Are you constantly looking for activities for CVC words to try in speech therapy? Consonant-vowel-consonant structure (or CVC syllable structure) has many benefits for speech and language therapy. It’s one of those tools of the trade I feel like I use a ton with emerging communicators. It is great for targeting the phonological process of final consonant deletion and eliciting a basic word structure to build from. You might use it just in word selection to make elicitation easier. Working on /l/ in “leg” is much easier than working on /l/ in “lollipop” because of the fewer competing sound and fewer syllable movements. Kids with motor planning difficulties will really benefit from thoughtful target selection and getting CVC syllable structures can be huge for their success!
Since I feel like I’m always looking for ready-to-print CVC activities I put together a round up of my favorites! Here are some favorite activities for CVC words to try.
1. Direct Teaching Aids
The visual support and analogy I most often use for CVC words (especially when targeting Final Consonant Deletion) is a train. For the “train analogy,” simply teach students to make sure that the train of the word has a caboose. For example, take the word beet. If children leave off the ending sound, then it becomes a brand new word-bee. Utilize this minimal pair strategy for several different words. Teach students to build words with sound cards, bingo chips or something else that they can mark the final sound with. Final consonant deletion is very common in young children. Mastering the CVC word pattern by marking the final consonant is important because it helps children build bigger words. Teach them a silly sentence to use with the train analogy- “the bee is eating a beet.” Another example would be a student saying “no” instead of “nose.” Practice using the train analogy by placing a marker on each train car for every sound you hear in the word /nose/. Then teach them the silly sentence-“No picking your nose.”
In therapy, I utilize a parent carryover packet (shown below) quite often. This Final Consonant Deletion packet uses the train imagery to elicit CVC words without FCD. Check it out here.
Some tips to make this more fun (and a multi-sensory experience):
- Clap as you say each sound.
- Tap on the table while you say the last sound.
- Turn on a tap light for each sound.
- Hop on “train cars” on the floor for each sound (squares built out of tape or hula hoops).
- Finally, the most important tip-pick words that are IMPORTANT to the child when you start. This way you can ensure you will get lots of practice!
Did you know that phonological processes are often active in young children and then between 18 months and 36 months, they begin to disappear until the child is about 5 years old? The Phonology Home Packet for Final Consonant Deletion includes final consonants with a focus on minimal pairs. This packet is meant to be sent home to a family for the practice of a single process. You can pass it out at conferences or IEP meetings when you see fit.
If you are looking for multiple sound activities to send home for carryover practice, you may want to check out the Phonology Home Packets Complete Bundle.
2. Mass Practice with CVC Boom Cards
Do your students love Boom Cards? Have you tried them yet or do you need a lesson in Boom Card Basics? You can access many different options for boom cards at Boom Learning. There are also many Boom Cards available in my TpT Store for practicing consonant-vowel-consonant words. Boom Cards are so much fun and beneficial for students. They are interactive, plus they give IMMEDIATE feedback (which is what our students need!)
Check out some favorite CVC Boom Cards for different times of the year:
–Firefighter for a Day CVC Boom Cards
-Count & Say Articulation for CVC Words: Back to School
–Count & Say Articulation for CVC Shapes
–Christmas Day: CVC Word Boom Cards
3. Interactive Digital Games for CVC Words and Early Phonemes
Another fun way for students to practice CVC words is through interactive digital games. Interactive games promote comprehension and retention, plus they ignite critical thinking. Interactive games can be ideal at times because they enable real world learning with online interactive games.
Here are some of the best interactive digital games for CVC words and early phonemes:
- Curious George Bubble Pop– (You need a microphone for this one) Students will have fun clapping or yelling “POP!” whenever they see a bubble during George’s bath time. When the computer microphone hears them yell or clap, the bubble automatically POPs on the screen! I love to follow this activity up with some sensory bubble play and work on the word “pop” even more!
- Curious George Bug Catcher-In this silly game, students help George catch the bugs in his net by moving the computer mouse back and forth. I like to focus on both words “catch” and “bug” during this digital game.
- Curious George Hat Grab– In this interactive game from PBS Kids, children will help George the monkey “grab” the pink and orange hats off of people’s heads! This game gives lots of focus to the CVC word, hat (and lots of giggles)!
- ABCya! Make a House-Students can use different materials to build a custom house on screen. This gives you a multitude of things to work on: cvc words, new vocabulary, questions, etc.
- Curious George Meatball Launcher– This game is super fun for kids as they help George “launch” meatballs on to a plate of spaghetti. You can focus on the early phonemes of words in this game (meat in the word meatball or hit). A final bonus is that it also helps students practice counting.
Activities for CVC Words
Did you find this list of 3 activities for CVC words to try in speech therapy helpful? I would love you to comment below and let me know some of your favorite ways to practice CVC words in speech therapy!
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