Today we will combine two sets of four because they are all single sound phonograms. By now, you’re getting into the rhythm of how each phonogram works, the sounds they make, and the spelling rules that govern them. As always, I hope you enjoy learning about them as much as I enjoy sharing the details.
Phonogram j
Phonogram j has one distinct sound:
- The sound of j is as in jam. It’s a straightforward sound with no variations, which makes it a bit easier to teach. As always, avoid adding the extra “uh” sound when pronouncing j.
Phonogram k
Phonogram k also has one distinct sound:
- The sound of k is as in kite. Like j, it’s a single, clear sound with no variations.
Phonogram l
Phonogram l has one distinct sound:
- The sound of l is as in lamp. This is another simple sound, and as with other consonants, be sure to avoid adding that trailing “uh” sound.
I’ve found that it is helpful to have students make the sound by saying a word that starts with l, but then don’t say any of the word after the l. For instance, say long, but don’t say the ong part. It really helps to isolate the sound.
There is a spelling rule related to l: We often double l, f, and s after a single vowel. And I just realized I forgot this spelling rule in the posts for f and s! Sorry about that.
Phonogram m
Phonogram m has one distinct sound:
- The sound of m is as in man.
Again, it’s a clear, unchanging sound, and it’s relatively easy to teach because there are no exceptions or rules that change the sound of m.
Phonogram n
Phonogram n has one distinct sound:
- The sound of n is as in net.
Like m, it’s a stable sound without any variations, and it’s often easy for students to recognize.
Phonogram p
Phonogram p has one distinct sound:
- The sound of p is as in pig.
With p, be careful to pronounce it softly, without puffing too much air after the sound. Students often overemphasize the p sound with an explosive “puh,” so remind them to keep it gentle. There are no sound variations for p, so it’s another phonogram that’s easier to work with.
Phonogram r
Phonogram r has one distinct sound:
- The sound of r is as in red.
This is one of those phonograms that can be challenging for some children, especially those with speech sound issues. Just like l, I recommend that you have them say a word that starts with r but then don’t say the part after r.
If students are not careful they make the er sound. There are five phonograms that make that sound. They are coming up right after the alphabet phonograms.
Phonogram t
Phonogram t has one distinct sound:
- The sound of t is as in top.
Like p, t can sometimes be overemphasized by learners, with an added puff of air turning it into a “tuh” sound. Encourage a crisp, clear pronunciation. There are no variations to the t sound, making it another reliable phonogram.
Wrapping Up
That’s eight more phonograms down! As you can see, this set is made up entirely of single-sound phonograms, which makes them relatively straightforward to teach. However, keeping those sounds crisp and clear is key to building strong pronunciation habits early on. Next time, we’ll continue through the alphabet with more phonograms and dive into even more spelling rules.
