THE

READING
ROAD

Chapter 7:
Consonant Clusters

Contents
Introduction to Consonant Clusters ............................. 2
The ST Cluster .............................................................. 3
The SN Cluster ............................................................ 4
Snake in the Woods ................................................... 12
The SP Cluster ........................................................... 22
SC/SK Clusters .......................................................... 25
CT/PT Clusters .......................................................... 26
The ND Cluster ......................................................... 27
The LD Cluster .......................................................... 28
The MP Cluster ......................................................... 29
The NT Cluster ......................................................... 30
The NK Cluster ......................................................... 31
The LP Cluster .......................................................... 32
The LT Cluster ........................................................... 33
The LK Cluster .......................................................... 34
Stuck in the Sand ...................................................... 38
Detective Game ........................................................ 51
Tower Game .............................................................. 52
Tower Game 2 ........................................................... 53

Introduction to Consonant Clusters

Consonant clusters are groups of two or more consonants. A consonant cluster can
appear at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a word.
Sometimes its hard to hear the separate consonant sounds that make up a cluster. It
can be especially tricky when the cluster is at the end of a word.
We will work on reading consonant clusters that appear at the beginning of words, like
bl and sn. These are called initial consonant clusters. We will also work on consonant
clusters that appear at the end of words, like nk and mp. These are called final
consonant clusters. Some consonant clusters, like st, can come at the beginning and
the end of words.

Game: Count Your Consonants

To play this game, look at each word in this list and count how many consonants
come before the first vowel. You dont have to read the word, just say how many
consonants. Go down the list as fast as you can, but dont start until your tutor says
Go!

spit
grab
scream
snake
bit
dry
spilt
blood
drip
you
blot
tune
stick
first
stale
broom
pail
brag
proud
splash

The ST Cluster
The consonant s can team up with the consonant t at the beginning and at the end of
words.
Say the sound the consonant s makes, as in sun:

Now, say the sound the consonant t makes, as in taxi:

What is the sound of s + t?

Word Math: Initial st

Add s to these words to make initial-st words.

s + top
s + tar
s + tab
s + take
s + table
s + tack
s + tale
s + till
s + tock
s + tuck

Try reading these ST cluster words:

stab
still
stone
stem
staff

Listen for the st sound in this sentence:

Something sticky was stuck to Steves shoe.

Word Math: Final st

The st cluster can also appear at the end of words.
Sometimes you might not be sure if a word ends in a single consonant or a consonant
cluster. Thats because its really hard to hear the last consonant sound in some words.
For example, rest can sound like it ends in s, but really it ends in t.
In order to hear the st at the end of a word, it helps to add a suffix like ing, ed, or er.
When you add a suffix, the cluster is in the middle of the word, so its easier to hear.
Try adding er to the end of these words:
bust + er
fast + er
post + er
mist + er
toast + er
dust + er

Did you hear the st sound in all of the words? What is it?

Lets read these ST cluster words and listen for the sound:
list it
lost it
dust it
must it
gust it
bust it
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More About ST
Here are some more st cluster words to read. Lets read them out loud together.
put t into sake and make it stake
put s into bet and make it best
put s into fit and make it fist
put t into sale and make it stale
put s into but and make it bust
put t into bus and make it bust

Stan Makes a Steak

He stuck the steak in the oven and tested it to see if it was done. The steak tasted so
good he ate the last little bit of it. Stan put his fist on the table and said, That steak
was the best! It was the first time he had cooked anything. He must have felt like a
star.

The SN Cluster
The consonant s can team up with the consonant n at the beginning of words.

Say the sound the consonant n makes, like in net:

Now, put this sound after the s sound, like in snake:

What is the sound of s + n? Try reading these sn words:

snub
snug
snuff
snare
sneak
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Word Math: The SN Cluster

If you change the s in these words to sn, what new words to you get? First take away
the s, then add the sn, to make new words. Lets try it:

Add n to sack and make it snack.

sack -> ____ack

sake -> ____ake

suck -> ____uck

sob -> ____ob
sore -> ____ore
sip -> ____ip
sag -> ____ag
sap -> ____ap
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More About SN
Lets read these words out loud together.
add n to sack and make it snack
add s to nip and make it snip
add n to suck and make it snuck
add s to nag and make it snag
add s to nob and make it snob
add n to sore and make it snore

Fast Sneakers
My brother said, Dont sneak into my room and snoop around when Im asleep.
But he was snoring, and I sneaked in anyhow. Then I sneezed and he snapped out of
bed. Its a good thing I was wearing my fast sneakers.

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Introduction to Snake in the Woods

A lot of us are afraid of snakes, especially in the woods! Lets read about this one and
see if he really is scary.
Many of the words in this story have consonant clusters, like sn, sc, sl and st.
You should know the words below before you start. Make sure you know what they
mean! If you dont know, ask your tutor.
Challenge Words
peck
creepy
prove
going
Trina
afraid
crocodiles
flashlight
grabbed
crawling
hissing

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12

Jake had a snake as long as a tree in the park.

He got it from the woods where its creepy and dark.
His daddy used to say, Dont sneak in the woods.
But Jake was slick and always up to no good.

13

Jake told his brother Fred about his plan.

To go to the woods, to prove that he was the man.
Fred said, Bro,
the woods got scary things, you know.

14

Since Fred was afraid, Jake took Trina to the woods.

It was cold and scary, so they wore their hoods.
Trina asked Jake if he was scared to go in there.
He said, No, what do I have to fear?

15

Trina said, Beware!

You know there are crocodiles, bears,
snakes, spiders and other things in there.
Jake grabbed his stick and they went straight down the path.
The path was crooked and they were trapped in the grass.

16

Trina snuck up on Jake to play a trick.

She picked up a stick and poked his neck real quick.
Jake screamed, Hey, what just bit me?
and almost climbed up a tree.
Trina said, Thats not a bite - just little old me.

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They kept on going until Jake had to rest.

He sat on an old log to catch his breath.
Trina saw something crawling. It was getting close.
She said, dont move! so Jake sat there froze.
It crawled up his hand, and Jake started to pray.
Please God, make this big snake go away.

18

The snake crawled up his arm and slid around his neck.
It spoke in his ear and gave Jake a little peck.
Im sorry. Please dont be scared of me, the snake said.
Sometimes I get lonely laying in my dirt bed.

19

I always wish that someone could stay with me and play.

But they get scared, start screaming, and then run away.
Jake was still frightened, but Trina was brave.
She picked up the snake, and they started to wave.

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Come on, Jake. Lets take him home! Trina said.

We can play with him every day and even scare Fred.
So, snake, said Jake. I guess well name you Sly,
the nicest scary snake who almost made me cry!

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The SP Cluster
The consonant s can team up with the consonant p at the beginning and at the end of
words.
Say the sound the consonant s makes, as in sock:

Now, say the sound the consonant p makes, as in pin:

Now, put these together. What is the sound of s + p?

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SP Cluster Words
Lets read what you get when you add s to the beginning of these words.
Put s into pin and make it spin.
Put s into pit and make it spit.
Put s into pike and make it spike.
Put s into poke and make it spoke.
Put s into park and make it spark.

sp can come at the end of words. Try reading these sp words.

lisp
gasp
wasp
There are even some words with sp in the middle:
hospital
whisper

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Steve and the Wasp

I spied a red spot on Steves spine and I spoke to him about it.
He spun around and said, Its just a little red spot. It must be from a wasp bite.
I said, A wasp is as bad as a snake. Even his spit is bad.
Steve said, Spare me, man. Its just a little speck. I dont get spooked by wasps.

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SC and SK Clusters
The sc and sk consonant clusters make the same sound most of the time. Lets sound
out and combine the consonants s with k and s with c.
s + k = sk as in skate

Try adding s to these words to make sk words.

s + kid = skid
s + kit = skit
s + kill = skill
Now try adding s to these words to make sc words.
s + car = scar
s + can = scan
s + care = scare
s + cuff = scuff
sk can come at the ends of words, too. Try reading these words with sk at the end.
risk
desk
mask
These words have sk or sc in the middle:
whisker
escape

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CT and PT Clusters
CT and PT can team up at the ends of words. Say the sounds that these consonants
make together in these words:
c + t = ct:
p + t = pt:

act, fact, exact and pact

kept it and except it

It might be hard to hear the t at the end of these words, but its important to
remember that they are spelled with one.
Now read these sentences:
Don swept up the mess.

Jane slept at Pams house.

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The ND Cluster
n and d can team up at the ends of words. Sometimes its hard to hear the d, but its
important to remember it is there in how these words are spelled!
Now say the sounds that these consonants make together in these words:
n + d = nd, as in find and kind and mind and bend and send and spend and land

and hand

and band
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The LD Cluster
l and d can team up at the ends of words. Sometimes its hard to hear the d, but its
important to remember it is there in how these words are spelled!
Now say the sounds that these consonants make together in these words:
l + d = ld, as in old one, bold one, fold one, sold one, cold one, held one

and bald one

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The MP Cluster
In this next group of final consonants, the first letter is sometimes hard to hear. Say
the sounds that these consonants make together in these words, and try to say the
first sound as clearly as you can.

m + p = mp, as in camp and limp and dump and

jump

and swamp
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The NT Cluster
Now say the sounds that these consonants make together, and try to say the first
sound as clearly as you can:
n + t = nt, as in hunt and bent and sent and dent and pant and

plant

and punt
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The NK Cluster
Say the sounds that these consonants make together in these words, and try to say
the first sound as clearly as you can:
n + k = nk, as in junk and bunk and dunk and wink and ink and

bank

and sink
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The LP Cluster
l and p can team up at the ends of words.
Say the sounds that these consonants make, and try to say the first sound as clearly as
you can:
l + p = lp as in help and yelp and pulp and gulp

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The LT Cluster
Now say the sounds that these consonants make together in these words, and try to
say the first sound as clearly as you can:
l + t = lt, as in melt and felt and tilt and bolt and colt and

belt

and salt

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The LK Cluster
Now say the sounds that these consonants make together in these words, and try to
say the first sound as clearly as you can:
l + k = lk, as in hulk and sulk and bulk and

milk

and elk

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Steve and Stan

Stan felt a sting on his hand when he stopped his bike at the hot dog stand.
Can you stop and hold on, Steve? he asked his pal. I got a cut on the skin of my
hand when I stopped my bike just past the stand.
OK, Steve said, and he went close to Stan to see his hand.
I am mad! Stan told Steve. I spent my last dime on stuff at the stand, and I dont
have a band aid to stop the blood from the cut on my skin.
Dont get bent out of shape, Steve said. My mom gave me a band aid the last
time I put on these pants. Here it is!

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Just Send For Me

Brenda felt down in the dumps. This stinks, she said.
She sent Linda an email. Do you have a belt I can use for my silk pants? I cant find
one in the junk closet.
Linda sent an e-mail right back. Ill be glad to lend you a hand to find a belt. Ill
jump on my bike and come over. Anytime you need help, just send for me.
Brenda felt a lot better. Linda really is my best friend, she said.

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Game: Count Your Consonants

To play this game, look at each word in this list and count how many consonants
come before the first vowel. You dont have to read the word, just say how many
consonants. Go down the list as fast as you can, but dont start until your tutor says
Go!

spilt
next
prop
first
cold
flaps
smocks
tricks
drip
ghost
blot
cry
first
stale
broom
pail
yolk
lost
wrists
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Introduction to Stuck in the Sand

This story is about two brothers and the tricks they play on each other in the
summertime. The little brother, Mike, buries his big brother in the sand, but his big
brother gets even with him in the end!
This story focuses on consonant clusters at both the beginnings and ends of words:
stuck
sand
stole
gloves
grabbed
stuff
crab
lost
care
went
treat
around
ice cream
walked
Remember, you can always ask your tutor when you dont know what a word means.
Here is a word that you might not know:
struggled

38

39

Last month I went to the beach with my little brother Mike. I had my
bike gloves with me. When we got back, they were gone. I was sure that
Mike stole them. He wanted those bike gloves, but I wouldnt give them
to him when he asked for them.

40

We went back to the beach again yesterday. Mom said, Stay out of the
water, and she left us to get some stuff at the store. She was very strict
about the water. So Mike said, Let me bury you in the sand, Stanley. I
said OK, because there was nothing else to do.

41

He dug out a hole and put sand all on top of me. He put lots and lots of
sand on top. I spit out some sand that got in my mouth. Mike, I said,
I know you took those bike gloves, and I want them back. I love those
gloves.

42

I dont take gloves, Mike said, still sticking sand on top of me. You
just lost them. You always lose stuff!
I yelled, You always take stuff!
Mike said, You cant prove it! I live with you and I know you lose stuff,
you stupid slob!

43

Come closer and say that in my face, I said.

No way, Stanley, Mike said. Youre all covered in sand and you cant
get out. He was right. I couldnt move my arms and legs.

44

Stop it and come here! Or else Im gonna stick YOU in the sand! I
yelled.
But Mike just laughed, Ha, ha! You dont scare me! Youre stuck!
Youre stuck! And Im going to the ice cream stand. You lose!

45

I yelled, Youre gonna get it! I NEVER lose!

But Mike was gone, and I was still stuck in the sand.

46

The sun was hot, and no one was around to get me out. A crab walked
by my face. I thought it was going to bite my nose. I tried to move my
head back. I struggled so hard that my arms and legs began to move. I
was free!

47

I grabbed the crab and zipped him up in my bag.

I found Mike and Mom at the ice cream stand and I got some.

48

I didnt say anything. We drove home, and I went into Mikes room. I
got the crab out of my bag, and put it in his bed. And do you know what
I found in his bed? MY BIKE GLOVES!

49

Ha, ha! Mike had a big scare that night and I got my gloves back. Mike
better not play me like that anymore. He better treat me well, cause
Im the big brother, and I never lose!

50

The Detective Game

Now you are almost finished with this chapter, and its time to play
the Detective Game!
Detective Mack Jackson is very busy, so he needs more people
on his team to help get some information about the stories in this
chapter. Use your memory and your detective skills to help him get
some answers!
In this chapter, you read Stuck in the Sand
(page 38). Detective Jackson has a list of
questions about this story.
You might want to spend a couple minutes
reviewing the story with your tutor before
moving on, and you might need to look at
it again after you start the questions. Thats
okay! The better you know the story, the
better your answers will be.
Before you start, read the directions and
make sure you know the meaning of all of
the words in the Detective Game Dictionary.

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The Tower Game

Lets play the Tower Game! You get two

dominoes to start. Every time you read
a word right, you get another domino
from your tutor. See how tall you can
make your tower and dont let your
tutor win!

52

1. fast
2. mold
3. stuck
4. last
5. disk
6. pond
7. snake
8. spunk
9. just
10. stud
11. melt
12. steps
13. speak
14. tank
15. stage
16. list
17. bunk
18. stale
19. felt
20. stand

The Tower Game: 2

Lets play the Tower Game! You get two
dominoes to start. Every time you read
a word right, you get another domino
from your tutor. See how tall you can
make your tower and dont let your
tutor win!

1. gold
2. post
3. stick
4. task
5. rust
6. band
7. spit
8. snip
9. cast
10. stop
11. speck
12. belt
13. stuck
14. dust
15. pink
16. stole
17. spoke
18. dunk
19. sink
20. snap

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