Do you teach phonemic awareness and phonics? Do you follow the science of reading? These Diphthong word ladders (or word chains) are critical for your teaching reading toolbox!

⭐️⭐️--Digital Update - March 27, 2024---⭐️⭐️

I have now added DIGITAL versions of ALL the diphthong word ladder resources that have been formatted for use with Google Drive!

Phonemic and phonics are vital to teaching reading to the science of reading. These word ladder worksheets will help your students connect phonemic awareness TO phonics through word ladders (also knows as word chains).

How does it work?

In these 10 Diphthongs Word Ladder Worksheets, students:

1. Look and identify the picture. (answer key/clip art key provided)
2. Use the cut out letter cards (provided on the bottom of the worksheet) to build the word.
3. Write the word. Then go down the "ladder" to the next picture.
4. Repeat the process until students get to the "bottom of the ladder". One sound (phoneme) will change in each picture. Students slide down the letters that stay the same, and change the sound/letter that does not.
   1. The sound placement (beginning, middle, end) changes throughout each page, so students practice manipulating sounds in ALL parts of the word. 

Note: The letter cards are not meant to be glued down onto the page. Letters are meant to be "slid down" the ladder as sounds remain the same (and switched out where the sounds change)!

How many pages are included?

• There are 10 pages of mixed Diphthongs practice.

Are the Diphthongs sounds practice separately?

• No, all Diphthongs sounds are mixed throughout the packet.

Note: The pages with an asterisk (*) contain beginning blends AND digraphs.

Are answer keys included?

• Yes, there is an answer key for every page.