Examples of target sound levels your students should practice in:

Target Sound: /b/

Word Level: ball

Phrase Level: the round ball

Sentence Level: The big ball is round OR We played outside with the red ball.

Preschool - third Grade

• Search the house for items that contain your target sound. Have your student use a carrier phrase (I see..., I like..., I want...) to name the item.

• Play TIC-TAC-TOE with a target word in each spot.

• Play any board game (Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, Trouble) and before it's your child's turn have them say a word, phrase, or sentence with one of their target sounds/words.

• FLASHCARDS! Make flashcards or have your kiddos make flashcards with target words on them. You can use this as a drill activity and practice them daily or make duplicates and turn it into a matching game. This works on writing, literacy, and articulation practice..its a win win win!

• Go on word search! Using your flash cards hide them throughout your rooms and give your kid clues to find them. As they find each one, have them practice it in a word, phrase, or sentence (what ever level is appropriate for them) before they move onto finding the next one! Once they are all found, switch! Let them hide them and you find them..but they still have to be the ones to practice :) (This is also fun with a flashlight!!)

• Go on a word search through a book! Have your kiddo find words with their target sound (not letter but sound). Keep a tally and see how many they found at the end. No extra work involved, just something to pair with homework they have from class already!

• Make a collage of pictures from magazines or papers of pictures containing their target sound.

• Have your child underline or highlight their target sound in mail, magazines or papers.

fourth grade - sixth grade

• Practice words that have your target sound out loud from your other class work! For example, read a page (or 2 pages) out loud from a book you're reading or words on your spelling list that contain your target sound.

• Call a relative and practice your word list. (Many of you are working on your target sound IN CONVERSATION and will not even need a word list!)

• Think about producing your sound correctly when you're telling a joke or riddle out loud. (As you practice/memorize your joke or riddle, also pay attention to producing your target sound correctly.)

• Make practicing your sounds a part of your routine! Say 10 words from your target word list after you brush your teeth, make your bed, etc.

middle school - high school

• Read out loud--when a sentence contains target sound(s), repeat the sentence using accurate production of target sound.

• Tally each time you or someone else hears a inaccurate production of target sound in conversation during a game and record the word that was produced incorrectly. At the end of the game, repeat the mispronounced word 5 times correctly. Play again and see if you can decrease your number of inaccurate productions.

• PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE. Use a word list and just practice the words 5 times each once a day or every other day! Consistent drill practice is the best way to memorize the placement and movements to produce the sound more naturally.

additional resources