📖 Reading & talking · Ages 5–6 · about 2 weeks

Q and U: Two Sounds in qu

Goal: Recognise Q and q, and blend words beginning with qu while hearing /k/ followed by /w/.

For parents: In quit, qu is /k/ then /w/: two sounds written with two letters. It is not one sound like sh. Say the sounds close together without adding an extra 'uh'. Start with quit and quiz; try quick after revisiting ck, which writes one /k/ sound.

Do together

  1. Meet Q and q

    You need: Paper and a pencil

    Write Q and q beside some familiar capital and small letters. Match the two forms. Write quit below them and point to q followed by u. Say /k/ then /w/, then /i/ and /t/. Blend the four sounds into quit and explain that quit can mean stop doing something.

  2. Four sounds, two words

    You need: Paper and a pencil

    Write quit and quiz on separate lines, with a dot under each letter. Touch the dots while saying /k/ /w/ /i/ /t/, then /k/ /w/ /i/ /z/. Blend each word and discuss its meaning. A quiz asks questions. Notice that only the last sound changes.

  3. Count the sounds in quick

    You need: Paper and a pencil

    Write quick. Put separate dots under q, u and i, and one line under ck. Say /k/ /w/ /i/ /k/: four sounds, written with five letters. Compare quit, then reread both words. Show quick and slow hand movements while seated; no race is needed.

Talk about it

  • Which small letter matches Q?
  • What two sounds do q and u write at the start of quit?
  • Why do we put one line under ck in quick?

Words to use

  • quit
  • quiz
  • quick
  • letter
  • sound
  • blend

Play

  • Letter Match
    ABC Match
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