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Learning Digraphs - Phonics in Focus
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Learning Digraphs - Phonics in Focus is a free printable phonics worksheet about digraphs, the letter pairs that work together to make one sound. It suits children who are learning to read and spell, which in England usually means Reception and Year 1. All it needs is a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help ideas and a stretch task.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children work with word combinations built around digraphs. They look closely at pairs of letters, say the sound each pair makes and notice how those pairs sit inside words. The aim is to help them read and spell with more confidence. Short, repeatable practice like this lets children spot patterns in words and hear the sounds that letters make together.
Why digraphs matter in early reading
English has 26 letters but more sounds than that. So some sounds have to be written with two letters side by side. These pairs are called digraphs. A child who knows that two letters can make one sound can read many more words, because they stop treating every letter as a separate sound.
In England, schools teach phonics in a set order, starting with single letter sounds and then moving on to digraphs. Children are taught to sound out a word and blend the sounds together to read it. They also learn to split a spoken word into sounds to spell it. Regular, short practice helps these skills stick.
Fun facts about letters and sounds
- English has more sounds than it has letters.
- A digraph is two letters that make just one sound.
- The word digraph comes from old Greek words that mean two and writing.
- Some sounds can be written in more than one way.
- Say a word slowly and you can often hear each sound in turn.
Skills and curriculum link
- Phonics
- Recognising digraphs
- Blending sounds to read
- Spelling patterns
- Careful listening
Ways to help with digraphs
- Say the soundSay the sound the letter pair makes, not the names of the letters. Ask your child to copy you, then say it on their own.
- Two letters, one soundPoint to both letters at once, or draw a line under them. This shows your child that the pair is one unit.
- Sound out, then blendSay each sound slowly, left to right. Then say the sounds faster until they join into a whole word.
- Little and oftenA few words at a time works better than a long sitting. Return to the sheet on another day.
Key words
- PhonicsA way of learning to read by matching sounds to the letters that make them.
- SoundOne small unit of speech. Words are made of sounds.
- DigraphTwo letters that together make one sound, like the ph in dolphin.
- VowelThe letters a, e, i, o and u. Every word needs at least one vowel sound.
- ConsonantAny letter that is not a vowel, like b, d or m.
- BlendSay the sounds in a word one after another, then join them to read the word.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes for you.
- Look at the sheet together before starting. Remind your child that a digraph is two letters that make one sound.
- Let your child read the words aloud, sounding them out slowly. Praise careful trying as well as getting it right.
- Talk about what they notice. Ask, "Which letters are working as a team?" Check with page 2 if you need to.
- Come back another day and read the sheet again. Repeating a familiar sheet builds confidence and speed.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Say the sound for the letter pair out loud, then point to each letter and explain that the two work as a team. Read one word at a time, sounding it out slowly before blending. Try a few words, take a break and come back to the rest later.
To stretch confident children
Think of more words that use the same digraph and write them in a list. Then write a short sentence using two of them. Read the sentence aloud and underline each digraph you used.
Make it a game
Write digraphs on small pieces of paper and fold them. Take turns to pick one, say its sound, then think of a word that has it. Score one point for each word. Play until the pile is gone.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child reads the two letters of a digraph as two separate sounds.
Try thisCover or underline the pair and say, "These two letters make one sound." Then say the sound together and read the word again.
Watch forA child says the letter names instead of the sounds.
Try thisModel the sound, not the name. Say it clearly and ask your child to copy you before they read the whole word.
Watch forA child guesses a word from its first letter or from the look of it.
Try thisSlide a finger under the word. Say each sound in turn, left to right, then blend them. Do not let them skip ahead.
Talk about it
- Can you hear the sound at the start of this word? Which letters make it?
- Why do you think two letters are needed for one sound?
- Can you think of another word that has the same letter pair?
- Which word was the trickiest to read? What helped you?
- Can you hear the sounds in your own name?
- What did you do when you got stuck on a word?
Take it off the page
Sound hunt
Look through a favourite picture book together. Spot letter pairs that make one sound and point to them. Read the words aloud.
Salt tray writing
Pour a thin layer of salt or sand into a tray. Say a digraph sound and write the two letters with a finger. Wipe it smooth and try another.
Playdough letters
Roll playdough and shape the two letters of a digraph. Press them together to show they make one sound, then say the sound and a word.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child and keep it relaxed. Read the first few words together, then let them take over. Stop while they are still enjoying it. Short, happy practice beats a long struggle.
Teachers
Use it as a quick phonics review, a starter or a plenary. It also works as independent practice or a home reading task. Page 2 has notes and ideas for children who need support or a stretch.
Home educators
Fit it into a phonics session, a reading routine or a quiet moment. Follow your child's pace and repeat the sheet on different days. Sounding words out and blending them is the skill to build.
Where digraphs fit in phonics
Before digraphs, children learn single letter sounds and how to blend them to read short words. Once those are secure, they are ready to meet two letters that make one sound.
After digraphs, children go on to groups of three letters that make one sound, and to other ways of writing the same sound. They then use all of this in longer words, sentences and spelling. This links to the word reading and spelling strands of the National Curriculum for England.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What is a digraph?
A digraph is two letters that together make one sound. The letters work as a pair, so a child should read them as a single sound and not as two separate ones. Dolphin has a digraph in it.
- What age is this sheet for?
Digraphs are usually taught in Reception and Year 1 in England, so the sheet suits children learning phonics at that stage. Older children who need extra phonics practice may also find it useful.
- Does my child need to know letter sounds first?
Yes, it helps. Children should know single letter sounds and be able to blend them before moving on to digraphs. If they find the sheet hard, go back to single sounds and practise those.
- How long should we spend on it?
There is no set time. Go at your child's pace and stop while they are still enjoying it. Short, regular practice usually works better than one long session, and you can return to the sheet another day.
- What is on page 2?
Page 2 is for the grown up. It gives notes on how to use the sheet, help for children who find it hard and a stretch idea. Where the sheet has answers, you will find them there too.
- What if my child gets stuck on a word?
Stay calm and slow it down. Point to the digraph, say its sound and then sound out the rest of the word. Blend the sounds together. If the word is still too hard, read it together and try again later.
- Can I use it in the classroom?
Yes. It works as a starter, a review, independent practice or a home task. The sheet is free to print from the Mini Minds Hub. Page 2 has support and stretch ideas to help you adapt it.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.