From Sounds to Reading

From Sounds to Reading

Your Progress

Your Progress

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GUIDE 1

Time: 5–7 minutes

Time: 5–7 minutes

First Blends lesson 1

First Blends lesson 1

TODAY’S GOAL

TODAY’S GOAL

Today we’ll use consonants and vowels to build quick, smooth blends.

Today we’ll use consonants and vowels to build quick, smooth blends.

YOU’LL NEED

m

Letter card

Set 1

(print and cut)

Letter card

Set 1

(print and cut)

A quiet space

A quiet space

You and your child!

You and your child!

Quick Review (1 minute)

Show each Letter Card. Have your child say the sound. Repeat three times.

m

a

s

t

p

i

1

SAY THIS TO YOUR CHILD

SAY THIS TO YOUR CHILD

“We’re going to build sounds. Listen carefully as we put the sounds together.”

“We’re going to build sounds. Listen carefully as we put the sounds together.”

2

LET’S BUILD TOGETHER

LET’S BUILD TOGETHER

• Using your Letter Cards from set 1, place one consonant and one vowel beside each other.

• Using your Letter Cards from set 1, place one consonant and one vowel beside each other.

• Show your child how to use the sounds to build the blend.

• Show your child how to use the sounds to build the blend.

• Say each sound: m … a.

• Say each sound: m … a.

• Slide and blend: ma.

• Slide and blend: ma.

• Then let your child try the rest.

• Then let your child try the rest.

EXAMPLE

m

m

+

+

a

a

=

=

ma

ma

━━━━━━

━━━━━━

Slide as you blend the sounds together.

Slide as you blend the sounds together.

3

BLEND PRACTICE

BLEND PRACTICE

• Now it’s your child’s turn to practise.

• Now it’s your child’s turn to practise.

• Using your Letter Cards, make these blends.

• Using your Letter Cards, make these blends.

• Have your child use their finger to point left to right.

• Have your child use their finger to point left to right.

• Blend the sounds together.

• Blend the sounds together.

m a

m a

s a

s a

t a

t a

p a

p a

m i

m i

s i

s i

t i

t i

p i

p i

a m

a m

a s

a s

a t

a t

a p

a p

If your child is getting tired, it’s okay to stop here and continue tomorrow.

If your child is getting tired, it’s okay to stop here and continue tomorrow.

4

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

✓ Short, crisp sounds

✓ Smooth blending

✓ No extra “uh” sounds

✓ Stop before your child gets tired

ARTICULATION REMINDER

❌ muh + a = mua

✅ m + a = ma

Keep consonant sounds short and crisp.

Avoid adding an extra “uh” sound.

A quick sound is easier to blend.

Praise careful listening.

PARENT TIP

It’s normal if the new sound doesn’t come right away. Stay calm, keep it positive, and try again.

5

READY TO MOVE ON?

READY TO MOVE ON?

Can your child:

Can your child:

□ Blend sounds smoothly

□ Blend sounds smoothly

□ Track left to right with their eyes

□ Track left to right with their eyes

□ Blend without guessing

□ Blend without guessing

✓ Ready for the next lesson

✓ Ready for the next lesson

↺ Practice this lesson again tomorrow

↺ Practice this lesson again tomorrow

Most children need several practice sessions before a skill feels automatic. Repeating a lesson is expected and helps build strong reading habits.

Most children need several practice sessions before a skill feels automatic. Repeating a lesson is expected and helps build strong reading habits.

Great work!

Great work!

Your child just blended their first sounds. This is the first step to reading words.

Your child just blended their first sounds. This is the first step to reading words.

Every small step is leading your child to big reading success! You’re building a strong foundation.

Every small step is leading your child to big reading success! You’re building a strong foundation.

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