Stretch-and-Slide Blending

Hold each sound and slide it into the next so the word stays smooth.

Some readers say each sound separately and then lose the word. A smoother way is to stretch and slide. You hold one sound and slide right into the next without stopping, like a snake. Try 'fan'.

Say /fff/ and, without a break, slide into /aaa/ and then /nnn/: fffaaannn. Now squish it: fan. Sounds like /f/, /s/, /m/, /n/, and /l/ are easy to stretch.

Quick sounds like /t/, /p/, and /k/ cannot be held, so say them fast and attach them to the vowel, like 'ta' in 'tap'.

• 1Hold each sound and slide into the next.
• 2Don't stop between sounds.
• 3Quick sounds like /t/ attach to the vowel.