Ending digraphs can be surprisingly tricky for early readers. While students may recognize beginning digraphs like sh or ch, hearing and spelling those same sounds at the end of words requires a deeper level of phonemic awareness and phonics understanding.
That’s why explicit instruction paired with meaningful, repeated practice is essential. In this post, I’ll walk through how to teach ending digraphs effectively using word sorts, games, and hands-on activities that build confidence in both reading and spelling.
Why Ending Digraphs Need Explicit Instruction
An ending digraph represents two letters that work together to make one sound at the end of a word. Examples include:
- ck as in duck
- sh as in fish
- ch as in bench
- th as in bath
- ng as in ring
- mb as in lamb
Many students struggle because they either:
- Separate the two letters into individual sounds
- Add extra sounds
- Or confuse patterns like ck vs k
Clear modeling, guided blending, and repeated exposure to ending digraph words help students internalize that these letters represent one combined sound.
If students are still developing decoding skills, you may also want to revisit my post on Decoding Strategies that Build Stronger Readers AND Spellers, which explains how sound mapping supports both reading and encoding.
Start with Word Sorts to Build Awareness
Word sorts are one of the most effective digraph activities for helping students notice patterns. Sorting forces students to slow down and analyze the ending of each word.
With ending digraph worksheets and word sorts, students can:
- Compare ck vs k endings
- Sort by sh, ch, th, ng, mb
- Identify patterns within similar word families
- Connect spelling to sound
Sorting is especially powerful for reinforcing the ck vs k rule, which many students overgeneralize. Seeing words grouped visually helps clarify when each spelling is used.
If you’re building literacy centers, you may also find my post Best Practice in Literacy Instruction: What Every Teacher Needs to Know.
Reinforce with Games That Encourage Repetition
Once students understand the patterns, they need repeated practice across different formats. Games make that repetition feel purposeful rather than repetitive.
In my Ending Digraph Bundle, students practice through:
- Word Sorts give students a chance to analyze digraphs by grouping and comparing them. Sorting helps students notice patterns and strengthens their ability to hear and map the sounds accurately.
- Phonics Board Games give students consistent practice with reading and spelling digraphs words in a predictable format.
- Phonics Bingo allows for flexible practice. Students can match spoken words to printed words or spell words before covering pictures, supporting both decoding and encoding.
Pairing word sorts with board games and bingo creates a layered approach that supports both recognition and automaticity.
Together, these activities provide structured, repeatable practice that helps beginning blends become automatic. If you want more ideas for gamifying phonics, view my post on no-prep phonics activities.
Focus on CK vs K for Stronger Understanding
One of the most common spelling confusions involves ck vs k endings. Students often need repeated exposure to understand that ck is used when the /k/ sound comes immediately after a short vowel (as in duck or back).
When the /k/ sound follows anything other than a short vowel—such as a long vowel, a vowel team, a consonant, or a silent e—k is typically used instead (as in milk, beak, or bike).
Helping students see and practice this pattern consistently makes the rule much easier to remember and apply in both reading and spelling.
To learn more about how spelling patterns and phonics rules support literacy development, check out Understanding Phonics Rules: Why English Isn’t as Random as It Seems.
Build a Simple Weekly Routine
Consistency matters more than variety. Instead of introducing new activities every day, rotate familiar formats while keeping the phonics focus the same.
A simple routine might look like:
- Monday: Introduce the ending digraph with a teacher-led word sort
- Tuesday: Independent or partner sorting practice
- Wednesday: Phonics board game for decoding practice
- Thursday: Phonics bingo for reading and spelling reinforcement
- Friday: Review and informal assessment
This approach keeps instruction focused while giving students enough repetition for patterns to stick.
Why Hands-On Practice Matters for Ending Digraphs
Ending digraphs require students to listen carefully to the final sound in a word. That skill strengthens with active engagement — sorting, reading aloud, rolling dice, and discussing patterns.
When students repeatedly hear, see, and spell ending digraphs in meaningful contexts, they’re far more likely to transfer the skill to independent reading and writing.
Explore My TPT Store
Looking for ready-to-use resources to teach ending digraphs effectively? Visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store, Primed for Primary, for no-prep phonics games, vowel teams worksheets, and long vowel activities that align with the Science of Reading and make your literacy block easier to plan and more effective to teach.
Subscribe to my blog today and gain access to my free resource library and receive teaching tips, classroom routines, and new resource updates to support your phonics instruction all year long.
