Guided Practice Script

Hey! Are we ready to practice the sound /ʃ/, this sound can be heard at the beginning of the word shoe but also can be heard at the end of the word fish! I want you to repeat it after me, okay? “The fish has a shoe.” [1] Okay, that was a great try!

Alright, let’s grab a fun helper for this next activity! (Grabbing a mouth model and a mirror.) Okay, this is my friend Mr. Mouth, and he helps people learn more about their mouths! When Mr. Mouth does something, I want you to copy him in the mirror, okay? I am going to lift the middle of his tongue, so his tongue touches the roof of his mouth! Now I want you to look in the mirror and try your best to do the same thing! [2] Wow, what a great try! Now I want you to try and let out some air with your tongue in that spot! Great try, you were almost there.

Have you ever been to the library? Great! Do you know what the librarian says when people are too loud? Right! I want you to pretend that you are a librarian and make the /ʃ/ sound like you are telling me I am speaking too loud, ready go! [3] Haha great job!”

Target Techniques and Considerations

Elicitation Techniques

1. Modeling
2. Phonetic placement
3. Verbal Instructions (Metaphor)

Common /ʃ/ Errors

• Error pattern: substituting /s/ for /ʃ/. Why? Because /s/ is a common sound, even though these sounds are acquired at the same age, /s/ can be used to simplify /ʃ/.

Accent or Dialect Variation with /ʃ/

• Those who have Spanish as their first language and English their second may say “ch” for “sh”. Example: saying “choe” for “shoe”