Kids learn th phonics in Kindergarten. Typically, kids learn short vowels first:
a_ as in apple
e_ as in elephant
i_ as in igloo
o_ as in octopus
u_ as in up
Then, kids move on to learn consonant digraphs. Reading Elephant books introduces consonant digraphs in the following order:
sh as in wish
th as in bath
th as in then
ch as in chop
_tch as in batch
_ck as in deck
_ing as in king
_ng as in long
_ang as in sang
wh_ as in when
FREE th digraph worksheets
By mid-Kindergarten, kids can read words like bath, math, then…etc. Notice how the middle vowel is short. First kids master short vowel th words like math before learning long vowel th words like wreath. For the FREE th digraph worksheets, click the following links. The first th worksheet includes the flight path of a bird. Kids can follow the path, color each word, and practice th phonics.
Next, check out our free th book called Math in the Bath.
Voiced and voiceless th
th makes 2 sounds: th as in bath and th as in then. The th as in bath is voiceless: you don’t use your voice. You simply breathe out. The th in then is voiced: you use your voice. Place your hand near your voice box. Say each sound. Notice how your throat vibrates for the voiced th sound. Do this activity with your students who struggle. That way, they can distinguish between the 2 th sounds.
th words for Kindergarten
Since Reading Elephant uses systematic phonics instruction, there are only so many words I advocate using in those first th lessons. For example, kids have not learned ir yet, so don’t use words like third in your lesson. There are many words that are off limits for early th lessons. To get started, here is a list of th words that only contain short vowels: bath, path, math, hath, Seth, Beth, moth, thick, thin. Here are some voiced th words that only contain short vowels: that, then, them, this.
I hope your student enjoys the th digraph worksheets!
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