Trigraphs
Read and spell words containing trigraphs — three-letter graphemes representing a single sound (igh, air, ear, are)
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Teaching Table
Set out your lesson
Recognise three-letter graphemes while allowing more than one ear pronunciation.
Follow this model in an accessible mode before attempting independent work. Graph ordering is not learner mastery; revisit prerequisites if the guided task still needs full modeling.
Check readiness rather than assuming source graph order establishes attainment.
Use the stage word cards; adult-only spelling script stays hidden. Accept local/rhotic accent differences. Open Show (S), then Guided (G), then Try (T). Hide earlier work and keys before Try. Use only the supplied stage material; do not invent additional cards. Pause or split the session if needed.
Materials are ready in each step. Use them on screen or print just the current step. Put teaching examples aside before the learner tries.
What this lesson covers and its limits
These are bounded opportunities, not learner attainment. Partial and blocked source requirements remain so.
- partial: Read and spell words containing trigraphs — three-letter graphemes representing a single sound (igh, air, ear, are)
Fresh reading sample plus rehearsed dictation; phoneme analysis varies with accent.
- partial: Read words with trigraphs (e.g. 'night', 'chair', 'near')
Fresh reading sample plus rehearsed dictation; phoneme analysis varies with accent.
- partial: Distinguish between different sounds for 'ear' (e.g. 'hear' vs 'bear')
Fresh reading sample plus rehearsed dictation; phoneme analysis varies with accent.
- partial: Identify the single phoneme represented by three letters in a word
Fresh reading sample plus rehearsed dictation; phoneme analysis varies with accent.
- partial: Can {{name}} recognise three-letter combinations like 'igh' in 'night', 'air' in 'chair', and 'ear' in 'hear' — knowing that all three letters together make just one sound?
Fresh reading sample plus rehearsed dictation; phoneme analysis varies with accent.
Fresh reading sample plus rehearsed dictation; phoneme analysis varies with accent.
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Teaching approaches
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1 approach
Recognise three-letter graphemes while allowing more than one ear pronunciation.
Recognise three-letter graphemes while allowing more than one ear pronunciation.
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Check understanding
- Read words with trigraphs (e.g. 'night', 'chair', 'near')
- Distinguish between different sounds for 'ear' (e.g. 'hear' vs 'bear')
- Identify the single phoneme represented by three letters in a word
“Can your child recognise three-letter combinations like 'igh' in 'night', 'air' in 'chair', and 'ear' in 'hear' — knowing that all three letters together make just one sound?”
Curriculum record
- Type
- Procedural
- Subject
- English
- Domain
- Phonics & Word Reading
- Age range
- Ages 5–6
Standards