This KN phonics stories reading comprehension worksheet gives 1st graders a short, decodable story about Knox and his knots, then five questions to answer. An answer key is included, so checking work takes seconds.
This Starts With SH Reading Comprehension Worksheet gives 1st graders a short beach story full of sh words plus five bubble-in questions. An answer key is included, so phonics practice and reading comprehension happen in one no-prep activity.
The Chester Loves Cheese CH Phonics Stories Reading Comprehension Worksheet pairs a playful ch digraph story with five bubble questions for 1st graders. An answer key is included, so ch practice and comprehension happen on one no-prep page.
Read a fun QU Phonics Stories worksheet about Quinn and a duck named Quackers, then answer comprehension and phonics questions. Built for first grade with an answer key included, it makes qu digraph practice simple and fun.
A first grade CK phonics story worksheet where students read about Vicky, Rick and a ticking clock, then answer five comprehension questions. Answer key included, so decoding and understanding practice takes no prep.
A first grade reading page where a short FR blend story about Fred the frog leads into five bubble-in questions. Fred the Frog FR Phonics Stories Reading Comprehension Worksheet with answer key included.
The Stella on Stone Street ST Phonics Stories Reading Comprehension Worksheet pairs a short 1st Grade story about a stork with five bubble questions. An answer key is included, so ST blend practice needs no prep.
The Phil is on the Phone PH Phonics Stories Reading Comprehension Worksheet gives 1st graders a short dolphin story built from PH words, five bubble-in questions, and a full answer key for quick, no-prep phonics practice.
This Whitney and Whistler WH Phonics Reading Comprehension Worksheet has 1st graders read a wh-digraph story, answer bubble questions, and complete a word bank. Includes an answer key for easy, no-prep phonics practice.
Build fl blend fluency with this FL Phonics Stories Reading Comprehension Worksheet. First graders read a short illustrated story, answer four questions, and hunt for fl words. Answer key included.
A 1st grade NK phonics stories reading comprehension worksheet built around the original story “Link’s Mink,” with five fill-in-the-bubble questions and an answer key included — decoding and comprehension practice in one page.
This Snakes and Owls SN Phonics Stories Reading Comprehension Worksheet gives 1st Grade readers a short sn blend story, five multiple-choice questions and a full answer key, so phonics and comprehension practice takes no prep at all.
The Greg Gets Good Grades GR Phonics Stories Reading Comprehension Worksheet gives 1st graders a short gr blend story plus five comprehension questions. An answer key is included, so phonics and reading practice happen on one no-prep page.
The Champ at the Camp MP Phonics Stories Reading Comprehension Worksheet gives 1st graders an original camping story packed with mp blend words plus five comprehension questions. Answer key included — quick, no-prep phonics and reading practice.
Using this Hugh Laughs GH Phonics Stories Reading Comprehension Worksheet, first graders read a short, funny story full of gh words and answer five comprehension questions. Answer key included, so checking work takes seconds.
Rand had a Band ND Phonics Stories Reading Comprehension Worksheet gives 1st graders a short illustrated story full of nd blend words plus five comprehension questions. Answer key included for quick, no-prep phonics practice.
This Thelma and Theo TH Phonics Stories Reading Comprehension Worksheet lets 1st graders read a decodable story full of TH digraph words and answer five comprehension questions. An answer key is included for quick, no-prep phonics practice.
Two letters, one brand-new sound
A digraph is two letters that team up to make one new sound. First graders learn the big ones: sh, ch, th, wh and ck, in words like ship, chin, thumb, whale and duck. They learn that th can be soft, like in "thin," or buzzy, like in "this," and that ck usually comes at the end of a short-vowel word. Later in the year they meet ng and nk, as in ring and pink, and sometimes ph. The click comes when a child sees "sh" and says /sh/ right away instead of /s/ /h/!
Digraphs ask kids to stop sounding out letter by letter. These moves make that switch easy.
Teach each digraph with a motion: finger to lips for /sh/, a choo-choo arm for /ch/, a little tongue peek for /th/. Flash a card and kids say the sound and do the action together. The motions give kids a memory hook for every sound.
Why it works: the National Reading Panel found that systematic, explicit phonics teaching clearly improves how children learn to read.
Try it withDigraphs Flash CardsFlash CardsOpen it →Give kids picture cards and three mats labeled ch, sh and th. They say each word slowly, listen to the first sound and place it on the right mat. Hearing the difference out loud matters more than seeing the letters at first.
Why it works: going from real objects to pictures to symbols is a core recommendation of the U.S. Department of Education's elementary math guide.
Try it withCH, SH, TH Beginning Sounds WorksheetWorksheetsOpen it →Keep a digraph word list in every reading folder and read it for one minute each day. Add new digraphs as you teach them, and keep the old ones on the list. A minute a day builds automatic reading fast.
Why it works: short practice spread over several days beats one long session, according to a large review of learning research (Dunlosky and colleagues, 2013).
Try it withDigraphs Word ListWorksheetsOpen it →Digraphs are full of fun sounds. Let kids make them loud!
WorksheetsRead a silly story about Shawn on a ship and whisper "shh" every time you see the sh digraph.
Open Shawn is on a Ship SH Phonics Stories Reading Comprehension Worksheet →
WorksheetsKids decide if a word starts with w or wh, then blow on their hand to feel the wh air puff.
Open W or WH Worksheet →
WorksheetsRead about Ling and her lost ring and "ding" a pretend bell for every ng word.
Open Ling Lost Her Ring NG Phonics Stories Reading Comprehension Worksheet →Teacher favorites right now: Knox's Knots KN Phonics Stories Reading Comprehension Worksheet, Starts With SH Reading Comprehension Worksheet and Chester Loves Cheese CH Phonics Stories Reading Comprehension Worksheet.
A digraph is two letters that make one sound, like sh in "shop" or ch in "chip." The letters do not make their own sounds; they make a new one together.
First graders learn sh, ch, th, wh and ck, and many also learn ng, nk and ph. Kids read and spell these in short words like "fish," "much" and "back."
In a blend you hear each letter, like s and t in "stop." In a digraph you hear one new sound, like sh in "shop." Sorting words into "blend" and "digraph" piles is a great check.
Use ck at the end of a one-syllable word right after a short vowel, like "duck," "back" and "sock." After a long vowel or a consonant, use k, like "bike" or "milk."
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