- Definition
Blending is when your child puts individual sounds together to make a whole word, like saying "c-a-t" and then putting it together to say "cat.
Blending the sounds /sh/ /i/ /p/ makes the word 'ship'.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Blending sounds is like connecting train cars one by one to make a whole train.
Ask your child: What word do these sounds make: /c/ /a/ /t/?
Common mix-up: Kids might just echo the separate sounds back to you. The goal is to connect those sounds smoothly into one word.
Examples
- Hearing the sounds /d/ /o/ /g/ and saying the word 'dog'.
- Combining the sounds /f/ /r/ /o/ /g/ to make the word 'frog'.
- Pushing together /ch/ /i/ /p/ to say 'chip'.
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 ↗
