Teach Phonograms to Early Readers

An early reader who knows some common two letter phonograms will be able to decode or sound out more words. This may prevent the habit of guessing at too many words. Most children I've tutored with reading had a habit at guessing at words and ignoring most letters. It's hard to unlearn this habit. Guessing at words works with early reader books with lots of picture clues. Readers with guessing habits can't keep up with readers who know how to sound out words starting toward the middle of first grade.

It's so sad to see children who thought they knew how to read find out that they can't and need to find a new way to read. This happened to my daughter in first grade. It was challenging teaching her to change her way of reading.

How many two letter phonograms do you see on these pages? Phonograms are the written representation of a spoken sound. "Sl" is a blend since both letters make a separate sound.

I count six. I could be wrong. (ng is a phonogram)

1. ee

2. ck

3. oo

4. ur

5. ch

6. kn

Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You? is a book full of common two letter phonograms. My oldest son loved this book. By share reading this book you can teach and have a child practice letter sounds, blends, and common phonograms.

Here's a fun online game to practice common phonograms.

Write a Postcard

You can find more free online reading games in a link at the top of this blog.

Teach Phonograms to Early Readers

Common Two Letter Phonogram Video

Beginning readers need to learn letter and vowel sounds to read. The individual sounds of language and the letters that represent these sounds are called phonograms. 

Here's a video I found with the following phonograms. (ee, ea, sh, ch, oo, oo, ou, ar, or, ir, ow, oy, oa, ow, ay, ai)


You can print common two letter phonograms on heavy paper to make your own flashcards.

Visit this link to find free phonogram flashcards to print.

You may want to print your cards on heavy weight paper and use the directions on this page to cut your flashcards.

You will need to cut half an inch off the top and bottom to make the flashcards a uniform size.

When you cut 1/2 inch off the bottom, your paper should be 10 inches long.

Next you cut 2 inch strips.

Cut them in half at 4 1/4 inches.

Stay tuned.

I'll be sharing ways to teach phonograms every Friday for awhile. Please follow or subscribe with email if you don't want to miss a post.

Common Two Letter Phonogram Video

Phonograms and Flashcards

Phonograms are letters that make up sounds. Phonograms can be one letter, or they can be a combination of letters. This post contains words with phonograms you may want to start teaching your beginning reader from the free printable high frequency flashcards I shared in a previous post.

Here are some words from the flashcards grouped by phonogram:
ay - play, way, away
ar - are
or - for
ow - how now, down
ow - yellow
ou - out, house
oo - too
ng - thing

You may want to add other high frequency words . Just add a few at a time to learn. Cut cards the same size as the ones you printed and write the new words with a black marker. I suggest keeping words with the same phonics rules or phonograms right next to each other in the flashcard pile while practicing. This will help your beginning reader make patterns and connections.

Here's a resource I found online you may find helpful when teaching phonograms.
PhonogramPage

You may want to make flashcards with phonograms for your beginning reader.

Are you using these flashcards? Let me know how it's going in a comment.

Phonograms and Flashcards