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Learning the Blends in Spelling and Sounds

by Sue Watson
for About.com

Sample Word Card

Sample Word Cards of Blends

When considering a spelling program and how to best help children learn the sounds of the English language. Remember to choose words that help them understand all of the 44 sounds. Part of those 44 sounds include the 'blends'. Blends are 2 or 3 letters combined to form a distinct spelling sound.
The blends are: bl cl, fl, gl, pl, br, cr, dr, fr, gr, pr, tr, sk, sl, sp, st, sw, spr, cr, str.

Here is a list of more of the common words with blends that young learners will need to learn:
Print PDF Blend Word Cards
Print MS Word Blend Word Cards

Sound: bl like in blue
blue, black, blood, blew, blow, block, blob.

Sound: cl like in clap
clap, club, clay, cloud, climb, clown, class, close.

Sound: fl like in fly
flu, fly, flag, flat, flame, flood, flower, floor.

Sound: gl like in glad
glow, glad, globe, glide, glove, glass.

Sound: pl like in play
play, plan, plug, place, plate, plant, plane, plain

Sound: br like in brown
brown, brow, broke, broom, break, brake, brag, bridge.

Sound: cr like in crow
cry, crow, crab, cried, crash, cross, crown, crack, crumb.

Sound: dr like in draw
draw, drink, drum, drop, dress, drank, drove, drive.

Sound: fr like in fry
fry, from, frog, front, fresh, fruit, Friday, free.

Sound: gr like in grow
grow, grab, grew, grade, grass, green, grape, grown.

Sound: pr like in blue
pray, prize, proud, price, proof, print, prove, price.

Sound: tr like in tree
tree, train, trust, trade, track, try, true, truck, trade, treat.

Sound: sk like in sky
sky, skip, ask, skin, skate, skill, skirt, task.

Sound: sl like in slip
slip, slide, slap, slow, slam, sleep, slept, slipper, slim.

Sound: sp like in spot
spot, spill, spare, spot, spa, spam, spoke, speak, speed, spoon.

Sound: st like in stop
stop, stay, stem, star, start, stuff, stood, store, storm, stick.

Sound: sw like in swing
swing, sweet, sweat, switch, swell, swallow, sweater.

Sound: spr like in spring
spring, spray, sprout, spread, sprout, spree.

Sound: scr like in scrap
scrap, screw, scrub, screen, scream, scratch, describe.

Sound: str like in string
string, strong, street, stretch, stroke, stripe, strange, struggle.

Again, for a printable word wall or word card version:
Print PDF Blend Word Cards
Print MS Word Blend Word Cards for easy editing in MS Word.

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