Digraphs sh, ch, th decodable sentences and word list
37 words with two letters that make one sound, as in ship, chip and thin, and 10 sentences a child can sound out. Project them, or print the sheet.
Digraphs sh, ch, th: two letters that make one sound, as in ship, chip and thin. 37 words.
- shop
- ship
- shed
- shut
- shin
- shot
- dish
- fish
- wish
- cash
- rush
- mash
- bash
- gash
- hash
- lash
- rash
- chip
- chop
- chin
- chat
- chug
- much
- such
- rich
- thin
- this
- that
- then
- them
- with
- math
- bath
- path
- than
- thud
- thus
Tricky words used so far, read by sight: a, the, is, has, to, I, my.
About this pattern
A digraph is two letters that together make one sound. Children need to learn to look at sh, ch and th as a single unit instead of two separate letters. Sh and ch are clear; th has two sounds, voiced as in this and unvoiced as in thin, and children usually hear the difference before they can name it.
What to say
Show the two letters together and say the one sound: sh, as in the quiet sound when you say shh. Ch is the sound a train makes. For th, put your tongue between your teeth.
How to use it
- Start in Word list: say the pattern, then read the words together with the coloured letters as your clue.
- Press Full screen (F), choose Sentences, one at a time, and use the arrow keys for the next sentence.
- Press Print for a sheet with the words and the numbered sentences to take home.
Ideas for class
- Use a magnifying glass or finger frame to find the sh, ch or th in each word, then read the word.
- Sort word cards into three boxes by digraph.
- Play I Spy with digraph words around the room: I spy something that starts with sh.
- Have students write a sentence with two digraph words, such as The chip is on the dish.
Related
Questions
What about wh and ck?
They are also digraphs and come next in most programs. These lists use sh, ch and th only, so a child who has learned just these can read every sentence on the page.
Why are words like the and that in the same list?
The word that follows the rule: th makes its voiced sound and a is short. The word the is tricky only because its vowel is an e that sounds like uh; it is on the tricky list from the first short a sentences.
How do I know each sentence is decodable?
Every word in these 10 sentences is either on the word list for digraphs sh, ch, th or for a pattern taught before it, or is one of the tricky words read by sight (a, the, is, has, to, I, my). The list is checked by a program, so a word that has not been taught cannot slip in.
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