Lesson 11: Nn /n/

Help Your Child Learn to Say, Write, and Read with the Letter Nn!

What Will We Learn Today?

Today we’re learning about the letter Nn, which spells the sound /n/—as in net. It’s a consonant sound that shows up in many early reading words. In this lesson, your child will learn how to say the /n/ sound, write uppercase and lowercase Nn, and blend and read decodable words and sentences.

How to Make the /n/ Sound

The letter Nn spells the sound /n/, as in net, nap, and Nan.

Here’s how to teach your child to say /n/:

• Place the tip of your tongue behind your top front teeth.

• Keep your mouth slightly open.

• Let air flow through your nose while your mouth stays in position.

• Turn your voice on—/n/ is a voiced, continuous sound.

Say: /nnnnn/. You can hold it as long as your breath lasts.

Articulate
Model the sound and ask your child to hum it with you: /nnnnn/. Ask: “Can you feel the sound in your nose?”

How to Write the Letter Nn

Time to grab your whiteboard and marker!

Uppercase N

• Draw a straight line down.

• From the top, draw a slanted line down to the right.

• Then draw a straight line up from the bottom to complete the letter.

Lowercase n

• Draw a straight line down.

• Then, starting at the top, curve to the right and down, forming a small hump.

Try tracing it in the air, with a finger, or using chalk to make it fun and multisensory.

A Note on Nasalized /æ/

When the vowel /æ/ (as in cat) is followed by a nasal consonant like /n/ or /m/, the sound might feel a bit different. For example, in words like man, pan, or Sam, the mouth prepares for the nasal sound, and some air flows through the nose.

That’s normal—and it’s a great observation for growing readers and listeners. Just let your child know that sounds can shift a little depending on what comes next.

Let’s Practice Reading Words

Practice sounding out and blending short words with the /n/ sound.

Reading Words:

• in

• an

• nap

• pin

• tin

• fan

• fin

• nip

• tan

Say each sound slowly:
“/n/ – /æ/ – /p/” → nap

Then blend and say it fast: nap

Let’s Practice Reading Phrases

Practice short phrases that include words with the /n/ sound:

• the man

• in the tin

• Nan and I

• in the pit

Encourage your child to point to each word and blend them aloud.

Let’s Practice Reading Connected Sentences

These short, connected sentences help children build fluency with known letter sounds and sight words:

• Pat and Nat sit at the tan mat.

• Pat and Nat fit.

• Pat and Nat tap the mat.

• Pat and Nat nap at the mat.

Ask:

“Can you find the words with /n/? Can you read this sentence on your own?”

Let’s Practice Reading Sentences

• I nap at the mat.

• The pin and the fin fit.

• Tin and Nan sat in the pit.

• The man sat at the mat.

Color, Trace, and Write

Use worksheets where your child can:

• Color pictures that begin with /n/

• Trace uppercase and lowercase Nn

• Practice writing the letter Nn on their own

[Download the Nn Worksheet Here]

Flashcards – Beginning Sound Focus

Use flashcards that show pictures of words starting with the /n/ sound. This helps reinforce the connection between the sound and the letter Nn.

Examples:

• net

• nut

• nose

• nest

Ask:

“What sound does this word start with?”
“Can you find the letter N that matches that sound?”

[Download Nn Flashcards – Beginning Sound Set Here]

Conclusion

The letter Nn introduces children to a nasal, humming sound they’ll hear in many early words. Through blending, writing, and sentence practice, children will develop fluency and confidence in both reading and listening.

Keep it light and consistent. What’s your child’s favorite word that starts with /n/? Share it in the comments!