A Major Phonics Weakness
The four groups of sounds at the left are important (and difficult) sounds called consonant digraphs. The majority of 1st Grade students have not mastered at least two of these sounds.

Our tests of ending year 1st Grade students show that although single consonant sounds (b-c-d-etc.) are typically memorized by most students, the same children have not memorized 2 or 3 of these consonant digraph sounds.  This is a very serious problem since ch and sh are quite common, while th is moderately common and wh is seen in less than a dozen grade 1 words.  The primary reason ch - sh - and th are very difficult to memorize is because the child has learned that the letters C - S - and T make an entirely different sound than when the letters are seen in - ch - sh - and th. Since the child often makes the sound of the first letter seen you can see how this can create somewhat of a phonics problem. Have no fear! - To help overcome this difficulty, we developed a unique set of characters and activities that will "stand-out" in the child's memory to help increase memory retention. Since these sounds are so important for attaining maximum reading progress we strongly recommend that they be intensely practiced immediately after the consonant sounds have been introduced. Grade 2 teachers need to review the sounds at the beginning of the year as well.

We've made a number of the consonant digraph materials available free of charge from the links at left.  To receive all digraph materials and other related materials - click here