Year 1 — Reading

Phonics & decoding

Blend sounds together to read words, and learn some tricky words that don't sound the way they look.

💡Understand

Every word is made of sounds. When we read, we look at the letters, say each sound, then blend them together to make the whole word. Some words are tricky — they don't sound exactly how they look — so we just have to remember them.

“c-a-t → cat”

We say each sound on its own: 'c', 'a', 't'. Then we blend them together, faster and faster, until they turn into the word 'cat'.

🔍Spot it

Sound out each word. Which word is it?

Question 1

d-o-g

💡 d-o-g blends together to make 'dog'.

Question 2

s-i-t

💡 s-i-t blends together to make 'sit'.

Question 3

the

💡 'The' is a tricky word — it doesn't sound out the normal way, so we just remember it.

🧠Think about it

Why do we call some words 'tricky words'?

✍️Try it

Sound out the word, then choose the answer.

r-u-n

Question 1

What word is r-u-n?

💡 Say each sound, then blend them: 'r'... 'u'... 'n'.

📝Practise

Sound out each word and choose the right answer.

Question 1

m-a-p

Question 2

h-o-p

Question 3

b-i-g

Question 4

Type the tricky word: it means 'to move somewhere very fast on foot' — s-a-i-d is wrong, this word is spelled the tricky way. Hint: it's the past of 'say'.

💡 This word doesn't sound out the normal way — it's a tricky word to remember.

Question 5

p-i-n

Question 6

f-o-x

🎯Apply

Read the passage, then answer the questions below.

The cat sat on the mat. It had a big nap.

Question 1

Where did the cat sit?

💡 Look at the second word after 'sat on'.

Question 2

What did the cat have?

Question 3

Find the tricky word in the sentence that means 'that thing' (three letters).

💡 It appears at the start of both sentences.

🏆Challenge

Can you think of your own word that rhymes with 'cat'? Sound it out in your head first!

🔄Review

A quick mastery check — 3 questions.

Question 1

d-i-g

Question 2

What is a 'tricky word'?

Question 3

j-a-m