Reading: Basic Decoding & Word Recognition: A2 Lesson 1: Consonant Blends & Digraphs (sh, ch, th, st, tr)

Reading: Basic Decoding & Word Recognition

A2 Lesson 1: Consonant Blends & Digraphs

What you will learn: By the end of this lesson, you will be able to recognize and pronounce common consonant digraphs (sh, ch, th) and blends (st, tr).

Before You Read 🧠

Key Vocabulary

Let's learn two important terms for this lesson.

Consonant Digraph

Two consonant letters that make one single new sound (e.g., s + h → sh).

Consonant Blend

Two consonants together where you hear both sounds blended (e.g., s + t → st).

New Consonant Sounds

Part 1: Two Letters, One NEW Sound (Digraphs)

sh

Makes a "shhh" sound, like being quiet.
Examples: shop, she, fish.

She has a shop that sells fish.

ch

Makes a "tch" sound.
Examples: chair, teacher, lunch.

The teacher eats lunch on a chair.

th

Makes a soft "thhh" sound (tongue between teeth).
Examples: think, thumb, both.

I think they are both correct.

Part 2: Two Letters, Two Blended Sounds (Blends)

st

You hear both 's' and 't' (s-t).
Examples: stop, student, fast.

The student tells the moto to stop.

tr

You hear both 't' and 'r' (t-r).
Examples: tree, try, trip.

I will try to climb that tree on my trip.

Reading Practice Drill

Read these sentences aloud

Pay close attention to the consonant sounds in bold.

• That shop sells fresh fish.
• The student sits on the chair.
• Stop and think about the three trees.

Practice What You Learned 🎯

Quiz: Find the Sound

Read the word and choose the special sound you hear.

1. Word: chair → (sh / ch / th)

2. Word: street → (st / sh / tr)

3. Word: think → (ch / th / tr)

Key Vocabulary Reference

• Consonant Digraph (Noun) | ព្យញ្ជនៈ​ពីរ​รวมគ្នា​បង្កើត​សំឡេង​ថ្មី​តែមួយ
  Two consonant letters that join together to make one single new sound (e.g., s + h = sh).
• Consonant Blend (Noun) | ព្យញ្ជនៈផ្សំ
  Two or three consonants together where you can hear each of their individual sounds (e.g., s + t = st).

Your Reading Mission ⭐

Read and Find!

1. Read the "Reading Practice Drill" sentences aloud five times. Try to make the special sounds clear and correct.
2. Look in an English book or online. Find one new word for each of these sounds: sh, ch, st. Write them in your notebook.