Why do sh, ch, and th matter so much in 1st grade?

They appear constantly in early books, and the grade-1 phonics standard expects children to know them cold. A reader who still sounds out s-h-i-p letter by letter stalls; one who sees sh as a unit reads ship in one beat.

My child mixes up ch and sh. Any tricks?

Exaggerate the mouth feel: sh is the quiet-in-the-library sound that can stretch forever, while ch is a quick sneeze that can't. Have your child hold each sound as long as possible; ch gives itself away by stopping short.

1st grade beginning digraphs (sh, ch, th)

1st grade beginning digraphs (sh, ch, th) worksheets

First graders are expected to know the common consonant digraphs on sight: sh as in shell, ch as in chair, th as in thumb. Sorting words by their opening team builds the automatic recognition that turns decoding into smooth reading.

Free printable PDF worksheet, aligned to Common Core RF.1.3.a.

Each print is a different sheet with its own answer key. You don't need to sign up.

The kind of words you'll sort

Write each word from the bank under its beginning sound.

thatshedshakecherrychampchasethesechimeshoptheythumpshower

Columns: sh and ch and th. "shop" belongs under sh; "cherry" belongs under ch; "thump" belongs under th.

Every print pulls a new set of words at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling gets a different mix.

What's on a 1st grade sheet

1st grade sheets draw from 90 words, 15 to a page. Kindergarten and 1st grade print from the same 90 words. What changes is the standard (RF.1.3.a here) and the teaching notes below.

Some of the words:

sharkshapeshareshotchickchancechewchompthinthere

Sorting. Write each word from the bank under its beginning sound. 15 words per page.

Every version prints on US Letter or A4, with its answer key on the last page.

How to teach this

The reliable check is the mouth itself: sh pushes air with rounded lips, ch pops like a sneeze, th puts the tongue between the teeth. When a word stalls a reader mid-sort, have them say it to a partner and watch what their mouth does first.

Watch for: A digraph is two letters but only one sound. Ship starts with one sound, not two. Th actually makes two close sounds (thin and this); both are spelled the same way.

Common questions about 1st grade beginning digraphs (sh, ch, th)

Why do sh, ch, and th matter so much in 1st grade?: They appear constantly in early books, and the grade-1 phonics standard expects children to know them cold. A reader who still sounds out s-h-i-p letter by letter stalls; one who sees sh as a unit reads ship in one beat.
My child mixes up ch and sh. Any tricks?: Exaggerate the mouth feel: sh is the quiet-in-the-library sound that can stretch forever, while ch is a quick sneeze that can't. Have your child hold each sound as long as possible; ch gives itself away by stopping short.

Related worksheets

Ready to print one?

Need a fresh set of words? Download another copy.

Aligned to Common Core RF.1.3.a. Reviewed by the One more sheet team. Content version 240, updated August 2026.

Spot a mistake on this sheet? Tell us. · About these worksheets