo-yo.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   yo-yo

Check. Say yo-yo slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /y/. ✓

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

Method. Say the first sound of queen.

1. Say queen. Listen for the first sound.
   qu - ee - n
2. Find the first sound. The letters qu make one sound together.
   first sound: /kw/
3. Write the answer.
   qu

Check. qu is one sound at the start of queen. ✓

Watch out. Write q and u 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.
   zip: z · yo-yo: y · queen: qu
2. Find the one that is different. The other names all start with y.
   zip is different.
3. Write the answer. Say what the odd one starts with.
   zip (starts with z)

Check. The other pictures start with y, so zip 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. 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 - o - x
2. Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word.
   /b/ /o/ /ks/
3. Write the word. The blended sounds make the word.
   /b/ /o/ /ks/ = box

Check. Check the picture of a box. 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.
   yes
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   y - e - s
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   y-e-s

Check. Read the letters back: y-e-s. They spell yes. ✓

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

Method. Look at the first letter of yo-yo.

1. Read the word. Say each part of the word.
   yo - yo
2. Find the first letter. The first letter is y.
   first letter: y
3. Give your answer. Say what letter yo-yo starts with.
   Accept any answer that says no: yo-yo starts with y, and the sound is /y/.

Check. y makes the sound /y/ at the start. ✓

Watch out. Look at the first letter 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.
   zip
2. Find the first sound. The first letter tells the first sound.
   The first sound is /z/.
3. Choose the letter for that sound. Choose from z, s, x.
   z

Check. The word zip starts with z. ✓

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

Method. Think of a short word that ends with the letter x.

1. Look at the pictures. box ends with x.
   box
2. Write another word. It must end with x.
   fox
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any word that ends with x, such as box or fox.

Check. The last letter is x. ✓

Watch out. The letter x is written at the end of the word.

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

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.
   ship starts with sh · thumb starts with th · web starts with w
2. Find the sound /sh/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /sh/ is at the start of ship.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   ship

Check. Say ship slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /sh/. ✓

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 /th/.

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.
   chick starts with ch · thumb starts with th · zip starts with z
2. Find the sound /th/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /th/ is at the start of thumb.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   thumb

Check. Say thumb slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /th/. ✓

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 /j/.

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.
   king starts with k · box starts with b · jug starts with j
2. Find the sound /j/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /j/ is at the start of jug.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   jug

Check. Say jug slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /j/. ✓

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.
   chick
2. Find the first sound. The first letter tells the first sound.
   The first sound is /ch/.
3. Choose the letter for that sound. Choose from ch, c, k.
   ch

Check. The word chick starts with ch. ✓

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.
   yo-yo
2. Find the first sound. The first letter tells the first sound.
   The first sound is /y/.
3. Choose the letter for that sound. Choose from y, j, z.
   y

Check. The word yo-yo starts with y. ✓

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.
   king
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   k - i - ng
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   k-i-ng

Check. Read the letters back: k-i-ng. They spell king. ✓

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.
   k - i - ng
2. Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word.
   /k/ /i/ /ng/
3. Write the word. The blended sounds make the word.
   /k/ /i/ /ng/ = king

Check. Check the picture of a king. 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.
   th - u - m
2. Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word.
   /th/ /u/ /m/
3. Write the word. The blended sounds make the word.
   /th/ /u/ /m/ = thumb

Check. Check the picture of a thumb. 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.
   jug: j · web: w · van: v
2. Find the one that is different. The other names all start with j.
   web is different.
3. Write the answer. Say what the odd one starts with.
   web (starts with w)

Check. The other pictures start with j, so web 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 ship one sound at a time.

1. Say the sounds. sh is one sound.
   sh - i - p
2. Count the sounds. Count each sound once.
   sh, i, p
3. Write the answer.
   3 sounds.

Check. Count again: sh, i, p. There are 3. ✓

Watch out. Two letters can make one sound.

Method. Look at the end of each name.

1. Look at fish. fish ends with sh.
   fish: sh
2. Look at web and zip. web ends with b. zip ends with p.
   web: b; zip: p
3. Write the answer.
   fish

Check. Only fish ends with sh. ✓

Watch out. Look at the last two letters.

Method. Choose one of the pictures, then check its first sound.

1. Look at the pictures. ship starts with sh.
   ship
2. Check the first sound. The first sound is one sound from two letters or one letter.
   sh / ch / th / j
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any word that starts with sh, ch, th or j, such as ship, chick, thumb or jug.

Check. Each word starts with one of these sounds. ✓

Watch out. Write one word and check its first sound.

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.
   z - i - p
2. Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word.
   /z/ /i/ /p/
3. Write the word. The blended sounds make the word.
   /z/ /i/ /p/ = zip

Check. Check the picture of a zip. 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.
   web
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   w - e - b
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   w-e-b

Check. Read the letters back: w-e-b. They spell web. ✓

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

Method. Look at the first letters.

1. Read chick. The first two letters are c and h.
   c - h - i - ck
2. Say the first sound. Together, ch makes one sound.
   first sound: /ch/
3. Write the answer.
   ch

Check. ch makes one sound at the start of chick. ✓

Watch out. Write c and h together.

Method. Write each letter in its own box.

1. Write the boxes. Each letter or group of letters goes in one box.
   b | o | x
2. Count the boxes. Three boxes in the word box.
   three boxes
3. Give your answer. Say whether the boxes match the sounds.
   Accept any answer that says yes: b, o and x each take one box, so the word is written in three boxes.

Check. Three boxes: b, o and x. ✓

Watch out. The boxes help you count the sounds.

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

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.
   chick starts with ch · ship starts with sh · van starts with v
2. Find the sound /sh/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /sh/ is at the start of ship.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   ship

Check. Say ship slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /sh/. ✓

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

Method. Say ring sound by sound.

1. Say ring. Each sound is one box.
   r - i - ng
2. Find the last sound. The last sound is /ng/.
   last sound: /ng/
3. Write the answer.
   ng

Check. ng makes one sound at the end. ✓

Watch out. Write n and g 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.
   thumb
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   th - u - m
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   th-u-m

Check. Read the letters back: th-u-m. They spell thumb. ✓

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.
   w - e - b
2. Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word.
   /w/ /e/ /b/
3. Write the word. The blended sounds make the word.
   /w/ /e/ /b/ = web

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

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

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.
   jug
2. Find the first sound. The first letter tells the first sound.
   The first sound is /j/.
3. Choose the letter for that sound. Choose from j, v, w.
   j

Check. The word jug starts with j. ✓

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

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

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.
   zip starts with z · yo-yo starts with y · king starts with k
2. Find the sound /y/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /y/ is at the start of yo-yo.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   yo-yo

Check. Say yo-yo slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /y/. ✓

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

Method. Say box sound by sound.

1. Say box. Each sound is one part of the word.
   b - o - x
2. Find the last sound. The last sound is /ks/, written x.
   last sound: /ks/
3. Write the answer.
   x

Check. The word box ends with x. ✓

Watch out. Write x as one letter.

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.
   chick: ch · chair: ch · ship: sh
2. Find the one that is different. The other names all start with ch.
   ship is different.
3. Write the answer. Say what the odd one starts with.
   ship (starts with sh)

Check. The other pictures start with ch, so ship 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. Choose a word and check its first or last sound.

1. Look at the pictures. queen starts with qu. king ends with ng.
   queen; king
2. Choose one word. Check the sound you need.
   king: ng
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any word that starts with qu or ends with ng, such as queen or king.

Check. The word has the sound you chose. ✓

Watch out. Check the start or end of your word.

Method. Say the sounds, then count them.

1. Say chick. Say each sound in order.
   ch - i - ck
2. Count the sounds. ch is two letters and one sound.
   ch, i, ck
3. Give your answer. Use the words two letters.
   Accept any answer that says ch is two letters but one sound, so chick has three sounds: ch, i and ck.

Check. Three sounds: ch, i and ck. ✓

Watch out. Count sounds, not letters.

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

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.
   zip starts with z · king starts with k · van starts with v
2. Find the sound /z/. Only one name starts with this sound.
   /z/ is at the start of zip.
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   zip

Check. Say zip slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /z/. ✓

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

Method. Say ship sound by sound.

1. Say ship. Each sound is one box.
   sh - i - p
2. Find the first sound. The first sound is /sh/, written sh.
   first sound: /sh/
3. Write the answer.
   sh

Check. sh makes one sound at the start of ship. ✓

Watch out. Write s and h 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.
   jug
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   j - u - g
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   j-u-g

Check. Read the letters back: j-u-g. They spell jug. ✓

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.
   van
2. Find the first sound. The first letter tells the first sound.
   The first sound is /v/.
3. Choose the letter for that sound. Choose from v, w, j.
   v

Check. The word van starts with v. ✓

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

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.
   ch - i - ck
2. Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word.
   /ch/ /i/ /k/
3. Write the word. The blended sounds make the word.
   /ch/ /i/ /k/ = chick

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

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

Method. Say the sounds in thumb.

1. Say the sounds. th is one sound.
   th - u - m
2. Count the sounds. Count each sound once.
   th, u, m
3. Write the answer.
   3 sounds.

Check. Count again: th, u, m. There are 3. ✓

Watch out. Two letters can make one sound.

Method. Look at the end of each name.

1. Look at web and van. web ends with b. van ends with n.
   web: b; van: n
2. Look at king. king ends with ng.
   king: ng
3. Write the answer.
   king

Check. Only king ends with ng. ✓

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.
   zip
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   z - i - p
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   z-i-p

Check. Read the letters back: z-i-p. They spell zip. ✓

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

Method. Look at the first letter of yo-yo.

1. Read the word. Say each part of the word.
   yo - yo
2. Find the first letter. The first letter is y.
   first letter: y
3. Give your answer. Say what letter yo-yo starts with.
   Accept any answer that says no: yo-yo starts with y, and the sound is /y/.

Check. y makes the sound /y/ at the start. ✓

Watch out. Look at the first letter only.

Method. Pick two letters that make one sound at the start of a word.

1. Choose the two letters. sh, ch, th or qu each make one sound.
   sh
2. Write a word. The word must start with those two letters.
   ship
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any word that starts with sh, ch, th or qu, such as ship, chick, thumb or queen.

Check. The word starts with two letters that make one sound. ✓

Watch out. The first two letters are one sound.

Method. Count the sounds in web.

1. Say the sounds. Each letter here makes one sound.
   w - e - b
2. Count the sounds. There are three sounds.
   w, e, b
3. Give your answer. Say why Ben is right.
   Accept any answer that says yes: w, e and b are three sounds, each in one box.

Check. Three sounds: w, e and b. ✓

Watch out. Each letter is one sound in this word.