Consonant and Consonant Digraphs Sound Mat Worksheet for Early Readers

How to use this worksheet

Go through the single consonant sounds on the mat first, saying each one aloud with your child and pointing to its picture. Move on to the digraph section, explaining that two letters shown together make just one sound, like 'sh' in 'ship,' and practice saying each digraph sound clearly. Use the mat as a reference while reading simple books together, pointing to it whenever your child encounters a digraph they're unsure of. Practice blending a digraph with a simple word, like turning 'sh' plus 'op' into 'shop,' to show how the mat's sounds combine into real words.

Materials needed

• Pencil
• Crayons

Extension activities

• •Create flashcards for each digraph on the mat and quiz your child on the sound each one makes.
• •Go on a digraph scavenger hunt, finding objects around the house whose names start with 'sh,' 'ch,' or 'th.'
• •Write a short list of digraph words together, like 'chip,' 'shop,' and 'thin,' and practice reading them aloud.
• •Play a sorting game where your child groups word cards by which digraph they start with.
• •Read a simple decodable book that features lots of digraph words and pause to highlight them as you go.

Tips for parents and teachers

Digraphs are often confused with two separate consonant sounds blended together, like 'sp' or 'st,' so clarify that digraphs make one brand-new sound rather than two - 'sh' doesn't sound like 's' plus 'h.' Expect your child to need repeated practice distinguishing similar digraphs, like 'ch' and 'sh,' since these sounds are close and commonly mixed up at this age. Use the mat actively during real reading rather than only as a standalone drill, since applying the sounds in context is what makes them stick.