Vocal Buzz Slides UFLI FOUNDATIONS • LESSON 46
Consonant Digraph
Sound Awakening
Voiced th: The Buzzing Sound!
Put your fingers on your throat and turn your vocal cords ON to make the buzzing /th/!
Phoneme: /th/ (voiced) Spelling: th UFLI Scope & Sequence
1
How Do We Make the Sound?
Articulatory gestures and mouth placement
Mouth & Voice Check
Tongue Placement
Gently stick the tip of your tongue slightly between your front teeth.
Turn Voice ON!
Touch your throat. Feel the motor turn on! Your voice box buzzes like a bumblebee.
Push Warm Air
Blow air across your buzzing tongue to make the continuous vibrating sound: /th/!
Class Chant: "Tongue between teeth, motor ON, buzz it out: /th/ ... /th/ ... /th/!"
2
Sound Showdown: Unvoiced vs. Voiced
Same spelling 'th', but one buzzes and one whispers!
Contrast Drill
🤫
Unvoiced /th/
Lesson 45 • Motor OFF (Whisper)
No Buzz
🐝
Voiced /th/
Lesson 46 • Motor ON (Buzz!)
Buzzing!
Touch your throat for each pair: notice when the motor turns on!
3
Blending Board Routine
Say each sound as the dot lights up, then sweep to blend!
Sound & Sweep
th /th/ (buzz)
i /ĭ/
s /s/
Blended Word:
this
Now swap vowel to a : that Now swap coda to n : than Now swap vowel to e : then
4
Word Chain Challenge
Change just one sound at a time as we climb the chain!
Word Building
Start
this
/th/ /ĭ/ /s/
➔
Change /ĭ/
that
/th/ /ă/ /t/
➔
Change /t/
than
/th/ /ă/ /n/
Can you make the final switch?
than ➔ then ➔ them
All start with voiced th !
5
Irregular & High-Frequency Connection
Look at how voiced /th/ appears in our most common words!
Heart Words
Most Frequent
the
Starts with regular voiced /th/ . The 'e' says /ə/ (schwa).
Pronoun
they
Starts with regular voiced /th/ . The 'ey' sounds like /ā/!
Fully Decodable
with
Starts with /w/, then short /ĭ/, and finishes with voiced /th/ !
💡 Notice: The th is completely regular in all of these words. Our voice buzzes for all three!
6
Choral Reading Practice
Spot the voiced th words first, then read together with smooth fluency!
Connected Text
This dog can run with them.
That cat is bigger than this rat.
I will sit in the sun, and then sip with dad.
Accuracy first Smooth scooping phrasing Expression & meaning
TIME TO READ!
Independent & Partner Practice
You Are Ready for the
Decodable Readers!
Grab your decodable sheets. Track every word with your finger. Remember to turn your voice box ON whenever you see th in our buzz words!
Reader 1
This and That
Sort pets & hats
Reader 2
Fit With Them
Cozy pup in the shed
Reader 3
Then We Dash
The quick race
Followed by the 10-Word Verbal Reading Check & Fluency Passage!
This and That Decodable Reader 46
UFLI Foundations • Decodable Reader 1 (Extended)
This and That
Name:
Date:
Warm-Up: Buzzing Digraph th Motor ON (voice box buzzes)
this
that
with
them
then
Review: than
Extended Decodable Story (Read 3 Times)
Read 1 ⭐ Read 2 ⭐ Read 3 ⭐
Look at this . Can you see that ?
This is a quick cat. That is a big, wet dog.
The cat can sit on the mat with a red dish. The dog wants to sit with them .
"Do not nip at this cat!" Tim yells.
That dog is much bigger than the cat, but it is not bad. It will not bite.
The cat taps that dog on the chin. Then that dog wags its tail with joy!
Look at them run and spin on the path. The cat dashes with the pup in the sun.
This cat will rest, and then that dog will nap with them on the deck.
Tim is glad to sit with both of them !
Voiced TH Word Detective
Count how many times each word appears in the story:
this:
that:
with:
them:
Quick Check
Where do the cat and dog nap at the end?
Focus: Voiced digraph /th/ • Cumulative vocabulary: CVC + digraphs (105 words) Page 1 of 1
Fit With Them Decodable Reader 46
UFLI Foundations • Decodable Reader 2 (Extended)
Fit With Them
Name:
Date:
Speed Drill: Voiced Buzz Words (th ) Continuous voice buzz
them
with
that
than
then
Review: this
Extended Decodable Story (Read 3 Times for Fluency)
Read 1 🐝 Read 2 🐝 Read 3 🐝
A red hen is in that big shed. The cold fog is thick and wet outside.
Can the duck run in with it? "Yes, get into this shed with me," clucks the hen. The duck fits next to that hen.
Then a big pig trots up to the door. That pig is much bigger than the duck, and bigger than the hen.
"Can I fit in that shed with them ?" grunts the pig.
The hen flaps. "You are wider than us, but you can sit in this dry spot with them !"
Then the pig slips inside with a happy snort. All of them sit in that snug shed.
The hen, the duck, and that pig will rest. It is warm to be with them !
Fill the Voiced TH Word
Write with or them on the line:
1. The duck sits the hen.
2. The big pig rests with .
Story Question
Why was the pig worried about getting in the shed?
Focus: Voiced digraph /th/ • Cumulative vocabulary: CVC + digraphs (112 words) Page 1 of 1
Then We Dash Decodable Reader 46
UFLI Foundations • Decodable Reader 3 (Extended)
Then We Dash
Name:
Date:
Rapid Word Check: Voiced Digraph th Vocal cords buzzing continuously
then
that
than
with
this
Review: them
Extended Decodable Story (Read 3 Times)
Read 1 🏁 Read 2 🏁 Read 3 🏁
Max and Sam look up at that big green hill. The hot sun shines down on them .
"Can you dash up that hill with me?" asks Max.
"Yes! I will run faster than you!" Sam yells with a big grin.
Max nods his head. "Get set... one, two, three... and then we dash!" Both boys rush ahead.
A fast pup spots them and runs with them . That pup has longer legs than Max, and is quicker than Sam!
The pup wins the big dash. It gets to the top of that steep hill first, and then sits in the grass.
Max and Sam jog up and sit with that pup at the top of this hill. "Look at this great view!" says Sam.
All of them are glad to rest with each other in the shade.
Story True or False?
1. Max and Sam dash up a big hill. YES / NO
2. A pup runs with them. YES / NO
3. Sam was quicker than the pup. YES / NO
Who Won the Dash?
Write who reached the top first:
Focus: Voiced digraph /th/ • Cumulative vocabulary: CVC + digraphs (115 words) Page 1 of 1
River Path Fluency Reader 46
UFLI Foundations • Fluency Passage (Extended)
A Walk With Them
Name:
Date:
Directions: Read for 1 minute. Mark your stopping word. Calculate Words Correct Per Minute (WCPM).
Voiced TH Target
Story Passage (133 Decodable Words) Word Count
Kip and Beth walk on that long dirt path.
9
Beth brings a big green net with her.
17
Kip looks down at that wet, thick mud.
25
"Do not step in that wet mud," yells Beth.
35
Then a fat green frog hops into the mud.
44
Beth runs up to the frog with that net.
53
Can Beth catch it with them all watching?
61
That fast frog is much quicker than Beth!
69
It jumps with a big plop into that pond.
78
Then Kip and Beth sit on a flat log.
87
A wild duck swims up with them in the sun.
97
Beth tosses bits of bread with a soft drop.
106
Then two fish swim with them near the bank.
115
They smile and laugh at this fun sunny spot.
124
Kip is glad he took this walk with them !
133
Timed Fluency Record (1-Minute Timings)
Total Words: 133
Attempt Words Read Errors WCPM Score Voiced TH Accuracy Read 1 (Cold) _____ _____ _____ Needs Work / Fair / Good Read 2 (Warm) _____ _____ _____ Needs Work / Fair / Good
Quick Check Exit Ticket 46
UFLI Foundations • Exit Ticket
10-Word Verbal Reading Check
Student:
Date:
Directions: Student reads words aloud from Card A. Teacher listens for voiced vibration and scores in Grid B. 1-on-1 Quick Check
Card A: Student Reading Card (Read Across) Touch throat to feel the motor buzz!
1 this
2 that
3 with
4 them
5 then
6 than
7 thus
8 with
9 that
10 this
Grid B: Teacher Diagnostic Scoring Matrix
Mark: ✓ = Correct (Voiced) | U = Unvoiced | V = Vowel error | SC = Self-correct
# Word Vocal Buzz (/th/) Accurate? Notes / Error Code 1 this [ ] Yes [ ] No 1 / 0 2 that [ ] Yes [ ] No 1 / 0 3 with [ ] Yes [ ] No 1 / 0 4 them [ ] Yes [ ] No 1 / 0 5 then [ ] Yes [ ] No 1 / 0 6 than [ ] Yes [ ] No 1 / 0 7 thus [ ] Yes [ ] No 1 / 0 8 with [ ] Yes [ ] No 1 / 0 9 that [ ] Yes [ ] No 1 / 0 10 this [ ] Yes [ ] No 1 / 0
Verbal Accuracy Score: ____ / 10
● 9-10/10: Mastered Ready for Lesson 47
● 7-8/10: Developing Review motor buzz routine
● 0-6/10: Re-teach Small-group tactile drill
Student Voice Check
Did you feel your vocal cords buzzing like a bee?
🐝 Big Buzz!
🙂 A Little
🤫 Whispered
UFLI Lesson 46 Exit Ticket • 10-Word Verbal Reading Assessment Page 1 of 1
Buzzing Tongue Teacher Guide 46
UFLI Foundations • Teacher Facilitation Guide
Voiced /th/ Digraph Lesson Plan
Grade 1 / Tier 1 & Tier 2
Target Phoneme /th/ (voiced buzz)
Grapheme th
Core Word List this, that, then, them, with, than
Passage Scope Extended Readers (~105–133 Words)
1
Phonemic Awareness & Articulatory Contrast (5 min)
Prompt students to place fingers gently on larynx. Contrast Lesson 45 unvoiced /th/ (motor off, whisper, thumb ) with Lesson 46 voiced /th/ (motor on, buzzing vibration, this ). Practice saying pairs: thin / this , thud / that .
2
Visual & Auditory Drills (5 min)
Flash previously learned graphemes (sh, ch, th, ck, wh , short vowels). Teacher says /th/ (voiced buzz); students write 'th' on dry-erase boards while saying: "t-h spells /th/".
3
Blending Board & Word Chain (8 min)
Use slides or magnetic letters: th-i-s ➔ this . Chain: this ➔ that ➔ than ➔ then ➔ them . Reinforce continuous blending: sweep under each tile while keeping phonemes connected without clipping.
4
Irregular / High-Frequency Connection (4 min)
Explicitly connect voiced th to heart words the and they . Emphasize that the th digraph is fully regular (voiced buzz); only the vowel patterns require heart-part memorization.
5
Extended Connected Text Reading & Fluency (15 min)
Students engage with the 3 extended Decodable Readers (~105–115 words each) in pairs or small groups (choral read ➔ partner whisper read). Administer 1-minute timings on the expanded 133-word River Path Fluency Reader and evaluate comprehension.
Common Misconceptions & Diagnostic Cues
1. Substituting /v/ or /d/ for voiced /th/: Students may say "dis" for "this" or "dat" for "that". Prompt: "Look in your mirror. Stick your tongue gently between your teeth!"
2. De-voicing to unvoiced /th/: Students whisper "th-is" without vocal fold engagement. Prompt: "Turn on your bee buzzer! Feel your neck buzz when you start the word."
UFLI Lesson 46 Facilitation Guide • Core Routine Page 1 of 2
46
UFLI Foundations • Educator Keys
Comprehension & Assessment Keys
Teacher Reference
Use these validated keys to score the
