Lesson 41: Digraph sh /ʃ/

Help Your Child Learn to Say, Spell, and Read the Digraph “sh”!

What Will We Learn Today?

Today we’re learning the consonant digraph sh, which spells the sound /ʃ/—as in ship or fish. In this lesson, your child will learn how to say the /ʃ/ sound, understand how sh works as a digraph, and practice reading words, phrases, and sentences using this quiet, unvoiced sound.

What Is the Sound of sh?

The digraph sh spells the sound /ʃ/—a soft, continuous sound like a whisper.

Here’s how to help your child say it:

• Purse your lips slightly.

• Raise your tongue close to the top of your mouth (but don’t touch it).

• Let the air flow out slowly and gently.

• Keep your voice off.

• Stretch the sound out: /ʃʃʃʃʃ/

What Is a Digraph?

A digraph is when two letters work together to make one sound.

The digraph sh is made of s and h, and it spells the /ʃ/ sound at the beginning or end of words.

Examples:

• ship = /ʃ/ /ɪ/ /p/

• fish = /f/ /ɪ/ /ʃ/

We do not use sh in the middle of words.

Let’s Practice Reading Words

Blend and read these words with the sh digraph:

bash – hush – dish – mash – shed – shack – blush – cash – mesh – fish – rush – shin – shock – crush – dash – gush – wish – lush – ship – shelf – trash

Model:
“/ʃ/ – /ɪ/ – /p/” → ship
“/f/ – /ɪ/ – /ʃ/” → fish

Let’s Practice Reading Phrases

• the fish dish

• a big rash

• rush and dash

• a red flash

• the wet brush

• stash the cash

Have your child point to each word, sound it out, and reread smoothly.

Let’s Practice Reading Sentences

• The fish is in the dish.

• The brush is in the shed.

• I shut the shop.

• Shan and Ash rush to the shack.

• The cash is in the mesh.

Ask:

• Which words begin or end with sh?

• Can you stretch out the /ʃ/ sound?

Let’s Practice Reading Connected Sentences

You can combine the phrases and sentences above into a mini story or ask your child to make up their own sh-story using words like ship, fish, brush, and crash.

Encourage dramatization: whisper the /ʃ/ sound and act it out for fun!

Color, Trace, and Write

Use printable worksheets where your child can:

• Color pictures of sh words (e.g., ship, fish, brush)

• Trace and write the digraph sh

• Sort pictures by where the /ʃ/ sound appears (beginning or end)

[Download the sh Worksheet Here]

Flashcards – Beginning and Ending Sound Focus

Use flashcards to practice hearing and identifying the /ʃ/ sound.

Examples:

• ship

• shop

• fish

• rash

Ask:

• “Where do you hear /ʃ/ in this word?”

• “What letters spell that sound?”

[Download sh Flashcards – Beginning and Ending Sound Set Here]

Conclusion

The digraph sh helps us spell many soft, whispery words in English. With clear articulation, blending practice, and hands-on reading, your child will be able to spot and spell sh words with confidence.

Ask your child:
“Can you say a shhh word and whisper it like a secret?”