What is being taught when focusing on sounds like "sh" and "ch" in words?

Focusing on sounds like "sh" and "ch" in words relates specifically to the concept of digraphs. Digraphs are pairs of letters that combine to create a single sound, or phoneme, that is different from the sounds of the individual letters. In this case, "sh" produces a unique sound that differs from the sounds of "s" and "h" when pronounced separately, and similarly, "ch" creates a distinct sound not representative of "c" or "h" alone.

By teaching these combinations, educators help students develop their phonemic awareness and decoding skills, which are critical for reading fluency. Recognizing and articulating these digraphs allows learners to better approach unfamiliar words, helping them to read more effectively. Understanding the function of digraphs also lays the groundwork for more advanced literacy skills, as students progress to more complex spelling patterns and phonetic structures in the English language.