What Are Digraphs? A Complete Guide for K-2 Teachers
If you've ever watched a first grader stare blankly at the word ship and try to sound out each letter individually — "sss... hhhh... iii... ppp" — you already know why digraphs deserve dedicated, explicit instruction. As a teacher with 20 years in the classroom, I've seen this moment hundreds of times. And every time, it reminds me how important it is to teach digraphs systematically, not just hope students pick them up along the way.
In this guide, we'll cover exactly what digraphs are, why they matter for early readers, which ones to teach first, and how to introduce them in a way that sticks — even for your most struggling readers.
What Is a Digraph?
A digraph is two letters that come together to make one single sound. Unlike a blend (where you can still hear both individual sounds), a digraph creates a completely new sound that neither letter makes on its own.
For example:
- sh in ship — the /sh/ sound is not /s/ + /h/
- ch in chin — the /ch/ sound is not /c/ + /h/
- th in that — the /th/ sound is not /t/ + /h/
- wh in when — the /wh/ sound is not /w/ + /h/
- ph in phone — the /f/ sound is not /p/ + /h/
This is a critical distinction for young readers. When students try to decode each letter separately in a digraph, they get stuck — or worse, they develop a habit of guessing. Explicit digraph instruction prevents this from happening.
Why Digraphs Matter in Early Literacy
Digraphs appear in some of the most common words in the English language. Think about how often your students encounter words like the, this, that, she, when, which, chat, and chip. These are high-frequency words that show up in virtually every text a K-2 student will read.
According to the Science of Reading, phonics instruction should be explicit, systematic, and cumulative. That means digraphs shouldn't be introduced randomly or assumed — they need to be taught directly, practiced repeatedly, and reviewed consistently.
When students master digraphs early, they:
- Decode words more accurately and fluently
- Build confidence as readers
- Spend less cognitive energy on decoding, freeing up working memory for comprehension
- Develop stronger spelling skills
The Most Common Digraphs to Teach in K-2
Here are the digraphs most commonly taught in kindergarten through second grade, roughly in order of frequency and instructional priority:
Consonant Digraphs
- sh — ship, shell, fish, wish
- ch — chin, chop, much, lunch
- th (voiced) — the, this, that, them
- th (unvoiced) — think, thin, bath, math
- wh — when, where, which, while
- ph — phone, photo, graph (typically introduced in 2nd grade)
A Note on Voiced vs. Unvoiced /th/
The th digraph is unique because it makes two different sounds. The voiced /th/ (as in the and this) involves vibration in the throat. The unvoiced /th/ (as in think and bath) does not. Have students place their hand on their throat to feel the difference — it's a simple, memorable kinesthetic cue.
When to Introduce Digraphs in Your Phonics Sequence
In a Science of Reading-aligned scope and sequence, digraphs are typically introduced after students have mastered single consonants and short vowels (CVC words). This usually happens in mid-to-late kindergarten or early first grade, depending on your students' readiness.
A typical sequence looks like this:
- Single consonants (b, c, d, f, g...)
- Short vowels (a, e, i, o, u)
- CVC words (cat, sit, hop)
- Digraphs (sh, ch, th, wh) ← You are here
- Consonant blends (bl, cr, st, tr)
- Long vowel patterns (CVCe, vowel teams)
Don't rush to digraphs before CVC mastery is solid. Students need that foundation to successfully decode digraph words.
How to Teach Digraphs: A Systematic Approach
Here's the instructional sequence I've used successfully with hundreds of students, including those with dyslexia and reading difficulties:
Step 1: Introduce the Digraph with a Keyword
Choose a memorable keyword and picture for each digraph. For example, ship for sh, chin for ch. Display these on a phonics wall or anchor chart. The visual-verbal connection helps students retrieve the sound quickly during reading.
Step 2: Teach the Sound Explicitly
Say the sound clearly and have students repeat it. For sh, model the mouth position — lips slightly forward, air flowing out. Have students practice saying the sound in isolation before connecting it to letters.
Step 3: Connect Sound to Print
Show students the two letters that make the sound. Explain: "When we see s and h together, they make one sound: /sh/." Use a visual cue like drawing a box around both letters to show they work as a team.
Step 4: Practice Blending with Word Lists
Start with simple CCVC and CVCC words: ship, shop, shed, fish, dish, wish. Have students tap, blend, and read each word. Use decodable readers that feature the target digraph in context.
Step 5: Practice Encoding (Spelling)
Dictate words for students to spell. Encoding reinforces the sound-symbol connection from the other direction and strengthens long-term retention. Use whiteboards, sand trays, or letter tiles for multisensory practice.
Step 6: Apply in Connected Text
Have students read decodable sentences and short passages featuring the digraph. This is where the skill becomes automatic — and where real reading growth happens.
Multisensory Digraph Activities That Work
Students learn best when they engage multiple senses. Here are some classroom-tested activities:
- Digraph Sort: Give students a set of picture cards and have them sort by digraph sound (sh, ch, th, wh). Great for literacy centers.
- Tap and Blend: Students tap each phoneme on their fingers, then blend to read the word. For ship: /sh/ - /i/ - /p/.
- Digraph Pencils: Use specially designed phonics pencils that display digraph keywords as a quick reference tool during independent reading and writing. These are especially helpful for students who need a visual anchor.
- Word Building with Letter Tiles: Students build digraph words using letter tiles or magnetic letters, physically moving the letters together to form the digraph pair.
- Digraph Hopscotch: Write digraphs in hopscotch squares. Call out a word and students hop to the correct digraph.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Teaching Digraphs
- Introducing too many at once: Teach one digraph at a time and practice it thoroughly before moving on.
- Skipping encoding practice: Reading and spelling reinforce each other. Don't skip the spelling side.
- Using non-decodable texts too early: If students are practicing digraphs, their reading materials should feature those digraphs prominently.
- Assuming students will "figure it out": Digraphs require explicit instruction. Implicit exposure is not enough for most learners.
Assessing Digraph Mastery
Before moving on in your phonics sequence, check that students can:
- Identify the digraph sound when shown the letters
- Read 10 digraph words accurately and fluently
- Spell 5-8 digraph words correctly from dictation
- Read digraph words in connected text without hesitation
A quick one-minute word reading probe is an efficient way to assess this. If students are below 90% accuracy, they need more practice before moving forward.
Ready to Teach Digraphs?
Digraphs are one of those phonics skills that, once mastered, unlock a huge number of words for young readers. With explicit instruction, multisensory practice, and the right tools, your students will be reading and spelling digraph words with confidence.
Looking for classroom-ready digraph tools? Our phonics helper pencils are designed specifically for K-2 classrooms and feature digraph keywords that students can reference during reading and writing. They're a simple, affordable way to keep phonics skills front and center throughout the school day.
Have questions about teaching digraphs or want to share what's working in your classroom? Leave a comment below — I'd love to hear from you!