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 (sh, ch, th, st, tr)

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Putting Consonants Together

We know the sounds of single letters like 's', 'h', 'c', and 't'. But what happens when we put them together? Sometimes, they make a completely new sound!

Today, we will learn about special consonant pairs: Consonant Digraphs¹ (two letters, one new sound) and Consonant Blends² (two letters, two sounds blended together).

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

These letter pairs work together to make one new sound. Listen carefully.

sh

Makes a "shhh" sound, like being quiet. Example: shop, she, fish.
Sentence: She has a shop in Kampot.

ch

Makes a "tch" sound. Example: chair, teacher, lunch.
Sentence: The teacher eats lunch.

th

Makes a soft "thhh" sound (tongue between teeth). Example: think, thumb, both.
Sentence: I think they are both correct.

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

With these pairs, you can hear both letter sounds, but they are said very quickly together.

st

You hear both 's' and 't' (s-t). Example: stop, student, fast.
Sentence: The student tells the moto to stop.

tr

You hear both 't' and 'r' (t-r). Example: tree, try, trip.
Sentence: I will try to climb that tree.

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Part 3: Reading Practice Sentences

Read these sentences aloud. Pay attention to the special consonant sounds.

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

Your Turn to Practice!

Practice Quiz 1: Find the Sound

Read the word and choose the special sound you hear.

1. Word: chair -> (sh / ch / th)

Answer: ch

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2. Word: street -> (st / sh / tr)

Answer: st

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3. Word: think -> (ch / th / tr)

Answer: th

Vocabulary Glossary

1. Consonant Digraph (noun)
   ភាសាខ្មែរ: ព្យញ្ជនៈ​ពីរ​ដែល​រួម​គ្នា​បង្កើត​សំឡេង​ថ្មី​តែមួយ (ឧ. s + h = sh)
   Two consonant letters that join together to make one single new sound (e.g., s + h = sh). ↩ back to text
2. Consonant Blend (noun)
   ភាសាខ្មែរ: ព្យញ្ជនៈផ្សំ
   Two or three consonants that stand together, but you can hear each of their individual sounds (e.g., s + t = st). ↩ back to text

Homework Task

Read and Find!

1. Read the "Reading Practice Sentences" from Part 3 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.

Share the words you found with your class!