Lesson 118
Alternate ch, gn, gh, silent t
Less common letter-sound patterns: alternate CH, GN, GH, and silent T
The sound CH represents is dictated by the origin of the word. CH as /ch/ is of English origin, CH as /k/ is of Greek origin, and CH as /sh/ is of French origin. The high frequency word 'often' can be pronounced with or without the /t/.
Today's plan
about 20 min- Step 1Warm up our ears (blend & segment)2 min
- Steps 2 & 3Look & Say / Listen & Spell4 min
- Step 4Blending drill3 min
- Step 5New concept6 min
- Step 5Read & spell the new words5 min
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)
Break it (I say word → you say sounds)
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 (13 sounds)
Say each sound; students write the spelling(s). Read straight from this list.
- /n/n (as in nest), gn, kn (as in knee) · gnome
- /sh/sh (as in ship), ch (as in chin) · chef
- /k/c (as in cat), k (as in kite), ch (as in chin) · school
- /g/g (as in goat), gh · ghost
- /s/s (as in sun), ss, c (as in city) · city
- /j/j (as in jam), g (as in gem) · gym
- /aw/au (as in haul), aw (as in lawn), augh (as in caught), ough · haunt
- /ō/o (as in go), oa (as in boat), ow (as in snow), oe (as in toe), ough · boat
- /yo͞o/u (as in cup), ew (as in few), eu, ue (as in blue) · few
- /o͞o/u (as in cup), oo (as in book), ew (as in few), ui (as in fruit), ue (as in blue), ou (as in out) · blue
- /ā/a (as in table), ai (as in rain), ay (as in play), ei, eigh, ey (as in key), aigh · rain
- /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
Blending Drill
Change one part at a time and read the new word.
New Concept
Today we will learn some less common letter-sound patterns: CH can spell /sh/ or /k/, GN spells /n/, GH spells /g/, and T can be silent.
Highlighted words are the ones to show and practice reading — tap one to hear it.
Today we will learn some less common letter-sound patterns. These patterns only happen in a few words. CH /sh/, /k/: We know CH spells /ch/ as in . CH can also spell /sh/ as in and /k/ as in . GN /n/: We know /n/ can be spelled KN at the beginning of a word as in . GN also spells /n/ at the beginning of a word like gnat or at the end of a word like reign. GH /g/: GH spells /g/ at the beginning of a word like ghost. Silent T: T is sometimes silent in the middle of a two-syllable word with the letter patterns STEN and STLE such as the words and .
ch /sh/, /k/
CH can spell /sh/ as in or /k/ as in , addition to the more common /ch/ as in .
gn /n/
GN spells /n/ at the beginning of a word (gnat) or at the end of a word (reign).
gh /g/
GH spells /g/ at the beginning of a word like ghost.
silent t
T is sometimes silent in the middle of a two-syllable word with STEN and STLE, such as and .
How our mouth moves
Review articulatory gestures for /sh/, /k/, /n/, and /g/, as needed.
Sound wall
Add 'ch' under /k/ and under /sh/. Add 'gn' under /n/. Add 'gh' under /g/.
Open the digital sound wall →Read & Spell
Read — I do
Read — We do
Spell — I do
Spell — We do