Guided Practice Script

Now, this sound is going to be a quiet one. It’s the sound you make when someone’s too loud, “shhhh”, like in the library. (Put pointer finger to lip.) Try it with me: “Shhhh”. [1]

Here’s the secret how. Put your finger in front of your lip like you’re shushing someone. Not too close for it to touch but not too far away. [3] Pucker your lips, and without moving your head or finger, try to touch your finger with your lips. [2] Great job! Now, start slowly moving your tongue back [2]—did you hear that? “Shhhh”. Keep your tongue right there! You made the shhhh sound!

Say the word shoe. Do the exact thing you did, make the sssss sound, pucker your lips, touch your finger with your lips, and roll your tongue back. “Shhhh-oo, shhhh-oo, shoe.”

Targeted Techniques and Considerations

Teaching Strategies

1. Imitation/Modeling
2. Phonemic Placement
3. Metaphor & Touch Cue

Common Errors or Substitutions

• Fronting: ‘sh’ produced as /s/ occurs when sounds made in the back of the mouth (/sh/) is replaced with sounds made in the front of the mouth (/s/). For example, “sue” for “shoe.”

Relevant Dialectical/Accent Differences

• In North American English (Philadelphia and Louisiana), the /s/ in consonant clusters like ‘str’ is pronounced like ‘sh,’ called S-retraction. For example: “street” is produced as “shtreet.”