Tap the Sounds
Say the word slowly. Tap a dot for each sound. Write how many sounds you hear.
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This is sheet #37724601.
How to do it
- Say the picture's name slowly.
- Tap a dot for each sound.
- Write how many sounds you hear.
Teaching tip
Ship has four letters but only three sounds. That surprise is the whole point, so talk about it.
About this worksheet
Short words split into sounds, with a dot to tap for each one. Some words have two letters that make one sound.
What kids practice
These sheets practice the skills that are hardest for kids who struggle to read: hearing each sound in a word, connecting sounds to letters, telling look-alike letters apart, and reading smoothly in phrases. They follow the same ideas as structured literacy programs. They help any beginning reader. They are not a test and not a diagnosis. If reading is a struggle, ask your child's school or doctor about an evaluation. Only a qualified professional can diagnose dyslexia.
Watch for
- Guessing from the first letter or the picture. Point to each letter and blend the whole word.
- Special dyslexia fonts and colored overlays. Research hasn't found that they help most children read better, so time is better spent on sound and letter practice.
- Waiting to see if it gets better on its own. Early help works best, so ask the school if reading is still hard by the middle of first grade.
- Rushing for speed. Accurate first, then smooth, then quicker.
It's free to print, with an answer key. See the full reading helpers (dyslexia-friendly) guide for 1st grade.
More sheets in this set
2. b or d?The bed trick for b and d, then ten pictures that start with b or d.
3. Reading Guide StripsThree cut-out strips that help keep your place on a page, plus tips for grown-ups.
4. Letter Hunt b d p qRows of b, d, p and q to scan for one target letter.
5. Clap the SyllablesPictures with one to four syllables, with circles to color for each clap.
6. Word LaddersTwo ladders of short-vowel words. Each step changes just one letter.
7. Letter Sound Speed GridA grid of five letters mixed up in rows, to read three times for smooth letter-sound practice.
8. Scooping PhrasesSentences with scoops under each phrase, then sentences for your child to scoop.