First Grade · Reading · week 6

Ending Blends: -nd, -mp, -st

Blend two consonants at the end of a word (-nd, -mp, -st), hearing both sounds land in order.

Blends can also land at the END of a word. "Hand" ends in n and d blended together -- you hear both sounds, just close together.

Try "jump," which ends in mp, and "best," which ends in st. Read the middle of the word first, then let the two ending sounds close it out.

📋 For the teacher
Teach it (10–15 min):
  • Read the beginning and middle of the word first, then add the ending blend last -- breaking it into two chunks helps.
  • Have your child hold up two fingers for an ending blend to remind them both letters count.
  • Listen for a dropped final sound (saying "ban" for "band") and have them feel the d with a hand under the chin.
  • Clap once for each sound in the word, including both letters of the ending blend.
Talk about it:
  • Which two letters blend at the end of hand?
  • Can you find the ending blend in jump?
  • What sound do you feel last when you say best?

Mastery looks like: They read -nd, -mp, and -st endings without dropping either consonant sound.

Common stumbles: Dropping the final consonant of the ending blend, like reading "ban" for "band."

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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