Which sound does this word start with? “bed”

Read-Along Word with Scaffolding · ELPAC Kindergarten reading. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.

With help from the test examiner, the student gives the letter names and the first letter sound of a word.

The question

Point at the word and say it slowly. Then read this question and the three answers aloud to your child.

Which sound does this word start with?

• Athe /d/ sound, like in dog
• Bthe /e/ sound, like in egg
• Cthe /b/ sound, like in ballCorrect answer

Why “the /b/ sound, like in ball” is correct

Another first-sound question, but with the pair young readers mix up most: b and d look alike and sit at opposite ends of this word. Say "bed" and then "dog" and have your child notice that their lips press together for /b/ and their tongue taps behind their teeth for /d/. Swapping b and d at five is ordinary, not a warning sign, and feeling the difference in the mouth works better than being told which is which.

Why the other answers are wrong

• the /d/ sound, like in dog — The /d/ sound is at the end of "bed". Ask your child which sound comes out of their mouth first when they say the word slowly.
• the /e/ sound, like in egg — The /e/ sound is the vowel in the middle. Stretching the word — b-e-d — makes the order audible.

Practice more of this

More reading practice for Kindergarten, or see the ELPAC practice test for kindergarten. For other grades, see free ELPAC practice tests by grade.