A consonant blend is when two or more consonants appear together and each consonant keeps its own sound. The sounds blend quickly, making them seem like one unit.
In blends, you can still hear each consonant sound. For example, in flag, you can hear both the f and l.
L blends begin with a consonant followed by the letter l. We say both sounds quickly together.
Say the first consonant, then slide right into the l sound. Keep the sounds close together without a pause.
R blends begin with a consonant followed by the letter r. We hear both sounds joined smoothly.
Practice saying the consonant and the r sound together quickly. In frog, you can hear both the f and the r.
S blends begin with the letter s followed by another consonant. Both sounds are heard as one smooth unit.
When reading an s blend, hold the s sound just a little, then blend smoothly into the next consonant.
Once we know the blend families, we can practice reading them in sentences. This helps us build fluency and understanding.
Read each sentence slowly first. Then try again more smoothly, keeping blends together as you read.