Two skills that work together
Reading and spelling use two partner skills.
Blending means putting sounds together to make a word. If you hear /m/ /a/ /p/, you blend them into map.
Segmenting means pulling a word apart into its sounds. If you hear map, you segment it into /m/ /a/ /p/.
Blending helps you read. Segmenting helps you spell. They are like zipping and unzipping a coat. One puts things together; the other takes them apart.
Why these skills matter
When you read a new word, you look at each letter, say its sound and blend the sounds. That is how you decode a word.
When you write a word, you say it slowly, segment it into sounds and write a letter for each sound.
Children who can blend and segment easily become stronger readers and spellers. The good news is that you can practise these skills just by listening and talking. You do not even need a book!
How to blend sounds
Step by step
- Say each sound. /s/ … /u/ … /n/.
- Say them closer together. /s/../u/../n/.
- Slide them together. /sssuuunnn/.
- Say the word fast. sun!
The slide trick
Hold your arm out straight. Touch your shoulder and say the first sound. Touch your elbow for the second sound. Touch your wrist for the last sound. Then slide your hand down your arm and say the whole word.
Stretchy sounds and quick sounds
Some sounds can stretch: /mmm/, /sss/, /fff/, /lll/, /nnn/. Each of these is a continuous sound. Words that start with these are easiest to blend, because you can slide right into the next sound: mmmaaat … mat.
Other sounds are quick and cannot stretch: /t/, /p/, /b/, /d/, /k/. Each of these is a stop sound. With these, say the first sound and the vowel together quickly: /ba/ … /t/ … bat.
How to segment a word
- Say the word. dog.
- Say it slowly, like a robot. /d/ … /o/ … /g/.
- Count the sounds on your fingers. One, two, three.
- Check by blending it back. /d/ /o/ /g/ … dog. Yes!
Sound boxes
Draw three boxes in a row: ☐ ☐ ☐. Say a word like pig. Push one button or counter into a box for each sound: /p/ into the first box, /i/ into the second, /g/ into the third. These are called sound boxes. Later, you can write a letter in each box instead.
Let’s try some examples
Example 1: Blend these sounds: /f/ /i/ /sh/.
Slide them together: /fff/ /iii/ /sh/ … fish. Notice that sh is one sound, even though it has two letters.
Example 2: Segment the word hat.
/h/ … /a/ … /t/. It has 3 sounds.
Example 3: Blend these sounds: /s/ /t/ /o/ /p/.
/s/ /t/ … /sto/ … /p/ … stop. That word has four sounds.
Example 4: Segment the word ship.
/sh/ … /i/ … /p/. It has 3 sounds, even though it has four letters.
Example 5: How many sounds are in frog?
/f/ /r/ /o/ /g/. 4 sounds.
Count sounds, not letters
The number of letters and the number of sounds are not always the same.
- cat has 3 letters and 3 sounds.
- ship has 4 letters but 3 sounds: /sh/ /i/ /p/.
- duck has 4 letters but 3 sounds: /d/ /u/ /k/.
- see has 3 letters but 2 sounds: /s/ /ee/.
Listen with your ears, not your eyes.
Common mistakes
- Pausing too long between sounds. If you say /c/ … (long wait) … /a/ … /t/, the sounds feel like strangers. Keep them close together.
- Adding “uh”. Saying “cuh-a-tuh” makes “cuhatuh,” which is not a word. Say clean sounds.
- Splitting letter teams. Sh, ch, th and ck each make one sound.
- Guessing from the first letter. Look at every letter, all the way to the end.
Games to play
- Robot talk. Speak in robot sounds: “Get your /h/ /a/ /t/.” Your child blends it and says “hat!”
- Sound jumps. Say a word. Jump once for each sound.
- Mystery bag. Put a toy in a bag. Say its name in sounds: /d/ /u/ /k/. Your child guesses before peeking.
- Build a word. Use magnetic letters. Make cat, then swap one letter to make cap, map, mop.
Try it yourself
- Blend: /b/ /e/ /d/.
- Blend: /m/ /u/ /g/.
- Segment: sun. How many sounds?
- Segment: chin. How many sounds?
- Change one sound: make pin into pan.
Answers: 1. bed. 2. mug. 3. /s/ /u/ /n/, 3 sounds. 4. /ch/ /i/ /n/, 3 sounds. 5. Change /i/ to /a/.
Grown-up tip
Start with listening only. Say sounds and let your child blend them before you add letters. Use words that start with stretchy sounds like /m/, /s/ and /f/. Keep games short, about five minutes, and do them often. When your child starts reading, remind them to “say each sound, then slide.”
Quick recap
- Blending puts sounds together to read a word.
- Segmenting pulls a word apart to spell it.
- Keep sounds close together and clean.
- Count sounds, not letters.
- Letter teams like sh and ch make one sound.
- Practise with games, robot talk and sound boxes.