Is your child starting to read words with letter combinations like ‘sh’ or ‘ch’? Congratulations—you’re entering the exciting world of digraphs and trigraphs! While these terms might sound technical, they’re not too tricky. The terms describe “letter teams” that work together to make a single sound. Let’s explore how you can help your child master these important reading building blocks at home.
What Are Digraphs? Think “Letter Teams”
Think of digraphs as two letters that are best friends – they stick together to make one special sound. Unlike when letters blend (like ‘st’ in “stop,” where you hear both sounds), digraphs create an entirely new sound.
Common Digraphs in Early Reading
Let’s look at some letter teams your child will encounter in their early reading journey:
Team ‘sh’ – Makes the quiet “shhh” sound
- Words to practice: ship, shop, fish, dish
- Fun practice: Play “quiet time” and make the “shhh” sound together when reading these words
Team ‘ch’ – Makes the “choo-choo” train sound
- Words to practice: chair, cheese, lunch, beach
- Fun practice: Pretend to be a train while sounding out these words
Team ‘th’ – Stick out your tongue for this one!
- Words to practice: this, that, with, path
- Fun practice: Make funny faces in the mirror while practicing the ‘th’ sound
Team ‘wh’ – The questioning sound
- Words to practice: what, when, where, which
- Fun practice: Play “Twenty Questions” using lots of ‘wh’ words
These digraphs introduce important sounds in early reading.
Special Vowel Teams
Just like consonants, vowels can team up to make new sounds. Here are some common ones:
Team ‘ee’ – Makes the long E sound
- Words to practice: tree, seed, feet, green
- Fun practice: Go on a nature walk and spot things with the ‘ee’ sound
Team ‘oa’ – Makes the long O sound
- Words to practice: boat, goat, road, soap
- Fun practice: Go on a “road trip” around the house, finding things with the ‘oa’ sound
Exploring these vowel teams adds a playful twist to learning, helping your child uncover the formula behind new sounds.
What About Trigraphs? The Three-Letter Teams
Sometimes, three letters join forces to make one sound. These are called trigraphs, and while they’re less common, they’re important to know:
Team ‘tch’ – Found at the ends of words
- Words to practice: catch, watch, match
- Fun practice: Play catch while practicing words with ‘tch’
Team ‘igh’ – Makes the long I sound
- Words to practice: light, night, bright
- Fun practice: Take turns turning the lights on and off while saying ‘igh’ words
Trigraphs open the door to even more reading adventures — perfect for growing your child’s confidence.
Fun Ways to Practice at Home
Here are even more at-home activities that strengthen reading skills through interactive and hands-on exercises:
1. Letter Team Treasure Hunt
- Give your child a magazine or children’s book
- Pick a digraph to hunt for
- Have them circle or highlight every word they find that contains that letter team
2. Sound Sort Game
- Write words with different digraphs on sticky notes
- Help your child sort them into groups by their letter teams
- Make it fun by turning it into a race or matching game
3. Memory Match
- Create pairs of cards with matching digraph words
- Play a traditional memory game
- When they find a match, have them read the word
4. Letter Team Art
- Pick a digraph or trigraph to focus on
- Draw pictures of things that contain that sound
- Label the pictures together
By facilitating these activities, you’ll provide plenty of chances to practice and reinforce your child’s understanding of digraphs and trigraphs.
When Your Child Gets Stuck
It’s perfectly normal for kids to need extra help with these letter teams. Here are some tips for tricky moments:
- Break it down: Point to the letter team and remind them it makes one sound
- Use a reminder: “Remember, ‘sh’ makes the quiet sound!”
- Make it physical: Use hand motions for different sounds
- Stay positive: Celebrate their efforts and progress
With patience and consistent encouragement, your child will gradually gain confidence in mastering these letter teams.
Let’s Grow There… Together
Want to make learning digraphs and trigraphs even more engaging? Browse the Phonics.org blog: it’s chock-full of reading app reviews and fun ideas to support your child’s reading journey.
