A toy-brick peek-a-boo game where preschool kids tap the moles holding a big B, a little b and pictures that start with B. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
A starry dot-to-dot game where preschool kids tap the stars with a big C, a little c and pictures that start with C. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
A balloon-popping party game where preschool kids pop a big D, a little d and pictures that start with D. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
This Hard and Soft G Worksheet helps 2nd graders sort words by the hard g and soft g sound and mark which sound the letter g makes. Includes an answer key for quick, no-prep phonics practice.
A fishing game where preschool kids reel in a big F, a little f and pictures that start with F. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
A gem-cracking game where preschool kids tap the gems with a big G, a little g and pictures that start with G. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
A retro 8-bit space jet game where preschool kids blast a big J, a little j and pictures that start with J, then beat Bomzy. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
A helicopter rescue game where preschool kids tap a big H, a little h and pictures that start with H. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
A flashlight hunt game where preschool kids find a big L, a little l and pictures that start with L. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
A jungle monkey game where preschool kids tap the monkeys to find a big M, a little m and pictures that start with M. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
An outback adventure game where preschool kids find a big K, a little k and pictures that start with K. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
A kawaii kitten game where preschool kids tap the yarn ball with the big Y so the kitten can play with it, help a kitten pounce on the little y, and find the pictures that start with Y. Every right answer feeds a kitten a yum-yum treat. Play online on…
This consonant digraphs worksheet gives 2nd graders hands-on practice spelling sh, ch, th, and wh words in fun sentences. An answer key is included, making it perfect for quick, no-prep phonics practice at home or school.
A zipline zoo game where preschool kids catch a big Z, a little z and pictures that start with Z, then tuck the wound-up Bomzies in for a nap in a bonus round. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
A castle fair archery game where preschool kids tap a target or pull back a bow to shoot a big Q, a little q and pictures that start with Q. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
An ice cream shop adventure game where preschool kids find a big S, a little s and pictures that start with S. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
A taco truck game where preschool kids find the shell with a big T, a little t and pictures that start with T. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
A star-catching game where preschool kids catch a big N, a little n and pictures that start with N. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
A pirate treasure adventure game where preschool kids find a big X, a little x and pictures with the letter X. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
A puzzle game where preschool kids fit pieces with a big P, a little p and pictures that start with P. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
B, C, D and all their friends
Consonants are the 21 letters that are not vowels, and they do most of the work at the start and end of words. Kids begin by matching each consonant to its sound and hearing it at the beginning of a word: b, b, ball. Next come blends, where two sounds stay separate but slide together (st, fl, gr), and digraphs, where two letters make one new sound (sh, ch, th, wh, ph). Later they meet the tricky ones, like hard and soft c and g in cat and city. Once consonants are automatic, kids can sound out almost any short word.
Consonant sounds should be quick and crisp. These moves keep them clear and keep kids practicing.
Model each sound without an extra "uh" on the end: say /b/, not "buh". That tiny habit makes blending so much easier later, because b-a-t blends into "bat" instead of "buh-a-tuh". Have kids hold a hand under their chin and feel the sound stop fast.
Why it works: teaching letter sounds directly and in order is one of the best-supported findings in reading research (National Reading Panel, 2000).
Try it withBeginning Sounds B C D Pictures WorksheetWorksheetsOpen it →Start the day with an alphabet song or lesson that says the letter name, the sound and a picture word. Kids join in on the sounds after a few days. Music gives shy readers a safe way to practice out loud.
Why it works: words set to a repeating melody are easier to recall than the same words spoken (Wallace, 1994).
Try it withAlphabet Micro LessonVideosOpen it →When you reach digraphs, write sh on one hand and ch on the other. Call a word and kids point to the hand that matches the first sound. Quick, silly and moving, which is exactly how digraphs stop getting mixed up.
Why it works: playful practice with a clear goal keeps kids practicing longer, and simple learning games have been shown to build real skills (Ramani and Siegler, 2008).
Try it withConsonant Digraphs WorksheetWorksheetsOpen it →Letter sounds are more fun with a little competition and a lot of noise.
GamesPlay a quick letter game for the sound of the day, then hunt the room for things that start with it.
Open Letter B Game →
WorksheetsPut s on a card and t, p, n and l on others. Kids pair them up and say the blend fast: st, sp, sn, sl!
Open S Blends Worksheet →
WorksheetsSort words like goat, giant, cake and city into hard and soft piles. Kids discover the e, i, y pattern on their own.
Open Hard G and Soft G Worksheet →Teacher favorites right now: Letter B Game, Letter C Game and Letter D Game.
There are 21 consonants in English: every letter except a, e, i, o and u. The letter y can act as a consonant (yes) or a vowel (gym, my).
In a blend, you still hear both sounds, as in st or fl. In a digraph, two letters make one brand new sound, as in sh, ch or th.
Many teachers start with high-use letters like s, m, t, p, n and c so kids can build real words right away. Blends and digraphs usually come after kids can read short vowel words like cat and sit.
Usually in 1st or 2nd grade. When c or g comes before e, i or y, it usually makes its soft sound, like in city and giant.
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