Digraph Blend Quest Lesson Plan
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WRS Substep 2.2 Closed Syllables • 4 Sounds
Digraph Blends Lesson Plan
Format: 10-Part WRS Standard
Time: 60–90 Mins (Blocks 1–3)
Focus: Digraph Blends (-nch, shr-, etc.)
Student Learning Objectives (SWBAT)
- Segment & Tap: Orally segment and finger-tap 4-sound closed syllable words with digraph blends with 100% fidelity.
- Decode & Mark: Read and code target real and nonsense words (e.g., lunch, shred, quench) with 90%+ accuracy.
- Encode: Spell and mark 4-sound digraph blend words in dictation with 85%+ accuracy.
Language Objectives (SIOP / 4 Domains)
- Listening: Discriminate between blend consonants and single digraph sounds when dictated.
- Speaking: Orally blend sounds and explain Wilson coding using terms blend, digraph, and closed syllable.
- Reading & Writing: Scoop sentences into fluent phrases; transcribe sounds and words into Elkonin grids.
Tapping Code: 1 tap per sound (In lunch: /l/-/ŭ/-/n/-/ch/ = 4 taps). Marking Code: 1 line under digraph; individual lines under blend consonants.
Block 1: Word Study (30 Minutes) Parts 1 through 5 • Decoding & Word Knowledge
Part 1: Sound Card Quick Drill 5 Mins
Procedure: Rapid flash drill; students produce letter-keyword-sound in unison. Focus on short vowels and digraphs.
Vowels: a, e, i, o, u Digraphs: sh, ch, th, wh, ck Blends: r, l, n, m, s, p, t
Part 2: Teach and Review Concepts (Digraph Blends) 10 Mins
Direct Instruction Script: "A blend is two consonants side-by-side that keep their sounds. A digraph is two letters that make ONE sound. In Substep 2.2, we meet digraph blends! In lunch, the /n/ and /ch/ blend at the end. /n/ is 1 sound, /ch/ is 1 sound. That is 4 sounds total!"
Tile Board Manipulation:
Build ch-e-s-t, then b-e-n-ch, then sh-r-e-d.
Teacher Marking Model:
Draw b e n ch (1 line for ch, separate line for n).
Part 3: Word Cards 5 Mins
Rapid automatic flashcard reading. Tap only if hesitating.
bench shrimp pinch cloth champ
Part 4: Wordlist Reading 5 Mins
Independent student reader charting. Teacher logs accuracy.
quench, punch, shred, thump, drench, whisk.
Part 5: Sentence Reading with Scooping 5 Mins
Students read decodable controlled sentences silently first, then aloud with prosody using pencil scooping arcs.
-
(Chad had a quick lunch) (on the wooden bench.)
-
(Do not pinch) (the fresh shrimp) (in the mesh net.)
Wilson Reading System • Substep 2.2 Lesson Plan Page 1 of 2 • Block 1: Word Study
Block 2 & 3
Spelling, Dictation & Controlled Text
Substep 2.2 • Digraph Blends
Block 2: Spelling & Dictation (25 Minutes) Parts 6 through 8 • Encoding Mastery
Part 6: Quick Drill in Reverse (3 Mins)
Teacher says phoneme; student repeats phoneme and names the letter or digraph tile on magnetic board.
Teacher: "/ch/" → Student: "c-h says /ch/"
Teacher: "/sh/" → Student: "s-h says /sh/"
Part 7: Teach & Review Spelling (7 Mins)
Finger tap each sound onto magnetic board before pulling tiles. Emphasize that digraph tiles represent ONE sound tap.
Focus Word: quench → /kw/ /e/ /n/ /ch/. Note: qu is 1 tile/sound; ch is 1 tile/sound. 4 taps!
Part 8: Controlled Dictation (Wilson Grid & Lines) 15 Mins
Dictate on standard Wilson student dictation paper. Students tap sounds before writing, then apply proofreading code.
1. Sounds (5)
- /ch/
- /sh/
- /th/
- /kw/ (qu)
- /ĕ/
2. Real Words (5)
- lunch
- pinch
- shrimp
- bench
- shred
3. Nonsense (3)
- flench
- ponch
- shramp
Tests pure phonics.
4. Sight Words (2)
- could
- their
Non-phonetic review.
5. Controlled Dictated Sentences (Proofread & Scoop)
A. "Did the pup crunch on that branch?"
B. "Seth will punch the bag and rest on the bench."
Block 3: Fluency & Comprehension (25 Minutes) Parts 9 & 10 • Controlled Reading & Meaning
Part 9: Controlled Text Reading (15 Mins)
Passage: "The Camp Lunch" (Wilson Reader 2, page 42). 100% decodable text with controlled sight words.
• Whisper Read: Student reads independently; teacher monitors finger-point tracking and blend accuracy.
• Oral Pacing: Model expressive scooping in 2-4 word phrases to build automaticity.
Part 10: Comprehension Check (10 Mins)
Wilson Questioning Framework:
Literal: "Where did the kids sit to eat their fresh lunch?" (On the long bench by the pond.)
Inferential: "Why did Chad shrug when he saw the shrimp?" (He was unsure if he liked it.)
Immediate Multisensory Error Correction Protocol
Omission of blend sound (e.g., "luch" for lunch): "Tap that word again! Touch thumb to pinky. What sound was before /ch/?"
Separating the digraph (e.g., /k/-/h/): "Look at the card. Two letters, one sound! What sound does c-h make together?"
Wilson Reading System • Substep 2.2 Lesson Plan Page 2 of 2 • Blocks 2 & 3: Spelling & Comprehension
Digraph Blend Quest Slides
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Wilson Reading System
Step 2 • Substep 2.2
Multisensory Phonics
Closed Syllables • 4 Sounds
Digraph Blends
Blending consonant digraphs with surrounding consonants. Finger tapping, marking, decoding, and spelling!
4 Taps Wilson Code Decodable Text
Lesson Deck
Goals
Today's Objectives
Content & Language Targets
I Can Statements Learning Goals
- Tap & Blend: I can finger-tap 4 distinct sounds in words with digraph blends (e.g., lunch, shred).
- Wilson Code: I can mark digraphs with 1 line and blend consonants with separate underlines.
- Spell in Dictation: I can listen, tap, and spell 4-sound digraph blend words accurately.
Language Goals 4 Domains
- Listen Isolate adjacent blend and digraph sounds during sound drills.
- Speak Say sounds crisply and explain the difference between a blend and a digraph.
- Read Read controlled sentences aloud in smooth, scooped phrases.
- Write Transcribe dictated words into Elkonin boxes and proofread codes.
Clear goals lead to reading success! Wilson Substep 2.2
Part 1
Sound Card Quick Drill
Echo Teacher: Letter - Keyword - Sound
Short Vowels (Salmon Cards)
a apple • /ă/
e Ed • /ĕ/
i itch • /ĭ/
o octopus • /ŏ/
u up • /ŭ/
Consonant Digraphs (Two Letters = One Sound)
sh ship • /sh/
ch chin • /ch/
th thumb • /th/
wh whistle • /w/
ck sock • /k/
Keep mouth positions crisp and unvoiced where applicable! Wilson Quick Drill
Part 2
What is a Digraph Blend?
Substep 2.2 Concept
Review: Blend
Two Separate Sounds
Two consonants side-by-side. Each consonant keeps its own sound.
s t o p /s/ + /t/ • 2 sounds
Review: Digraph
One Glued Sound
Two letters team up to create ONE single phoneme.
c h i p /ch/ • 1 sound
Substep 2.2: New!
Digraph Blend
A digraph blends smoothly with an adjacent consonant!
l u n ch /n/ + /ch/ = 2 sounds (4 total!)
Notice: -nch has 2 sounds, but 3 letters! Wilson Rule: Substep 2.2
Digraph Blend Quest Practice Worksheet
WRS Substep 2.2 Independent Practice
Digraph Blends Practice
Name:
Date:
Wilson Coding Rule: Digraphs get one line (2 letters = 1 sound). Blend consonants get separate lines!
b e n ch
Part A: Finger-Tap & Code the Words 8 Words • 1 line for digraph, individual lines for blend consonants
bench Mark letters below
lunch Mark letters below
shred Mark letters below
pinch Mark letters below
shrimp Mark letters below
cloth Mark letters below
thump Mark letters below
quench Mark letters below
Part B: Sound Box Mapping (4 Sounds) Write letters in sound boxes (put digraph in 1 box!)
1. lunch
2. shred
3. pinch
4. champ
Part C: Real Words vs. Nonsense Words Sort Sort all 8 words from the word bank
punch flench drench ponch whisk shramp bench trish
Real Words (4)
Nonsense Words (4)
Wilson Reading System • Substep 2.2 Digraph Blends Page 1 of 2
Controlled Sentences & Dictation
Substep 2.2 Digraph Blends
Part D: Fill-in-the-Blank Sentences Choose the best target word
lunch bench crunch shred pinch
- Chad ate a hot snack for his noon
with his pal.
- The old wooden
by the pond had a big crack.
- Did you hear the pup
on the crisp branch?
- Meg will
the scrap of cloth for her art craft.
- Be gentle and do not
the tiny fresh bug.
Part E: Fluency Scooping Practice Draw pencil scoop arcs under phrase chunks
Sentence 1
Chad had a quick lunch on the long bench.
Sentence 2
Seth did not pinch the fresh shrimp in the net.
Part F: Wilson Dictation Check Teacher dictates • Student taps, writes, and codes
1. Sounds (Write Letter / Digraph)
2. High Frequency Words (Non-Phonetic)
3. Current Target Words (Tap, Write & Code with Underlines)
Word 1:
Word 2:
Word 3:
Nonsense 1:
Nonsense 2:
4. Dictated Sentence (Write, Proofread, Scoop)
Wilson Reading System • Substep 2.2 Digraph Blends Page 2 of 2
Digraph Blend Quest Answer Key
Teacher Resource WRS Substep 2.2
Digraph Blends Answer Key
EVALUATION GUIDE Check for exact coding lines
Coding Standard: 1 single line under digraphs (e.g., ch, sh, th, qu). Individual separate lines under each consonant in a blend!
b e n ch
Part A: Finger-Tap & Code the Words (Answer Key) 8 Words • Check separate vs. single underlines
bench
b e n ch
n (1 line), ch (1 line)
lunch
l u n ch
n (1 line), ch (1 line)
shred
sh r e d
sh (1 line), r (1 line)
pinch
p i n ch
n (1 line), ch (1 line)
shrimp
sh r i m p
sh (1), r (1), m (1), p (1)
cloth
c l o th
c (1), l (1), th (1 line)
thump
th u m p
th (1 line), m (1), p (1)
quench
qu e n ch
qu (1), n (1), ch (1 line)
Part B: Sound Box Mapping Solutions (4 Sounds) Notice 2 letters in digraph box!
1. lunch
l
u
n
ch
2. shred
sh
r
e
d
3. pinch
p
i
n
ch
4. champ
ch
a
m
p
Part C: Real Words vs. Nonsense Words Sort Solutions 4 real • 4 nonsense
Real Words (4) Meaningful
1. punch
2. drench
3. whisk
4. bench
Nonsense Words (4) Pseudo
1. flench
2. ponch
3. shramp
4. trish
Wilson Reading System • Substep 2.2 Answer Key Page 1 of 2
Sentences & Dictation Master Key
Substep 2.2 Teacher Guide
Part D: Fill-in-the-Blank Sentences Solutions Context + Phonics match
- Chad ate a hot snack for his noon lunch with his pal.
lunch
- The old wooden bench by the pond had a big crack.
bench
- Did you hear the pup crunch on the crisp branch?
