🔤 Sounds and Spelling

What your child will learn

• Students will be able to identify the sound made by the digraphs sh, ch, th, wh, and ck in words.
• Students will be able to read words with digraphs (sh, ch, th, wh, ck) and magic e (long vowel) patterns.
• Students will be able to spell words with digraphs and magic e patterns correctly.
• Students will be able to distinguish between short and long vowel sounds in words with and without magic e.
• Students will be able to spell common Grade 2 words correctly in writing.

Lessons in this unit

1. Digraphs sh and ch: Introduce the sounds /sh/ and /ch/ and read and spell words with these digraphs.
2. Digraphs th and wh: Introduce the sounds /th/ and /wh/ and read and spell words with these digraphs.
3. Digraph ck: Introduce the /k/ sound made by 'ck' at the end of words and read and spell words with 'ck'.
4. Magic e (long vowels): Understand how a silent 'e' at the end of a word makes the vowel say its name (long vowel) and read and spell words with magic e.
5. Spelling common Grade 2 words: Practise spelling high-frequency words that do not follow simple phonics rules, using memory strategies.

Key words

digraph

Two letters that make one sound, like 'sh' in ship.

magic e

A silent e at the end that makes the vowel say its name, like in 'cape'.

long vowel

A vowel that says its name, like 'a' in 'cake'.

short vowel

A vowel that says its sound, like 'a' in 'cat'.

silent letter

A letter you see but do not say, like the 'e' in 'kite'.

Help your child at home

What to watch for

The letters 's' and 'h' are said separately as /s/ /h/.

Help: When s and h are together, they make one new sound: /sh/.

The 'th' sound is said as /t/ or /d/.

Help: Put your tongue between your teeth and blow air out to make /th/.

The 'ck' is said as /k/ /k/ (two sounds).

Help: Together, 'ck' makes one sound: /k/. It is like a single letter.

The 'e' at the end is said aloud.

Help: The 'e' is silent. It does not make a sound. It only helps the vowel say its name.

Try this at home

• Sort pictures by beginning sound (sh or ch)
• Sort pictures by beginning sound (th or wh)
• Sort pictures by ending sound (ck or not)
• Change a short vowel word to a long vowel word by adding e

Quick questions to ask aloud

1. True or false: The word 'lunch' has the /ch/ sound at the end.
   Show answer

   True. Lunch ends with the /ch/ sound. Listen: lun-ch.
2. True or false: The word 'bath' has the /sh/ sound at the end.
   Show answer

   False. Bath ends with the /th/ sound, not /sh/. Listen: ba-th.
3. True or false: The word 'neck' has the /k/ sound at the end.
   Show answer

   True. Neck ends with the /k/ sound. Listen: ne-ck.

Parent guide: how to help your child with Class 2 English

Frequently asked questions

What will my child learn in "Sounds and Spelling" (Class 2 English)?

Your child will be able to: identify the sound made by the digraphs sh, ch, th, wh, and ck in words.; read words with digraphs (sh, ch, th, wh, ck) and magic e (long vowel) patterns.; spell words with digraphs and magic e patterns correctly.; distinguish between short and long vowel sounds in words with and without magic e.; spell common Grade 2 words correctly in writing..

How does MangoMindz teach "Sounds and Spelling"?

In 5 short parts (Digraphs sh and ch, Digraphs th and wh, Digraph ck, Magic e (long vowels), Spelling common Grade 2 words). Each part has a picture-based lesson read aloud by Mango Teacher, a quick check, and a quiz built from common mistakes children make, with Mango, a study buddy, for questions.

How long does "Sounds and Spelling" take?

About 120 minutes in total, spread over 5 parts of 15–25 minutes each.

How can I help my child with "Sounds and Spelling" at home?

Work through a small example together, such as: Sort pictures by beginning sound (sh or ch); Sort pictures by beginning sound (th or wh). Then ask a quick question aloud: True or false: The word 'lunch' has the /ch/ sound at the end.

What mistakes do children often make in "Sounds and Spelling"?

The letters 's' and 'h' are said separately as /s/ /h/. Fix: When s and h are together, they make one new sound: /sh/. The 'th' sound is said as /t/ or /d/. Fix: Put your tongue between your teeth and blow air out to make /th/. The 'ck' is said as /k/ /k/ (two sounds). Fix: Together, 'ck' makes one sound: /k/. It is like a single letter.

Is "Sounds and Spelling" free on MangoMindz?

Yes. Every lesson part and quiz in "Sounds and Spelling" is free on MangoMindz, with no ads.