Free printable · 1st grade phonics

Beginning blends: two sounds, side by side

In a blend, each letter keeps its own sound. Your child hears the two sounds at the start of six picture words, then blends six more.

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How to use this in 5 minutes

  1. Hear both sounds. Say, “Frog starts with two sounds, /f/ and /r/, said fast together: /fr/. Each letter keeps its sound.”
  2. Circle and write. Say, “Say the picture’s name slowly. Circle the two letters you hear at the start, then write the whole word.”
  3. Blend and read. Say, “Read the blend, then the rest, then put them together: /tr/, /ip/, trip!”

Tip. If your child says “fog” for frog, stretch the start: /fff/ /rrr/ /og/. Dropping the second sound is the most common slip, and it fades with practice.

The sheet and its answer key

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1st grade · Phonics

Beginning blends: two sounds, side by side

For youHow to use this in 5 minutes

  1. Hear both sounds. Say: “Frog starts with two sounds, /f/ and /r/, said fast together: /fr/. Each letter keeps its sound.”
  2. Circle and write. Say: “Say the picture’s name slowly. Circle the two letters you hear at the start, then write the whole word.”
  3. Blend and read. Say: “Read the blend, then the rest, then put them together: /tr/, /ip/, trip!”

Tip. If your child says “fog” for frog, stretch the start: /fff/ /rrr/ /og/. Dropping the second sound is the most common slip, and it fades with practice.

Circle the blend you hear. Write the word.

frflcr
clcrgr
drtrbr
frplfl
crclbl
slstsn

Blend the parts. Write the word and read it.

tr+ip=
sn+ap=
st+op=
gr+in=
pl+um=
sw+im=
Made by Arbor, which plans your child’s whole homeschool year and lays out every lesson for you to teach.Page 1 · arborhomeschool.com
Free printableFor the grown-up

1st grade · Phonics

Answer key

Beginning blends: two sounds, side by side

Circle the blend you hear. Write the word.

  • frog: fr
  • crab: cr
  • drum: dr
  • flag: fl
  • clock: cl
  • sled: sl

Blend the parts. Write the word and read it.

  • tr + ip = trip
  • sn + ap = snap
  • st + op = stop
  • gr + in = grin
  • pl + um = plum
  • sw + im = swim

If it’s hard

  • If the second sound drops out (fog for frog), say the word in slow motion and count its sounds on your fingers: four for frog.
  • If writing whole words is a stretch today, circling the blend is enough. Come back for the words tomorrow.
Made by Arbor, which plans your child’s whole homeschool year and lays out every lesson for you to teach.Page 2 · arborhomeschool.com

Have Arbor plan your child’s whole year

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Plan my child’s year