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Lesson 116

ough /aw/, /ō/

The grapheme OUGH can spell /aw/ and /ō/

There are multiple variations in pronunciation of these sounds based on regional dialect.

Today's plan

about 20 min
  1. Step 1Warm up our ears (blend & segment)2 min
  2. Steps 2 & 3Look & Say / Listen & Spell4 min
  3. Step 4Blending drill3 min
  4. Step 5New concept6 min
  5. Step 5Read & spell the new words5 min
Step 1

Warm Up Our Ears

Say the sounds; students blend them into a word. Then say a word; students break it apart.

Blend it (teacher says sounds → you say word)

/th/ · /ō/though
/aw/ · /t/ought
/th/ · /aw/ · /t/thought

Break it (I say word → you say sounds)

Steps 2 & 3

Sound Drills

Full-screen cards for the class. Tap a card to check the answer, or press Hear the words to hear the example words read aloud.

👂 Listen & Spell — teacher list (11 sounds)

Say each sound; students write the spelling(s). Read straight from this list.

  • /aw/au (as in haul), aw (as in lawn), augh (as in caught), ough · saw
  • /ō/o (as in go), oa (as in boat), ow (as in snow), oe (as in toe), ough · boat
  • /yo͞o/, /o͞o/u (as in cup), ew (as in few), eu, ue (as in blue), ou (as in out) · cue
  • /ā/a (as in table), ai (as in rain), ay (as in play), ea (as in eat), ei, eigh, ey (as in key), aigh · rain
  • /ear/ear · hear
  • /air/air, are, ear · chair
  • /er/er (as in her), ir (as in bird), ur (as in turn), or (as in doctor), ar (as in car) · fern
  • /ī/i (as in find), ie (as in pie), igh (as in night) · night
  • /ē/e (as in me), y (as in baby), ea (as in eat), ee (as in see), ey (as in key) · bee
  • /ow/ou (as in out), ow (as in cow) · shout
  • /oi/oi (as in coin), oy (as in boy) · coin
Step 4

Blending Drill

Change one part at a time and read the new word.

→→→→→→→→→
Step 5

New Concept

Today we learn that the grapheme OUGH can spell two sounds, /aw/ and /ō/.

Highlighted words are the ones to show and practice reading — tap one to hear it.

OUGH is a grapheme that can represent two sounds, /aw/ and /ō/. ough /aw/: OUGH can spell /aw/ like in the words and . When OUGH spells /aw/ it is usually followed by T. ough /ō/: OUGH can also spell /ō/ like in the words and . OUGH usually spells /ō/ at the end of a word.

ough /aw/

OUGH spells /aw/ like bought and fought, usually followed by T.

ough /ō/

OUGH spells /ō/ like although and dough, usually at the end of a word.

How our mouth moves

Review articulatory gestures, as needed.

Sound wall

Add 'ough' under /aw/ and under /ō/.

Open the digital sound wall →
Step 5

Read & Spell

Read — I do

Read — We do

Spell — I do

Spell — We do