Phonics

First graders need to learn many sounds to help them read better. By now, they should already know most of the sounds the consonant letters make. They will be learning:

*Consonant Blends*

bl, fl, pl, br, cr, dr, fr, gr, tr, str, sm, sn, pr, cl, gl, tw, sp, spr

*Consonant Digraphs*

ch, sh, th, wh

*Vowels*

~Short Vowels~

** a...as in apple
** e...as in elephant
** i...as in igloo
** o...as in octopus
** u...as in umbrella

~Long Vowels~

** vowels that come at the end of words
be, so, go

** two vowels: the first vowel sounds like its name, the second one is silent
cake, boat

** a...as in ape (also ay at the end of a word: day, play)

** e...as in eat (also y at the end of a word: baby, pony)

** i...as in ice (also y at the end of a word: try, my)

** o...as in open (also ow: snow, grow and ol: told, gold)

** u...as in use

~R-controlled vowels~

** ar...as in car
** er...as in her
** ir...as in bird
** or...as in for
** ur...as in purse

~Special vowels~

** all...as in ball
** aw, au...as in saw or auto
** oi, oy...as in oil or boy
** oo...as in book or moon
** ou, ow...as in mouse or cow