What is a "blend?" My son’s teacher says that he will learn to read faster if he knows them.

A consonant blend is two or more consecutive consonants in a word whose sounds blend together. Although the sounds "blend" together, each sound is still heard. These are examples of a blend: fry, dress, swim and string.

A consonant digraph is a group of consecutive consonants in a word which join to make one sound. These are examples of a digraph: when, where, thick, much and know.

If you search, consonant blend, on the internet, you can find easily printable picture charts of blends. Your son’s teacher is right, once children learn the sounds that blends make they do learn to read faster.