General Tips for Teaching Sounds

1. Try to draw attention to the child's target sound(s) throughout the day.


2. Emphasize the child's target sound(s) in your own speech. Place emphasis on the sound as you read or say words containing the target sound(s).


3. If the child says a sound incorrectly in a word, repeat the word back correctly. Place stress on the sound as you say it correctly in the word. Avoid telling the child that they said it wrong.


4. Talk about what your tongue, lips, and teeth are doing as you say the target sound(s). Show the child what your mouth looks like as you say the sound(s).


5. Use a mirror so the child can see what their mouth looks like as they say the target sound(s). See if the child can get their mouth to match what yours is doing as you say the sound(s) together.


6. Use verbal/auditory cues to help the students achieve proper tongue/lip/teeth placement for the target sound(s). For example,

  • “Oops, I didn’t hear your /k/ sound that time when you said cat. Make sure you’re making that sound in the back of your mouth like this - "ccccat!”

  • "Oops, I didn't hear your /s/ sound when you said "soup." Make sure you keep your tongue behind your teeth to make a long sound like this "sssssoup."


7. To provide auditory bombardment of target sound(s), read stories containing a high frequency of words with the child's target sound(s). Please refer to this Sound Loaded Book List for Articulation available as a free download from Teachers Pay Teachers.


8. If the child seems to have a good awareness of their speech error(s), you may not always need to verbally remind them to use their best speech sounds. Instead, you may decide to pick a secret sign or signal to remind the child to say their sounds correctly. For example, you may choose to point to your mouth or lips in order to remind the child to say their sound(s) correctly.


9. A picture of the child's target sound (e.g., /s/, /r/, etc.) posted in familiar places (e.g., on the fridge at home) may be beneficial in helping them to remember to use their best sounds.


10. Talk with the child about the importance of saying their target sound(s) correctly. Pick certain times with the child (e.g.,mealtimes, while reading) when you know you will be doing a lot of talking. During this time, ask the child to be careful of correct speech. For example, you may say “Johnny, we are going to read now. While you are reading, why don’t you see if you can use your best sounds? This will be a good chance for you to practice!"


11. Look for opportunities to emphasize correct production of the target sounds throughout the day. It is challenging to get in the habit, but your contribution to speech-sound/phonological development is significant!