Words with ch and sh link letters to the /ch/ and /sh/ sounds, helping readers blend smoothly, read faster, and spell with fewer slips.
In ch and sh words, the two letters act as one sound. In phonics, that team is called a consonant digraph. Once a learner treats the two letters as one sound, reading feels less stop-start. Spelling gets steadier too, since they write the sound they hear as a single unit.
This page gives clear lists, quick sorting ideas, and short practice blocks that fit school or home. You’ll see where ch and sh show up in a word, what to teach first, and what to save for later. It’s built so you can pick one section and use it right away.
Ch And Sh Digraphs In Early Reading
Many beginners learn sh and ch soon after short vowels. The sounds stay stable across lots of words, so kids can get quick wins. A starting point is the UK government phonics programme booklet Letters and Sounds, which describes digraphs as two letters that represent one sound, like “sh” in “ship”.
Start narrow: one sound, one spelling, short words, lots of rereads. Next, add longer words, endings, and contrast pairs that train the ear. After that, teach a small set of “odd spellings” where ch can say /k/ or /sh/ in some words. Kids don’t need a long speech for those; they need a quick label and steady exposure.
| Pattern To Teach | Sound | Starter Words |
|---|---|---|
| ch at the start | /ch/ | chip, chin, chop, chat |
| ch at the end | /ch/ | rich, much, bench, pinch |
| sh at the start | /sh/ | ship, shop, shut, shell |
| sh at the end | /sh/ | fish, dish, wish, brush |
| tch after a short vowel | /ch/ | catch, match, pitch, fetch |
| sh + ending -es | /sh/ | dishes, wishes, brushes |
| ch + ending -es | /ch/ | benches, peaches, pinches |
| ch that says /k/ | /k/ | school, echo, chorus |
| ch that says /sh/ | /sh/ | chef, machine, parachute |
Choosing Ch And Sh Word Lists By Skill Level
The quickest win comes from matching the list to the learner. If a child is still blending short words, keep the words short. If they read smoothly, add blends, endings, and two-syllable words. The goal is clean reps, not a huge pile of new spellings.
Level 1: Short, Clean Words
Use these for first-time teaching, warm-ups, or quick checks. Aim for 8–12 words per sitting, with at least two rereads.
- ch: chat, chip, chin, chop, chum, much, rich, such
- sh: ship, shop, shut, sham, shed, fish, dish, wish
Level 2: Endings And Word Families
Add one small change, then reread. This builds flexibility without turning practice into guesswork. Keep the base word visible, then swap endings on top of it.
- ch: pinch, pinches, pinching; bench, benches
- sh: wish, wishes, wishing; brush, brushes, brushing
Level 3: Blends With Ch And Sh
Blends add extra consonants, so the mouth has more moves to plan. Keep the pace steady and model a smooth slide into the digraph sound.
- ch blends: branch, crunch, scratch, stretch
- sh blends: fresh, flash, smash, splash
How The Sounds Feel In The Mouth
Kids often mix up /ch/ and /sh/ because both are “noisy” sounds. A small bit of mouth mapping can clear it up fast. Treat it like a science mini-demo, not a lecture.
What /ch/ Feels Like
/ch/ starts with a brief stop, then releases. It’s like a quick “t” plus “sh” said as one unit. If a child can say “t…sh,” guide them to slide it together: “ch.”
What /sh/ Feels Like
/sh/ is a steady stream of air. Lips round a little, and the sound can stretch: “shhh.” That stretch makes it handy for sound-stretch games and quick self-checks.
Spelling Moves That Reduce Mistakes
Reading and spelling grow faster when practice links sound, letters, and meaning. Use these short routines to keep that link strong. Keep the tone light, since tension blocks recall.
Say It, Tap It, Write It
- Say the word once at normal speed.
- Tap each sound on fingers: /ch/ counts as one tap, /sh/ counts as one tap.
- Write the word while saying the sounds.
- Read it back and check each sound-to-letter match.
Sort By Spot In The Word
Sorting turns a messy list into a pattern hunt. Make two columns on paper: “Start” and “End.” Then sort: ship goes under Start; fish goes under End. Add a third pile for “Middle” once the learner is ready for longer words like sunshine.
Use One Short Cue For TCH
When /ch/ comes right after a short vowel in a one-syllable word, spelling is often tch (catch, match). Teach it as a quick cue, then let reading and dictation lock it in.
CH And SH Words For Fast Phonics Practice
If you’re building a weekly routine, pull from these lists. Mix in a few review words each time, so older patterns stay fresh while new ones get added. You’ll get better results from ten minutes a day than one long block on the weekend.
Ch Word List
chair, chain, chase, cheek, cheese, chop, chunk, church, much, rich, peach, beach, bench, pinch, crunch, scratch, stretch, match, catch
Sh Word List
shoe, sheep, shell, shift, shine, shout, shock, shop, fresh, flash, smash, crash, finish, brush, splash, sunshine, spaceship
Ch And Sh Contrast Pairs
chip / ship, chin / shin, chop / shop, rich / wish, beach / leash, match / mash, scratch / splash, chin / ship (silly pair for attention)
Decodable Sentences With Ch And Sh
Single words are a start, yet real reading lives in sentences. Keep sentences short and decodable, with patterns the learner already knows. Read each sentence twice: first for accuracy, second for flow.
- Chip the chin of the chum.
- Shut the shop at dusk.
- Fish swim past the ship.
- Catch the ball, then chat.
- We will shop for a shell.
- Brush the dish, then wash.
- Rich cats splash in the sun.
Once those feel easy, swap one word at a time to make a new sentence. That one swap keeps attention on the spelling change while the sentence frame stays steady.
Handling Tricky Ch Spellings Without Stress
Most of the time, ch says /ch/. A smaller set of words use ch for /k/ (school, chorus) or /sh/ (chef, machine). Treat these as “learned words”: read them often, spell them in short dictation, and move on.
If you teach in a setting that uses national checks, it can help to know the mix of real and made-up words used in screening materials. The UK government page on phonics screening check structure and content explains how the check blends real words with pseudo-words, which is a useful reminder to teach the sound pattern, not to guess from pictures or first letters.
Games That Keep Practice Lively
You don’t need fancy printables. A pen, sticky notes, and a timer work fine. The goal is lots of correct reps with quick feedback, plus a bit of fun so kids stay in the groove.
Two-Pile Speed Sort
Write 20 words on scraps of paper. Set a 60-second timer. The learner sorts into ch and sh piles. Then read each pile aloud together. Try to beat the prior time only when accuracy stays high.
Read And Hunt
Pick a short book or a printed page. The learner circles ch words in one color and sh words in another. Then they pick three circled words and write one sentence for each.
Word Ladder Swaps
Start with one word and change one sound at a time. A clean ladder keeps the attention tight: ship → shop → chop → chip. Write each word, read it, then move to the next.
Secret Word Dictation
Tell the learner you’re thinking of a word from the list. Say the word once, then stretch the sounds slowly. They write it, then read it back. If it’s right, they earn the next word. If it’s off, point to the spot and fix it together.
Mini Lesson Plan For Home Or Class
If you want structure, this five-day loop works well. Each day stays short, so attention stays sharp. Repeat the loop with new words once the old set is smooth.
| Day | What You Do | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Teach the sound, mouth cue, 10-word read list | 8–10 min |
| 2 | Speed sort + reread list + 4-word dictation | 10–12 min |
| 3 | Contrast pairs + sentence reading | 10–12 min |
| 4 | Book hunt + write 3 short sentences | 12–15 min |
| 5 | Mixed review + quick check: read, spell, read | 10–12 min |
Checks That Show Real Progress
Progress looks like speed plus accuracy. A learner who can read digraph words with no long pauses is building automaticity. In spelling, watch for a clean swap from writing “c” and “h” as two sounds to writing ch as one sound unit.
If spelling sticks but reading lags, do three rereads: whisper, normal voice, then smooth. Track one word each day that used to trip them up.
One-Minute Read
Pick 25 words the learner has seen before. Time one minute. Mark errors. Repeat the same list two days later and compare. The score should climb while errors drop.
Five-Word Dictation
Say five words, one at a time. The learner writes them, then reads them back. Mix three review words and two new ones. This keeps practice steady and avoids overload.
Common Snags And Fixes
When a learner trips, a small tweak often fixes it. Keep the fix short, then return to reading.
They Say /s/ + /h/ Instead Of /sh/
Stretch the sound: “shhh.” Then have them whisper it and feel the air. Next, pair it with a vowel: sha, she, shi, sho, shu. Then return to words.
They Mix Up Chip And Ship
Use contrast pairs for two minutes a day. Read the pair, point to the letters, then write the pair from dictation. Short, frequent practice wins here.
They Spell Catch As Cach
Teach the tch cue after a short vowel, then drill match, hatch, patch, and fetch. Keep it in one-syllable words first, then add two-syllable words later.
One Mixed List For Review Days
If you want one tidy set to screenshot or copy into a notebook, use this mixed list for review days:
ship, shop, shut, fish, dish, wish, brush, flash, smash, chip, chin, chat, chop, rich, much, peach, beach, bench, pinch, match, catch, scratch, stretch
Use the list in three ways: read it, spell five words from it, then read it again. When that feels smooth, add longer words like sunshine and spaceship, plus a small set of tricky ch words like school and chef.
One last note: ch and sh words get easier when the learner sees them in print every day. A short routine, done often, beats a long session that happens once in a while.