Trigraphs

EnglishPhonics & Word ReadingAges 5–6

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.

Activity

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.

Policy

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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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

uk-nc-2013:Eng_App1_Y1_41uk-nc-2013:Eng_App1_Y1_46uk-nc-2013:Eng_App1_Y1_47uk-nc-2013:Eng_App1_Y1_48uk-nc-2013:Eng_App1_Y1_49