Printable Diphthongs Worksheets
Practice complex sliding vowel sounds with printable diphthongs worksheets for 2nd and 3rd grade. Children sort and spell oi, oy, ou, ow, au, and aw words with clear answer keys included.
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Structured, printable skill sheets with step-by-step guidance for Diphthongs.
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About Diphthongs
What this skill is
A diphthong is a special vowel team where the mouth visibly moves or slides from one sound into another within the same syllable. The most common pairs are /oi/ spelled oi (coin) and oy (boy), /ow/ spelled ou (shout) and ow (cow), and /aw/ spelled au (sauce) and aw (saw).
When children learn it
Diphthongs are taught in 2nd grade and reviewed in 3rd grade after students understand basic long and short vowel rules.
Teaching Tips
- Note spelling position rules: "oi" and "ou" belong in the middle of words, while "oy" and "ow" usually appear at the end.
- Have your child touch their jaw to feel how their mouth changes shape when pronouncing words like "out" and "coin".
Common Mistakes
- Confusing the /ow/ in "cow" with the long /o/ sound in "snow", since both share the "ow" spelling.
- Using "oi" at the end of words instead of "oy" (writing "toie" instead of "toy").