Beginning blends matching mats with digraphs included are so fun to add to your literacy center! Children draw a line to connect each picture to its matching beginning blend or digraph.

Blends are two or more consonants that keep their own sounds when read together, such as the cl in cloud. Digraphs are two letters that make one new sound, such as the sh in ship. Each mat has a column of blends and colorful pictures, so children say each picture name, listen for the beginning sound and draw a line to the match. Laminate the mats for many students or print them in greyscale as individual worksheets.

With these beginning blends matching mats, you get

• Matching mats for beginning blends and digraphs
• Color and black and white versions
• Reusable mats for centers or printable worksheets
• Quick, independent phonics practice

Print, laminate and start matching!

What's Included

• Pages 4-11: Match-up Mats in color
• Pages 13-20: Match-up Mats in black and white

For the PH digraph, clip art is limited, so words with a medial PH sound are included.

Why Teachers Love It

• Simple and clear: Children draw a line from each picture to its blend, so the task is easy to explain.
• Reusable: Laminate the mats or slip them into page protectors so many students can use them.
• Worksheet option: Print in greyscale for individual worksheets.
• Independent practice: Once children know the routine, they can work on their own in centers.
• Great for review: Use the mats to check which blends and digraphs students know.

Skills Students Practice

Primary Academic Skills

• Beginning blends: Children match pictures such as a slide, skis and a crown to their beginning blends.
• Digraphs: Children connect digraphs with the sound they make.
• Phonemic awareness: Saying each picture name helps children hear the first sounds in words.
• Letter-sound connections: Children match the sounds they hear to the letters that spell them.
• Fine motor skills: Drawing a line from picture to blend builds pencil control.

Secondary Life & Learning Skills

• Following directions
• Working independently
• Maintaining attention
• Making and checking predictions
• Building confidence during group participation

How to Use It

Step 1: Laminate the mats so they can be used by many students. Page protectors also make them reusable. For individual worksheets, print them in greyscale.

Step 2: Model one mat with your students. Say each picture name aloud and listen for the beginning sound together.

Step 3: Children draw a line to connect each picture to the matching beginning blend or digraph.

Easy Differentiation

Every class has students at different stages of phonics learning. These mats are easy to adjust for each child.

For Children Who Need More Support

• Say each picture name together before children match
• Cover part of the mat so children focus on a few pictures at a time
• Work on one mat with an adult or partner

For On-Level Practice

• Complete the mats independently in literacy centers
• Rotate new mats into centers each week
• Have children say each blend as they draw the line

For an Extra Challenge

• Ask children to name another word for each blend
• Have children write a word that begins with each blend
• Time a mat and challenge children to beat their own time

For Speech, OT, ELL or Special Education Support

• Practice target blends and digraphs with the pictures
• Use the pictures to build vocabulary
• Let children point to the match when drawing is hard
• Give extra processing time and model each mat first

Perfect For

• Literacy centers
• Independent work
• Small groups
• Phonics intervention
• Morning work
• Speech therapy sessions
• Special education classrooms
• Homeschool

Standards

These beginning blends matching mats support kindergarten and 1st grade literacy standards in Common Core, the TEKS (ELAR) and the Virginia English SOL (2024):

Common Core State Standards

• CCSS RF.1.3.a: Know the spelling-sound correspondences for common consonant digraphs.
• CCSS RF.K.3.a: Connect consonants with their most common sounds.

Texas TEKS

• TEKS ELAR K.2.A.ii: Recognize groups of words that begin with the same spoken onset or initial sound.
• TEKS ELAR 1.2.A.ii: Recognize groups of words that begin with the same spoken onset, such as matching pictures to a beginning blend.

Virginia SOL

• VA SOL English 1.FFR.3.A: Decode the blends and digraphs at the start of short vowel words.

Add the Beginning Blends Matching Mats to your cart and give your students quick, reusable blends and digraphs practice for your literacy centers. Print, laminate and watch them match their way to phonics success!

These matching mats are also included in the Beginning Blends & Digraphs Mega Pack: Check out the Beginning Blends & Digraphs Mega Pack here

Download Details

Please note: This is a digital download that will be available to you directly after purchase. Nothing will be mailed to you.

You will receive a link to the download in three places

1. On the 'thank you' page after checkout
2. In your email
3. Login on the site here: https://lifeovercsstore.com/account