Reading For All™ System
Multisensory Reading Resources for Every Learner
© 2026 Reading For All. All Rights Reserved.
← Lesson 8: End Digraph Blends Level 2 Lesson 10: End Mix →
Reading For All

Level 2 — Lesson 9

Mix It Up!
Blends vs Digraphs   at the Start
🔀
Blends or Digraphs?
Blends keep each letter's sound (like "st" in stop — you hear /s/ then /t/). Digraphs make a brand-new sound (like "sh" in ship — one new sound!). Can you tell them apart?
🏆 Sorting Sounds Takes Extra Effort!
Abby, Issue, Otto, and Usher are cheering you on! Blends and digraphs both start words, but they work differently.
Remember: Blends = hear both sounds • Digraphs = one new sound

⚓ Anchor Words

👧
Abby
/ă/ — short A
Level 1 Star
💪
Effort
/ĕ/ — short E
Level 1 Star
📣
Issue
/ĭ/ — short I
Level 1 Star
👦
Otto
/ŏ/ — short O
Level 1 Star
💃
Usher
/ŭ/ — short U
Level 1 Star

Our Level 1 friends help us sort blends from digraphs!

👂 Listen & Compare

These word pairs look similar — but one starts with a blend and the other with a digraph! Tap to hear.

stop 🔈 /s/ /t/ /o/ /p/ — Blend
vs
shop 🔈 /sh/ /o/ /p/ — Digraph
clap 🔈 /k/ /l/ /a/ /p/ — Blend
vs
chap 🔈 /ch/ /a/ /p/ — Digraph
trip 🔈 /t/ /r/ /i/ /p/ — Blend
vs
thin 🔈 /th/ /i/ /n/ — Digraph
Consonant Vowel Blend Digraph

🎓 Practice Words

Tap each word. Is it a blend or a digraph at the start? Look at the color!

👏 clap /k/ /l/ /a/ /p/ Blend
🍟 chip /ch/ /i/ /p/ Digraph
🛑 stop /s/ /t/ /o/ /p/ Blend
🚢 ship /sh/ /i/ /p/ Digraph
🥁 drum /d/ /r/ /u/ /m/ Blend
🪡 thin /th/ /i/ /n/ Digraph

Tap a word above to see it broken apart:

c
l
a
p
▼
clap
Consonant Vowel Blend Digraph

📚 Word Bank

Beginning blends in teal and beginning digraphs in indigo — color-coded!

clap crab drip drop drum flag flip grab grip plan plug sled slim snap spin spot stem step stop swim trap trim trip twig chap chat check chest chin chip chop shed shell shin ship shop shot shut than that them then thick thin thing this whack what when which whip

📖 Silly Story Time!

Blend words are in teal and digraph words are in indigo.
Mix the sounds and read it out loud!

The to the

Abby had a to at the . She and a .

Effort did on the and with a on the .

Issue sat and at a . She did it with a .

Otto did a on a . He did and grin!

Usher said, " is a and is a digraph? is the to !"

The End!

⭐ Sight Words Used

These common words appear in the story. Practice reading them on sight!

a the and on in at to it is with had did she he said what which that this
Reading For All • Level 2, Lesson 9 • Beginning Blends vs Digraphs