Digraphs

What are Digraphs?

Digraphs are letter combinations where two (or sometimes three) letters work together to make one new sound. Unlike short vowels where each letter makes its own sound, digraphs must be read as a single sound.

Digraphs covered in Hoot's Early Reading Unit, include:

1. /sh/ as in ship or dash
2. /ch/ as in chip or much
3. /wh/ as in when
4. /ng/ as in ring
5. /th/ as in this or bath
6. /tch/ as in batch
7. /nk/ as in bank

Learning digraphs helps children move beyond sounding out one letter at a time and begin recognizing common sound patterns in words.

What a Digraph Lesson Might Look Like

In a lesson focused on digraphs, your child’s teacher will guide them through structured activities that help them recognize and read new letter combinations as a single sound. These lessons build on earlier phonics skills, such as short vowels, and introduce the idea that multiple letters can work together to make one sound.

A digraphs lesson may include:

1. Learning and practicing a specific digraph sound.
2. Identifying digraphs within words on the screen.
3. Reading words that include digraphs using Hoot’s Wise Words books.
4. Reading a Hoot Decodable book that matches the skill being practiced.
5. Practicing combining letters into digraphs by writing or using letter tiles on a whiteboard.

Your child’s teacher will encourage them to notice digraphs quickly while reading. If a child tries to sound out each letter separately, the teacher will gently prompt them to read the digraph as one sound. This supports smoother, more accurate reading.

Why this Skill Matters

Digraphs are an important step in early reading development. Becoming confident with digraphs helps children:

• Recognize common spelling patterns

• Move toward more fluent reading

By learning to spot digraphs quickly, children are better prepared to read longer words and more complex texts with confidence.

Resources Used in Lesson to Teach Digraphs

Hoot Wise Words | Digraph /ng/

Hoot Decodables | Sing