Blending card maker

A dot for each sound and an arrow to slide

Print blending cards for children who know their letter sounds and are learning to push them together. Each card shows one word with a dot under every sound and an arrow underneath. Touch each dot, say each sound, then slide a finger along the arrow and read the word.

Pick a design

Now: . Hundreds of designs to choose from.

Choose each part yourself

To keep a copy, choose “Save as PDF” as the printer. What you type stays on your device: it is not sent to us and not saved.

Your worksheet:

How to make your worksheet

  1. Pick a ready word set, or type your own words.
  2. Choose dots and an arrow, or the word growing one sound on each line.
  3. Choose 4, 6 or 8 cards on a page.
  4. Print and cut on the dashed lines.

The reading skill

Blending is saying the sounds of a word in order and pushing them together. The dots slow a child down to one sound at a time. The arrow is the push.

When a word grows

The second kind of card shows a word in steps: m, then ma, then mat. It helps a child who can say the sounds but loses the first one by the end.

Letter teams count as one sound

sh, ch, th, ck, ll and ng get one dot, because they make one sound.

Good questions

Which words should I start with?

Start with two-letter words and short a words. Words that begin with s, m, f or n are easiest, because the first sound can be held.

Can I use my own words?

Yes. Choose “Type your own words” at the top of the word list and type them. What you type stays on your device.

How do I make the cards last?

Print on thick paper, or laminate the page before you cut. Keep each set in a small bag or an envelope.

Is it free?

Yes, with no sign-up and no limit.

Make another kind of sheet

More than worksheets

Does this sound like your child?

“Knows the sounds, but cannot put them together into a word”

From Sounds to Words is a full 10-day plan, with a short video that shows you every step. The goal: on day 10 your child reads words they have never seen before. It is the goal, not a promise.

  • 21 printable pages, one short day at a time
  • 11 short videos that show you each day before you do it
  • 6 sound tracks your child works with, while you stay nearby
  • A check on day 1 and day 10, and a report
  • About five minutes a day from you
  • $19, one payment. 30-day money back.

See the 10-day plan →Or do the free 3-minute check first