The Startup Reading Digraphs and Blends Workbook , Book 5, is designed to provide reading strategies for a solid foundation in literacy. The Digraphs and Blends course introduces students to digraphs which are two or more consonant letters that represent a new sound, one that is different from the individual letters. Examples of digraphs are SH, CH, WH, TH, PH, and QU. Blends are combinations of consonants that represent a blending of the individual letters. Two-letter blends are often seen at the beginning of a work, such as bread, clock, crack, dragon, flag and, fruit. Three letter blends are also common, such as spring, string, phrase, shrimp, three, and screen. Each reading skill is introduced and reinforced through a series of interactive activities to add an element of fun to the lessons.  Students will gain the necessary phonological awareness to analyze and decode long and short vowel words with digraphs and beginning consonant blends.

Throughout the Startup Reading Digraphs and Blends Workbook, students write vowel accent marks before reading the words to provide a visual recognition of the vowel sound. Examples of the long and short vowel accent mark in words are:

chase / chat                wheat / when              shine / fish                                      coach / cost                blue / brush.

Students continue to use this strategy as they read short stories with decodable and grade-level sight words. Adding digraphs and blends to their command of vowel sounds expands the number of words students can decode independently.

We are pleased to have the opportunity to provide your child with a positive and rewarding experience for academic success in the foundational skills of learning to read.