Front Runners Slides Sound Fusion Phonics • Lesson 1
CCVC Word Mastery
Beginning Consonant Blends
Front Runners
Two distinct consonant sounds slide together at the start of a word. You hear both sounds!
L
L-Blends
bl, cl, fl, gl, pl, sl
R
R-Blends
br, cr, dr, fr, gr, tr
S
S-Blends
sc, sk, sm, sn, sp, st
Core Concept
Slide 2 of 5
What Makes a Blend Special?
Blends keep each sound separate, unlike consonant digraphs!
Consonant Blend 2 Sounds
/b/ + /l/ = /bl/
Each letter keeps its own sound, but they slide smoothly together without a pause.
Example: bl ock • cl ap • st op
Consonant Digraph 1 Brand New Sound
/s/ + /h/ = /sh/
Two letters lock arms to make one entirely new sound . Not a blend!
Example: sh ip • ch ip • th umb
Key Rule: In a blend, you can always separate and hear every individual letter sound.
Blend Families
Slide 3 of 5
Meet the 3 Starting Blend Teams
Notice how the second consonant shapes the slide sound!
L
Liquid L-Blends
Tongue taps the roof of your mouth for the slide.
bl
black
cl
clip
fl
flag
gl
glad
Also: pl, sl
R
Rolling R-Blends
Keep your mouth round and pull your tongue back.
br
brick
cr
crab
dr
drop
gr
grip
Also: fr, pr, tr
S
Hissing S-Blends
Start with a crisp hiss sound, then release.
sp
spot
st
step
sn
snug
sw
swim
Also: sc, sk, sm
💡 Pro Tip: Tap your arm once for each sound! (Tap 1: /f/, Tap 2: /l/, Tap 3: /a/, Tap 4: /g/)
Sound Mapping Practice
Slide 4 of 5
Tap the Sounds • Slide the Word!
Notice that 1 word has 4 separate phonemes (CCVC pattern).
f /f/
l /l/
a /ă/
g /g/
➔ 4 Sounds
flag
t /t/
r /r/
i /ĭ/
p /p/
➔ 4 Sounds
trip
s /s/
p /p/
o /ŏ/
t /t/
➔ 4 Sounds
spot
Say each phoneme separately, then slide your finger left to right: /f/ /l/ /a/ /g/ ➔ flag!
Sound Detective Challenge
Slide 5 of 5
Which Beginning Blend Belongs?
Listen to the word, identify the starting consonant blend, and read!
1
"A juicy purple fruit"
__um
dr pl sl
2
"An animal that hops"
__og
fr cl tr
3
"Red light means..."
__op
st bl gr
Ready to become a Blend Builder? Answers: 1. pl (plum) • 2. fr (frog) • 3. st (stop)
Front Runners Practice Worksheet B
Front Runners Practice
Lesson 1: Beginning Consonant Blends
Name:
Date:
A consonant blend has 2 letters that slide together, but you can hear both sounds .
/b/ + /l/ = /bl/
1
Sound Slide Warm-Up
— Say each sound, then write the blended pair on the line.
/c/ + /l/
=
/g/ + /r/
=
/s/ + /n/
=
/t/ + /r/
=
2
Blend Detective
— Choose the correct beginning blend from the word bank to complete each word.
bl cr fl dr sp st
1. Beach crustacean
a b
Clue: /k/ /r/ /a/ /b/
2. Color of the night sky
a c k
Clue: /b/ /l/ /a/ /k/
3. Tiny speck or dot
o t
Clue: /s/ /p/ /o/ /t/
4. Fabric waving on a pole
a g
Clue: /f/ /l/ /a/ /g/
5. Single bead of rain
o p
Clue: /d/ /r/ /o/ /p/
6. Come to a halt
o p
Clue: /s/ /t/ /o/ /p/
3
Elkonin Sound Box Mapping
— Say the word. Write one letter per box. Each sound gets its own box!
Target: "clap"
4 distinct sounds
Target: "grim"
4 distinct sounds
Target: "swim"
4 distinct sounds
Target: "plan"
4 distinct sounds
Blend Masters Phonics Series Page 1 of 2
Beginning Blend Sorting & Sentences
Lesson 1: Deepening CCVC Application
Continue Student Work
4
Blend Family Sorting Bank
Read each word aloud in the box below. Write each word in its correct blend team column.
sled trap glad spin brag clip frog stem snug
L-Blends (bl, cl, fl, gl, sl)
R-Blends (br, cr, dr, fr, tr)
S-Blends (sc, sk, sm, sn, sp, st)
5
Read, Detect, & Write
Read each decodable sentence. Circle the word with a beginning blend, then write that word on the line.
The green frog will hop on the log.
Blend Word:
Finish Line Slides Sound Fusion Phonics • Lesson 2
CVCC Word Mastery
Final Consonant Blends
Finish Line Blends
Two consonants team up at the very end of a word. Stretch all the way to the finish line!
N
Nasal Blends
-mp, -nd, -nt
S
Stop & Hiss
-st, -sk, -sp
L
Lift & Float
-lt, -lk, -ft
Common Trap
Slide 2 of 5
Beware of the "Swallowed Sound"!
Ending blends are quiet. If you don't listen closely, you might miss a sound!
Missing a Sound 3 Sounds
c - a - p
If you leave out the /m/, you just get "cap"!
Don't lose the nasal /m/!
All 4 Sounds Included! 4 Sounds
c - a - m - p
Now you have the full word: camp !
Both /m/ and /p/ cross the finish line!
⚡ Rule: Stretch the ending sound like a rubber band so you don't drop any consonant.
Blend Squads
Slide 3 of 5
Top 3 Ending Blend Squads
Notice what letter sound comes right before the final consonant.
1
Nose Vibrators
Air vibrates through your nose on M and N.
-mp jump , lamp
-nd sand , pond
-nt tent , hunt
2
Hiss & Tap
S hiss followed by a sharp stop or puff.
-st fast , nest
-sk mask , desk
-sp clasp , gasp
3
Lift & Friction
Tongue lifts or teeth bite lower lip.
-lt melt , belt
-lk milk , silk
-ft gift , lift
Point to each letter and check: Did I say both ending sounds?
Sound Mapping
Slide 4 of 5
CVCC: Map Every Sound to a Box!
1 initial consonant, 1 vowel, and 2 final consonants = 4 boxes!
l /l/
a /ă/
Finish Line Practice Worksheet F
Finish Line Practice
Lesson 2: Ending Consonant Blends
Name:
Date:
Stretch through the word! Don't swallow the sound right before the end: /m/ + /p/ = -mp
CVCC Pattern
1
Don't Drop the Sound!
— Compare the words. Write the missing letters to make the blend word.
3 sounds: c a p
4 sounds: c a (camp)
3 sounds: f a t
4 sounds: f a (fast)
3 sounds: w e t
4 sounds: w e (went)
3 sounds: r i d
4 sounds: r i (ring/rest)
2
Finish Line Mystery
— Pick an ending blend from the bank to complete each word.
-mp -nd -nt -st -sk -ft
1. Shine light at a desk
l a
Clue: /l/ /a/ /m/ /p/
2. Beach tiny grains
s a
Clue: /s/ /a/ /n/ /d/
3. Sleeping in woods shelter
t e
Clue: /t/ /e/ /n/ /t/
4. Very speedy runner
f a
Clue: /f/ /a/ /s/ /t/
5. Classroom study table
d e
Clue: /d/ /e/ /s/ /k/
6. Wrapped birthday surprise
g i
Clue: /g/ /i/ /f/ /t/
3
Elkonin Sound Box Mapping (CVCC)
— Segment into 4 boxes. Notice the 2 ending blend boxes at the finish line!
Target: "jump"
4 distinct sounds
Target: "nest"
4 distinct sounds
Target: "belt"
4 distinct sounds
Target: "pond"
4 distinct sounds
Blend Masters Phonics Series Page 1 of 2
Ending Blend Sorting & Reading
Lesson 2: Strengthening CVCC Mastery
Continue Student Work
4
Ending Blend Sorting Hub
Read each word aloud in the box below. Write each word into its matching finish-line category.
band best lift hunt task melt bump fist raft
Nasal Ending (-mp, -nd, -nt)
S Finish (-st, -sk)
Liquid/Friction (-ft, -lt)
5
Read & Underline Ending Blends
Read each sentence. Underline the word ending with a blend, then write it in the box.
Blend Showdown Slides Sound Fusion Phonics • Lesson 3
CCVC • CVCC • CCVCC Mastery
Beginning vs. Ending Blends
Blend Showdown
Compare blends at the front, blends at the back, and conquer the mighty words that have both!
FRONT
Beginning Blends
stop, frog
BACK
Ending Blends
fast, jump
BOTH
Double Blends!
blast, plant
Word Architecture
Slide 2 of 5
Same Consonants, Different Positions!
Look at how /s/ and /t/ can anchor the start OR the finish of a word.
Front Runner (CCVC) Start of Word
st - e - p
Word: step
Blend leads the way into the short vowel!
More: stop, slip, grab, trip
Finish Line (CVCC) End of Word
p - e - st
Word: pest
Short vowel launches into the final blend!
More: fast, nest, rust, dust
💡 Notice: The vowel sits safely between consonants, serving as the bridge of the word.
Advanced Decoding
Slide 3 of 5
The CCVCC Powerhouse: 5 Sounds!
These words have a blend at the start AND a blend at the finish.
p /p/
l /l/
a /ă/
n /n/
t /t/
➔ 5 Sounds!
plant
f /f/
r /r/
o /ŏ/
s /s/
t /t/
➔ 5 Sounds!
frost
Tap your 5 fingers in order: 1-2 (blend), 3 (vowel), 4-5 (blend)!
Rapid Sort
Slide 4 of 5
Where Is the Blend?
Classify each word: Front Blend, Back Blend, or Both Blends?
crisp
Both: cr- and -sp
swim
Front: sw-
hand
Back: -nd
stand
Both: st- and -nd
drum
Front: dr-
belt
Back: -lt
Great readers scan the whole word before sounding it out!
Sound Fusion Master Challenge
Slide 5 of 5
Read the Super Challenge Sentence!
Can you spot all 4 blend words in this decodable sentence?
"The frog will jump on the crisp green plant."
Blend Showdown Challenge Worksheet S
Blend Showdown Challenge
Lesson 3: Comparing Front, Back & Double Blends
Name:
Date:
Look closely at the word structure: Front Blend (CCVC), Back Blend (CVCC), or Both (CCVCC)!
5-Phoneme Mapping
1
Position Sleuth
— Write F (Front blend), B (Back blend), or 2 (Both blends) for each word.
swim
jump
plant
frog
desk
frost
2
5-Sound Powerhouse Mapping (CCVCC)
— Say the word, tap 5 sounds, and write 1 letter in each sound box.
Target: "plant"
5 distinct sounds
Target: "crisp"
5 distinct sounds
Target: "stand"
5 distinct sounds
Target: "blast"
5 distinct sounds
3
Grand 3-Way Blend Sorter
Read each word from the bank. Place each word into the column matching its blend position.
brag clasp milk drift stop hand crust flag tent
Start Blend Only (CCVC)
End Blend Only (CVCC)
Both Blends (CCVCC)
Blend Masters Phonics Series Page 1 of 2
Passage Decoding & Comprehension
Lesson 3: Connected Text Fluency
Continue Student Work
4
Decodable Story: The Grand Camp Trip
Read the passage two times for fluency. Underline all words with blends!
Stan and Fran set up a big green tent on the sand. They had to clasp the flap to stop the cold blast of wind.
A quick green frog did jump past a wet plant. Stan did gasp when he saw a crust of bread drop near the pond.
"Let's stand fast," said Fran with a grin. They sat by the camp fire until the sun sank.
5
Story Blend Detective Questions
Answer the questions using evidence and blend words from the story above.
Where did Stan and Fran set up their tent?
Answer: On the
Find one word from the story that has both a front and back blend (CCVCC):
CCVCC Word:
What animal did jump past the wet plant?
Animal: A green
6
Blend Mastery Assessment Guide A
Blend Masters Assessment
Cumulative Evaluation • Beginning & Ending Blends
Name:
Date:
Score: / 25
A
Phoneme Dictation
— Listen as your teacher says each word. Write 1 letter per sound box.
8 pts (2 per item)
1. Teacher Word:
2. Teacher Word:
3. Teacher Word:
4. Teacher Word:
B
Blend Identification
— Fill in the bubble next to the correct answer.
4 pts (1 per item)
1. Which word starts with an L-blend?
A. drum
B. clam
C. spot
2. Which word ends with a nasal blend?
A. gift
B. desk
C. lamp
3. Which word contains BOTH blends?
A. stand
B. slip
C. nest
4. How many sounds are in the word "crisp"?
A. 3 sounds
B. 4 sounds
C. 5 sounds
C
Blend Location Sort
— Check the column that shows where the blend is located.
5 pts (1 per row)
Word Beginning Blend Only Ending Blend Only Both Blends! 1. trap 2. lift 3. blast 4. pond 5. frost
D
Oral Reading Fluency Check
— Read each word aloud clearly to your teacher.
8 pts (1 per word)
1. spin
2. belt
3. clamp
4. grab
5. hunt
6. crisp
7. flag
8. stand
Blend Masters Phonics Assessment Series Page 1 of 2 (Student Work)
Teacher Diagnostic Scoring & Intervention Matrix
Scoring Rubric • Error Analysis • Targeted Support
Teacher Reference Only
1. Answer Key & Scoring Guide
Dictation Words (Section A):
1. frog: f - r - o - g (CCVC)
2. jump: j - u - m - p (CVCC)
