Speed Sounds

In phonics, the individual sounds are called ‘speed sounds’. This is because we want children to read them effortlessly.

First children will learn to read the Set 1 sounds by sight. They will also learn how to blend them together to read words e.g. c-a-t = cat. They will then move on to learning Set 2 and Set 3 sounds.

It is important children learn pure sounds ('mmm' rather than 'm-uh) so they will be able to blend the sounds into words more easily.

We use letter-sound pictures to help children learn these sounds quickly.

When teaching a speed sound, we either have to ‘stretch’ or ‘bounce’ it.

+ These first sounds should all be stretched slightly.
+ Try to avoid saying uh after each one. E.g. /mm/ not muh, /ss/ not suh, /ff/ not fuh.

m mmmmmmountain (keep lips pressed together hard)

s sssssnake (keep teeth together and hiss – unvoiced)

n nnnnnnet (keep tongue behind teeth)

f ffffflower (keep teeth on bottom lip and force air out sharply – unvoiced)

l llllleg (keep pointed curled tongue behind teeth).

r rrrrrrobot (say rrr as if you are growling)

v vvvvvvulture (keep teeth on bottom lip and force air out gently)

z zzzzzzig zzzzzag (keep teeth together and make a buzzing sound)

th thhhhank you ( stick out tongue and breathe out sharply)

sh shhhh (make a shhh noise as though you are telling somebody to be quiet!)

ng thinnnnngg on a strinnnngg (curl your tongue at the back of your throat)

nk I think I stink (make a piggy oink noise without the oi! nk nk nk)

These next sounds are not stretched. Make the sound as short as possible avoiding uh at the end of the sound.

t (tick tongue behind the teeth – unvoiced)

p (make distinctive p with lips – unvoiced)

k (make sharp click at back of throat)

c as above

h (say h as you breathe sharply out – unvoiced)

ch (make a short sneezing sound)

x (say a sharp c and add s – unvoiced)

d (tap tongue behind the teeth)

g (make soft sound in throat)

b (make a short, strong b with lips)

j (push lips forward)

y (keep edges of tongue against teeth)

w (keep lips tightly pursed)

qu (keep lips pursed as you say cw – unvoiced)

The short vowels should be kept short and sharp.

a: a-a-a (open mouth wide as if to take a bite of an apple)

e: e-e-e (release mouth slightly from a position)

i: i-i-i (make a sharp sound at the back of the throat – smile)

o: o–o-o (push out lips; make the mouth into o shape)

u: u-u-u (make a sound in the throat)

When you practise ‘speed sounds’ with your child, you either have to stretch or bounce them (see above for details).

Example of how to practise recognising a sound e.g. ‘m’ sound

+Sing and stretch mmmm as you press your lips together. Ask your children to do the same.

+Identify the ‘m’ sound on the sound mat. Show the picture of Maisie and the mountain and say mmmm. Ask your children to say mmmm.

+Point to the ‘m’ picture. Say mountain & ask your children to repeat it.

+Write the letter ‘m’ on some paper so your children can see that the picture looks like the letter. Model how to form the letter by saying the rhyme, “Maisie, mountain, mountain”. Then say that you have formed ‘m’ (sound not the letter name).

+Ask your children to repeat ‘m’ and have a go at writing the letter by themselves.