First Grade · Reading · week 1

Sh and Ch: Two Letters, One Sound

Read and write words with the digraphs sh and ch, hearing that two letters can team up to make one brand-new sound.

Sometimes two letters stand right next to each other and make ONE new sound. That is called a digraph. S and h together do not say "s" and then "h." They team up and say "sh," like the sound you make to ask for quiet.

C and h team up too. Together they say "ch," like the first sound in "chip." Once you know these two teams, you can read lots of new words.

📋 For the teacher
Teach it (10–15 min):
  • Point out that sh and ch are a team before your child tries to sound out each letter alone -- naming the team first saves frustration.
  • Say the two sounds side by side so your child can hear the difference: sh is quiet and smooth, ch has a little push of air.
  • Have your child find the sh or ch in each word with a finger before reading the whole word aloud.
  • Praise the blend, not just the final word -- "you found the sh team, then added i-p" builds the habit.
Talk about it:
  • Can you show me where the sh team is in the word fish?
  • What is the difference between how sh and ch sound?
  • Can you think of another word that starts with ch?

Mastery looks like: They spot the sh or ch team in a word right away and blend it smoothly with the rest of the word, front or back.

Common stumbles: Sounding out s and h as two separate sounds instead of the one blended sh sound.

Homework for this lessonType it, write it with a stylus, or print it for pencil & paper.open →
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