Counting Sounds, Not Letters

Letters and sounds are not always the same number. When two letters make one sound, the word has fewer sounds than letters. Let's compare. 'Cat' has three letters and three sounds. 'Chat' has four letters but only three sounds: /ch/ /a/ /t/.

'Thick' has five letters but just three sounds: /th/ /i/ /k/. To count sounds, don't look at the word. Close your eyes, say it slowly, and tap each sound you hear. Then match each sound to its letter or letter team.

• 1A word can have more letters than sounds.
• 2Letter teams like sh and ck make one sound.
• 3Count sounds by listening, not by looking.