- Definition
Blending is when you smoothly mix two or more colors together, like when you make a sunset picture and the red slowly turns into orange without a harsh line.
Blending the sounds 's,' 'u,' and 'n' together makes the word 'sun.'
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Blending sounds is like sliding down a slide — you start at the top with the first sound and say them all smoothly until you reach the end of the word.
Ask your child: Say the sounds in 'm-a-p' fast. What word do you hear?
Common mix-up: Kids may say sounds with choppy pauses, like 'c...a...t.' Blending is about connecting sounds smoothly, without any space between them.
Examples
- Connecting the sounds 'sh' and 'ip' makes the word 'ship.'
- Blending the sounds 'f,' 'r,' 'o,' and 'g' makes the word 'frog.'
blending is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
