Sticky Sounds

Every child has a few sounds that they find especially challenging when learning to read and write. Often, those pesky short vowel sounds can get muddled, or perhaps the tricky /l/ and /r/ sounds are your student's nemesis. Here are some fun, multisensory, brain-friendly activities and games to help learn and then practice 'Sticky Sounds'.

Learning the Sound

Even if this sound was introduced a while ago, it can be well worth going back to the basics and starting from scratch. Your child might find this frustrating (Emily certainly does "But Mum, I already know this, why do we have to do it again!") so make it fun and as different from the first time around as possible.

• Keyword - give your child a hook/reminder word and visual image that begins with the target letter and sound. This might seem obvious but all too often we put the pretty alphabet picture cards up and never use those specific keywords again. If your child is struggling with a sound, the picture or keyword hook will help commit and recall the sound from long term memory. There are many commercially produced alphabet cards out there but make sure the initial (or final for x) sound is the target sound, e.g. don't use unicorn if you're trying to teach the short sound /u/ as in up. Sometimes it can be fun to let your child choose and draw the related picture.

• Letter Formation - Teaching the correct letter formation is an easy way to begin multisensory practice. Have them write the letter in the sky, on the table, on a window, on the floor with sidewalk chalk...and each time they write it have them say the letter-keyword and sound.

• Vowel Extension - The short vowel sounds are confusing and tricky! Many children, especially those with speech and language difficulties simply cannot differentiate between e/i and/or o/u for example. Stretching out that sound with the use of a keyword can help. Try, 'trace the a and say the first sound in apple the whole way round. Finish the word when you get to the tail' or 'stand on one leg and say the first sound in octopus. Finish the word when you have to put your other foot down.'

Practice, Practice, Practice

Once the correct sound has been established fun and engaging practice is the key to developing automaticity and long term retention.

• Finger Writing - If you can make this tactile, all the better! Fill a colored shallow-sided tray with sand, shaving foam, oobleck, or dried beans and have your child trace the letter with their finger or a paintbrush.

• Playdoh - Challenge your child to make the target letter(s) from playdoh. Can they make a large or tiny one? Can they make different colors?

• Sound Labels - Have your child write the target letter on sticky notes or sticker dots. Go on a hunt around the house to label objects that start with that letter. Leave the labels up for frequent reminders throughout the day.

• Letter Hunt - Even before your child can read themselves, we can draw their awareness to the concepts of print. When reading to your child stop and ask them to find the target letter in a word or sentence. Read the word to them and ask if they can hear the sound at the beginning, middle, or end of the word?

• Little Surprises - Write the target letter of small cards or pieces of paper and hide them in places your child will stumble across at some point. Lunchbox, shoe, pocket, and toybox are some of my favorites. Express great excitement when they find your treasure allowing you to reinforce and practice the sound at random times.

• On the Fridge - This is my favorite place to put a target word or sound, after all, we open the fridge multiple times a day right? At the moment we have the trick word 'the' on the fridge built with magnetic tiles. Every time I notice it, I ask Emily what it says.

• License Plate Treasure - Go for a walk, take a notepad and pen. Every time your child spots your target letter on a sign or license plate, have them write it on the pad. Make it a competition, who can find the most? Can we find more today than yesterday? How many different colors can we see the letter in?

Multiple Target Sounds?

• Sound Hunt - Write the target letters on cards and spread around on the ground or hide. Say a sound and have your child find it.

  • Sound Match - Have a collection of objects that start with the target sound. Child matches object to letter card. We love the Lakeshore Learning Animal Bucket for this as there is a huge variety so we can always find something to match.

Important Points

- Many programs begin by teaching uppercase letters. I prefer to begin with lowercase because they are used more often and have a better writing flow for a kinesthetic element.

- Be careful with the vowel sounds! If you are targeting the short vowel sounds make sure the words you choose have at least one consonant after the vowel and that the consonant is not r.

- Have patience. Everyone learns better with a calm, unpressured environment, and when learning can take place a little at a time with sleep between sessions.

There are so many other great ideas and ways to practice these skills. Get creative and check out the amazing educators and parents on Instagram who fuel my creativity!