How to Teach Digraphs in First Grade // phonics activities, ideas, and lessons for K-2

[@scottcornfoot-hillsidesrps5162]

Thank you so much! Everything that you post is always top-notch! I rely on you every day for my lessons and games… And the kids love them! Keep up the amazing work, I don’t know how you keep it all together! Hopefully next year I can make it into one of your clubs, I think I own everything that you have and I use everything often… Thank you again…

[@lynnmcdonald6077]

I’d love a mini unit geared towards K!

[@carolhale4331]

Thanks for the great ideas. When the kids find and color thumbs up, you can have them also write the c-h next to the thumbs up for extra writing practice. Just purchased the Phonics Find Its. This will be an amazing go-to resource for years. (Can't find the hop on the o-p page.) Blessings to you.

[@MsChyou]

I’d love to buy a whole phonics set of those read the room cards. So fun!

[@janetvillalobos5817]

Thanks so much! You gave me ideas. I’m starting 2 letter blends this week ☺️

[@rebeccahull2986]

I am also working on digraphs in second grade. Would love access to "Read and Color". Thanks for all you do!

[@JaneJohnson-d6p]

Hi Susan! Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your videos and how much I have learned from you even as a veteran teacher. I love using your whats the rule slides as I introduce a new sound. I teach 1st grade so use more of the complex sounds. Noticed there is not a /ng/ slide or one for consonant+le. This is a specific unit in the resource we use. Any chance you could add them? Again, thank you for all of your wonderful resources and knowledge.

[@JenniferSmith-nx6zf]

This helpful video has a lot of great ideas! Thank you!

[@greicerezende2792]

Thank you for doing it as a whole class lesson! It really helped ;-)!

[@rachidabouamir7192]

Thanks for all videos ! Very interesting

[@debvanderweide3129]

Great Tips Susan! I would love to have access to the "Read and Color" activity sheets. Thank you so much!!

[@alisnyder5862]

Thank you for all of the great ideas! I love the concept attainment strategy. I plan on using this strategy for math. I can see using it at the beginning of a unit, but also throughout. I would like to try this strategy for addition strategies. It could be a great way to help kids not only see the strategy, of rule, but also as a way to help them explain the rule ie +10 to a number.

[@SusanJonesTeaching]

Love this idea, Ali!! Thank you for sharing!

[@yvonnekhan7969]

Why do you use capital letters at this stage? I am a retired teacher and use mainly lower case letters.

[@SusanJonesTeaching]

Hi Yvonne! I just rewatched the video and I think you may be referring to the chalkboard scene where I show how to sound out the word, chin. If so, I would just like to clarify that we definitely use lower case letters with my students and I am sorry for any confusion! That was just an example my editor put in to make what I was saying more clear, but I can see how that would've been confusing! But yes, lowercase letters only when doing this with students!

[@donnasobotka5534]

Love the read the room activity. Do you have ones for the other digraphs? I would like to purchase it.

[@SusanJonesTeaching]

Hi Donna! I actually am adding a bunch of them for other skills (including more digraphs) over in the SJT Literacy Club!

[@amandalancaster3732]

I’d love a mini unit ;)

[@nannettemurchison2096]

Awesome tips

[@kristakapp1167]

I'd love a mini unit

[@numanafisa6358]

Op

[@moiradonnelly4068]

HI Susan! Your ideas and printables are really helping my kindergarteners this year! If you have a moment to make the Roll and Color game into a small packet that could be purchased on TpT, I would definitely get it! Thanks for all you do, it's making a big difference especially as we all learn to do this SoR more and more in our classrooms!

[@beverleybrowne4714]

Love the read the room activity!

[@sarahanderson95]

Thanks for all the tips, Susan! We're working on digraphs right now in my class and you gave me lots of ideas. I'd be totally interested in a mini unit like you mentioned!! Thanks. 💕

[@victoriamurrell2718]

Thanks, Susan for the great ideas. I would be interested in a mini-unit like you mentioned.

[@betsycollins7217]

Great ideas and resources! These will add a little variety to our Fundations lessons! Thank you!

[@paulinawojdyga2385]

I would be so gratefull if you could explain to me why are you saying that digraph „ai” makes one sound while I can hear two sounds there. I know that it is one phoneme, but it is a diphthong, which is why there are two sounds. And it feels weird to me, when I’m telling to the child that they make one sound while there are two… I have no idea how to deal with it. I’m not native English speaker as you probably guessed. It is clear to me whith ch, sh, th digraphs, but with vowel digraphs I don’t get it why everybody say that there is one sound. I'm so confused....

[@hotmamisin]

There is one sound on “ai” because they are two vowels next to each other. When that happens, the second vowel makes the first vowel say its name and we do not hear the “I” sound at all. So the word CHAIN has 3 sounds: /CH/, /AI/, /N/

[@brx23692]

Hi, Susan! Could I ask you, or any people following here, what's the basic structure for teaching phonics for the first time to kids? For example, start with single letter sounds and names (ahh - A bhhh - B cuhh -) Then move on to diagraphs (CL, SH) Then ONTO short vowel CVC words Then onto long vowel CVCC words... I suppose I'm missing a bunch of steps but I'd be interested where to look to start figuring that out. For K2 to G3. Thanks for any info!

[@21maxn]

ALL GREAT IDEAS! I will follow your suggestions and perhaps send one home for homework practice! I look forward to using all of the digraphs resources!

[@AngelaShea-kp9xx]

Good grief I hope you got employment at central office! Not only your knowledge but your willingness to share with others.

[@vinitapai1172]

Thank you for your suggestions is it possible to record your class the way you teach practically.

[@sellakids]

I love this video!! Thank you! 🤗

[@annepinkelton8548]

I would love the packet of "Read and Color" sheets!! Love this video and all of your resources:)

[@jbm3224]

Thanks for sharing with us. Great ideas!

[@amyfreeman4738]

I’d love a mini unit for 2nd!

[@carinbosman4785]

Thanks Susan. The practical approach will certainly help the struggling learner a lot

[@allisonmcdade3758]

As well as ELL students as they need graphics!

[@catherinelarson4423]

Hi Susan! I am interested in using your resources to conduct my Thesis study with my 1st grade ELLs and English speaking students. I love the format of your lessons and am curious if you are able to create a bundle for me focusing on ch, th (voiceless) and sh digraphs? I would be more than happy to purchase the bundle! Thank you!

[@MariaReyes-df9xw]

I found your video very helpful Susan. I like your freebie, but would love to also use your Read and Color Game pages. It would be wonderful if you can make it available on TPT as a mini-lesson. My first graders I know would find them fun and they definately need to build more practice.

[@robinsmith4258]

Would you please send me the games of the phonics thank you very much I appreciate you coming on KZbin and letting us know how to teach these kids thank you thank you thank you

[@jazzmax4989]

Susan, oh goodness 😍, I'm so excited about these ideas 💡 😆, thanks. Yes, could you do mini units for all letters, oh my gracious I would just love ❤ 😍 that. Hope that's not asking too much. I have to sign into SJT. I'm so glad you have part of the exercises in our SJT Club. Thanks so much 🤩

[@vivianariveramosquera6364]

Thank you so much for doing this video so detailed and for big groups classroom. Life safer. specially for brand new teachers of grade 1 and 2 like me. Thanks a lot.

[@shroukshabara4987]

You are a perfect teacher! Thanks a million times. Really, what you are doing will not only change us, but also our students. deeply grateful.💙💙💙💙

[@marybryson2441]

Hi Susan, Love all your ideas but bench does not contain the "ch" sound. If you listen the actual sound is "sh", the n changes the sound.

[@msaxon98]

Thank you, Susan. I like the idea of showing pictures & words first & allowing students time to determine the similarities & differences as an introduction.

[@monicamartinez1320]

Great tips! Where can I find the concept attainment cards for the What’s the Rule activity? Thanks

[@sandracalle4961]

Thanks for sharing all the strategies and activities that you use. I'm an education student and I found your videos very helpful.

[@harbinderlalli5705]

Hello! I'm wondering where we can get a hold of the concept attainment cards for phonemic awareness? Also, do you by any chance do a read the room unit for different phonemes?

[@vivinemcleary246]

Thanks for the tips. I really enjoy the video. I will definitely use some of these ideas with my remedial group.

[@葉佩綺-i1b]

Love to hear how you teach CVC words again. Good Teaching.

[@allisonmcdade3758]

I am also working on digraphs in first grade. Would love access to "Read and Color". Thanks for all you do!

[@patriciadelaney7389]

I love the great tips Susan. I would like to learn more about the different programs you have.

[@christinedenadel8642]

Thanks Susan! I would love the "Read and Color" activity sheets.

[@annettebrown5198]

I would also love to have access to the Read and Color activities! Thank you

[@patsysam7866]

Yes i enjoy the lesson ,please up load mire activities on phonics

[@rubygonzalez1865]

Where can I find the pictures with the thumbs up and down?

[@Lulu-xp8my]

So helpful and engaging. Thanks, Susan!

[@martashea159]

How do I get the activity cards?

[@CDP-ParaElas]

God blessed for you work

[@carlycarlough7157]

Awesome!!! Thank you!!!

[@maryjanekitong7189]

Thank you mam for sharing your expertise in teaching digraph . I am a new grade 1 teacher and i need

[@maryjanekitong7189]

I really need this strategy because am handling grade 1 .

[@carinbosman4785]

The mini-unit you mention in your video sounds great.

[@melissagaddini9165]

I would like the mini unit.

[@janellewierbowski3863]

Hi Susan! Thank you for your videos! Can you tell me where I can get those fundations sound cards like the CHIN card you showed?

[@SusanJonesTeaching]

Hi Janelle! That is through the Fundations Phonics Curriculum! I believe your school would need to purchase that!

[@fancyflamingo123]

I use a set of phonics flashcards that cost a few dollars (probably at Target or dollar store). They have the digraph (and other graphemes included in the set), an image, and a list of words on the back.