First Grade · Reading · week 5

R-Blends: Br, Cr, Dr, Tr

Blend r-blends at the start of a word (br, cr, dr, tr), hearing both consonant sounds before the vowel.

This week the letter r joins in. Br, cr, dr, and tr are all blends -- two sounds squeezed together, both still heard. "Brag" starts with b and r blended.

These can feel tricky because r changes shape a little in a blend. Say it slowly: b...r...ag, then speed it up to "brag."

📋 For the teacher
Teach it (10–15 min):
  • Model that r-blends sound a little different from saying b and r far apart -- the r softens right into the next sound.
  • Slow the blend way down first (b...r...ag) before asking for the fast, natural version.
  • If your child stalls, cover everything after the blend and practice just br, cr, dr, tr as their own quick sounds.
  • Mix in last week is st, sl, and sp words so all the beginning blends stay in rotation.
Talk about it:
  • Which two letters blend at the start of crab?
  • Can you think of another word that starts with tr?
  • What is tricky about blending with the letter r?

Mastery looks like: They blend br, cr, dr, and tr smoothly and can generate another word for at least one of the four.

Common stumbles: Skipping the r sound entirely and reading "cab" instead of "crab."

See it visually

Interactive, spoken-aloud tools that show this idea in motion.

Blending & SegmentingSlide sounds together to read a word — /s/ /u/ /n/ → “sun”.try →
Homework for this lessonType it, write it with a stylus, or print it for pencil & paper.open →
Records attendance + 15 min of Reading for this learner.
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