speech therapy words that start with sh

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SH Word List

If your child is having trouble saying the sound SH, my SH word list can help you!

If you are a speech therapist and you need some SH speech therapy materials, you have come to the right place! 

Below you will find lots of free materials!

• First, there is a FREE worksheet (for non-members) and link (for members) to access new articulation materials.
• Second, there is a word list for  quick viewing .
• Next, you can sign up for a FREE newsletter and receive  A LL THE WORD LISTS in one Folder in your Google Drive.
• After that, check out a brief explanation on how to say the target sound.
• Last, there are ideas for  articulation practice  that do not require flashcards or word lists. This is the most functional option and appropriate for children working on generalization.

Enjoy the FREE materials!!!

SH Worksheets and More!

We have articulation worksheets for teaching, drill practice, generalization, and language-based articulation games! 

• If you are a member, simply log in, download, and you are ready to roll here.
• If you want to join,  sign up here. 

To access the free smashmat, just fill out the form below!

21 free smashmats.

Sign up below to receive your free materials.

Google Drive SH Word List

Sign up with your email address to receive all the word lists instantly! They will be yours now and forever!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Google Drive. I can access my word lists from any device; laptop, desktop, or phone. 

Also, I can access my word lists WITHOUT the internet. 

If you want a copy, fill out the form above. I put all the word lists in one folder.  Once you receive your email with the materials, make a copy of the files and they are yours to use and tweak as needed.

• Need help saving the word lists to your Google Drive, click here: Save Google Document
• If you LOVE Google Drive as much as I do, check out our  Speech Therapy Documentation Page. 

SH Packet Using High-Frequency Words

This is MY FAVORITE NEW RESOURCE! I HONESTLY use it all the time for each articulation session and handouts for home practice.

The words chosen for speech therapy can make all the difference between a good therapy program and a great one! For the generalization phase, it is crucial to use high-frequency words!! It only makes sense to use words that the client will actually say outside of the therapy room. Right?!

For $5, this packet contains: 

• Flashcards that can be used a Cariboo Cards too, yeah
• Flashcard free games that can be used as home practice
• Dot markers/Smash-mats, and/or coloring pages
• Articulation warm-up sheets which can be used as a goal review
• Flashcards which has word, phrase, and sentence level practice
• Cut/paste sentence level worksheets
• Self-assessment sheets

Read more  here

How To Say SH

• Say "sh" while placing the middle of the tongue to the top of the mouth 
• Take a deep breath and blow air
• Lips should be rounded like a "fish"

Articulation Games for SH

The "SH" sound is a later developing sound, usually mastered by age 4.

Take turns with your child saying the desired words. It is important to practice  hearing  as well as  saying  the words.

• Shirt - Say "shirt" as you hang shirts up in your closet
• Shell - Say "shell" as you collect shells on a beach
• Shop - Say "shop" as you talk about what you need to buy at a store
• She - Say "she" while retelling a story about a girl
• Fishing - Play Go Fish and say "fishing" during your turn
• Flashlight - Say "flashlight" while turning off the lights and shining a flashlight around the room
• Splashing - Say "splashing" as you splash in a pool
• Pushing - Say "pushing" while you push each other in a sled or push a car down a ramp
• Cash - Say "cash" while you count dollar bills in a wallet
• Trash - Say "trash" while throwing paper in a trash can

Membership Site

• If your child has trouble saying multiple sounds AND 
• you want a step-by-step guide to help your child AND 
• you want ideas on how to increase vocabulary, improve grammar, follow directions, and much more....

consider our  member's site . It has it all!

If you are a professional and you want: 

• Articulation screening tools
• Data tracking sheets
• Templates in Google Drive for easy data tracking and graphing
• Homework sheets/parent handouts on articulation therapy
• General flashcard games
• 36 flashcards for each sound: B, D, F, G, J, K, L, M, N, P, R, S, T, V, Z, SH, TH, CH
• 8-10 functional games for each sound
• Language-based worksheets to spice things up!
• Picture description tasks
• Short story stimuli

Our  membership might be just what you need!

• Word Lists For Speech Therapy
• SH Word List For Speech Therapy

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SH Words: A Comprehensive List for Home Speech Therapy 

Children often learn the forty-four speech sounds needed for clear and fluent expression by the age of 7-8. Having said that, certain sounds are trickier than others, especially if they require fine muscle control, they’re difficult to ‘see’, or your child is unable to identify the sound correctly. 

One of the most common tricky sounds in English is the /sh/ sound (ʃ). This is frequently substituted with an /s/, /c/, or /t/ sound, making words like ‘fish’ sound like ‘fiss’ or even left out altogether. 

Over time, this usually resolves itself. However, if your child is still having problems, sh-word speech therapy can help. 

We’ve created this article to provide you with a comprehensive list of these /sh/ words along with phrases, sentences, games, activities, and even books you can use at home or in a professional speech therapy setting. 

Keep reading to discover how to pronounce this tricky sound correctly, get plenty of practice, and how the technologically-advanced Forbrain headset can help. 

Word list: /sh/ (ʃ) Sound Word List  

If you want to improve your child’s pronunciation of the tricky /sh/ sound, you should start by helping them understand where this sound appears in real-life language. 

To help, we’ve created a comprehensive list of the most common /sh/ words that your kid is most likely to use every single day. This includes the /sh/ at the beginning (initial), middle (medial), and end of the word (final). 

You can use this high-frequency list of /sh/ words as a reference throughout your home speech therapy or to encourage your child to get extra articulation practice. 

What is the /sh/ (ʃ) sound?

First, let’s have a quick look at what the /sh/ sound actually is.

Written as (ʃ) in the International Phonetic Alphabet , this sound appears at the beginning of words like ‘shoe’, ‘shop’, and ‘sheep’, in the middle of words like ‘ocean’, ‘mushroom’ and ‘milkshake’ and at the end of words like ‘fish’, ‘push’ and ‘brush’. 

Note that the /sh/ sound doesn’t always correspond to the spelling <sh> and can also be written as <ch>, <sch>, <t>, <c>, <s>, <sc>, and <ss>. That’s why you should always focus on the sound, not the spelling. 

In speech therapy, we call this sound a post-alveolar unvoiced fricative. This means that when you pronounce this sound, your tongue is near or touching the roof of your mouth, your vocal cords are not vibrating and the sound passes through a small space in your mouth. 

Here is a list of the most high-frequence /sh/ words in English:

Further /sh/ sound practice using short phrases and sentences

Now that your child has practiced pronouncing /sh/ words in isolation, it’s time to extend their skills by trying short phrases and sentences. 

By doing so, you’ll be helping them practice moving from one sound to another, building fluency, and exercising their articulation muscles so they can communicate effectively in real-life contexts.  Here at Forbrain , we encourage you to follow this /sh/ sound home speech therapy program.

• Ensure that your child can articulate /sh/ sound correctly by following our pronunciation guide below. If not, continue to practice until they are comfortable. Note that they don’t need to be completely fluent yet- practice makes perfect!
• Move on to using carrier phrases so they can immediately use these words for real-life communication. 
• Practice using short phrases and sentences for the /sh/ sound.
• Enjoy games and activities and read books with your child to reinforce what they have learned and get extra practice. 
• Use our scientifically proven Forbrain headset for ongoing practice, sound identification, and confidence-building.

Carrier Phrases

Popular in professional speech therapy, carrier phrases can help elevate your child’s pronunciation of the /sh/ sound because they’re easy to use and are relevant to real-life contexts too. 

To use them, simply choose a sentence, slot an /sh/ word into the space then practice. We recommend you do this with initial, medial, and final /sh/ words. 

Here are some of our favorite carrier phrases: 

• “I found a…”
• “I want a…”
• “He found a…”
• “She found a…”
• “I have a…”
• “He has a…”
• “She has a…”
• “I like to…”
• “He likes to…”

Here are some examples of the sentences you can produce. 

• “I see a SHAPE”
• “I like FISH”
• “She has a MILKSHAKE”

Short phrases for the /sh/ sound

Now that you’ve helped your child improve their articulation of the /sh/ sound and slotted it into some real-life sentences, you can move on to short phrases. 

We’ve created a list of the most common /sh/ sound words, organizing them according to where the sound appears, as before. Work through them together, have fun, and get plenty of practice! 

Short sentences for the /sh/ sound

Congratulations! You’ve already made huge leaps when it comes to your child’s pronunciation of the /sh/ sound. 

Let’s now move on to practicing longer sentences that can further improve articulation skills, boost fluency and confidence and help them communicate effectively. 

Games & Activities with /sh/ Sound Words 

Who said learning had to be serious? Play these games and activities with your kids to make mastering the /sh/ sound fun and engaging. You’ll also build their confidence, nurture that parent-child bond and make home speech therapy fun. 

Here’s a pick of our favorite/sh/ sound games and activities.

Play the Shopping List game

Grab a piece of paper, write ‘shopping list’ at the top, and give it to your child. Then add them to list as many /sh/ words as they can. If they struggle, refer to the comprehensive /sh/ word list we shared above. For example, ‘shirt’, ‘shell’, ‘sugar’, ‘shortbread, ‘shoes’ and ‘shampoo’ could join your list.

Play ‘Go Fish!’

This popular game is an excellent way to practice those /sh/ words. Here’s how to play: 

• Print two copies of the /sh/ word list that we shared above and then cut them into flashcards. Select just ten common words from these lists and shuffle them. 
• Give five cards to each player then place the rest in the middle of the table, face-down.
• The youngest player (most likely to be your child!) should ask you if you have a certain card, for example, ‘shoe’. 
• If you do have this card, pass it to your child. If not, take a card from the pile in the middle and add it to those in your hand. 
• Repeat the process, taking it in turns to ask about the cards.
• When one player finds a pair, they place them face down on the table.
• The winner is the person who runs out of cards. 

Play the Sea Shell Game

In this fun and affordable game, your child can build a nature object collection while practicing their /sh/ sounds. Here’s what to do. 

• Buy a pack of seashells from your local craft store or collect your own if you’re lucky enough to live near a beach. 
• Use a permanent marker to write a number between 5 and 10 on the back. 
• Place the shells on a table and give your child the flashcards you used for ‘Go Fish!’
• Ask your child to choose a flashcard then turn over a shell. The number indicates how many times your child needs to say the word. 
• If they successfully pronounce the /sh/ sound, let them keep the shell. 

Reading good books is a powerful way to boost your child’s language skills, ignite their imagination and enjoy that special time together. Look for books featuring the /sh/ in various positions in the world if possible for best results. 

Here’s our selection of the best /sh/ sound books. 

• Sharing A Shell by Julia Donaldson
• The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Phister
• Smiley Shark by Ruth Galloway
• Shhhh! We Have a Plan by Chris Haughton

How to Pronounce the /sh/ Sound

When you pronounce the /sh/ sound, you won’t need to use your vocal cords. It’s produced by placing your tongue towards the back of your mouth and allowing the sides to gently touch your teeth. 

Then the air should pass from your lungs, and down the middle and sides tongue while you relax your vocal cords. 

If your tongue is in the wrong place or your mouth is open, you won’t be able to pronounce the sound correctly. Here is more specific guidance.

Pronouncing the /sh/ sound

Let’s take one of the words from the above /sh/ word list, for example, ‘fish’ or ‘shoe’. 

Say this word aloud several times and take note of what is happening in your mouth when you produce this sound, including your lips, teeth, tongue position, whether you use your vocal cords, and where the air flows. 

You should see that your tongue is in a neutral position with the sides gently touching your side teeth, your lips are slightly rounded and the air comes over the middle and sides of your tongue. 

If so, you are ready to explain to your child how to pronounce this tricky sound and help them gain the articulation skills they need for success. 

How to help your child produce the /sh/ sound correctly

Ready to teach your child how to articulate the /sh/ sound effectively? Here’s how to do it. 

1) Ask your child to relax their tongue then ‘squidge’ it sideways until it gently touches their back teeth. 

2) Then ask them to breathe out through their mouth while trying to say the sound /sh/ or the word ‘shop’. It can take some practice to get it right so be patient! Watch this video by Peachie Speechie for extra help if you need it. 

Using Forbrain to Upgrade Sound Practice

You can further enhance your child’s articulation of the /sh/ sound and build their confidence in just 10 minutes per day with the patented Forbrain headset. 

This pioneering device uses cutting-edge technology with innovative design features to stimulate the neural pathways that lead to life-long learning and language development, optimize learning, finely tune pronunciation, and build communication confidence. 

Your child will learn how to distinguish the /sh/ sound and improve their pronunciation through the enhanced auditory feedback loop while having fun. Find out more about Forbrain and the scientific research that underpins it all here . 

Final Words

The /sh/ sound (ʃ) that appears at the start of the words ‘shop’, ‘shoe’, and ‘chef’ can be tricky to pronounce. 

If your child is having problems, use the list of /sh/ words, phrases, sentences, and games to help them learn, improve and practice this sound. 

Used alongside the patented Forbrain headset for just 10 minutes per day, you’ll see that learning can be simple, effective, and fun! 

Charlotte Witts

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SH Words for Speech Therapy (Word Lists and Activities)

If you’re a speech-language pathologist looking for a quick list of initial and final sh target words to practice during therapy, this article is a must-read! You’ll also find fun ideas for making speech therapy more fun with a variety of engaging games, resources, and articulation activities for teaching the sh sound. This blog post provides a list of sh words, including initial sh, medial sh, and final sh words. This articulation article also suggests a variety of strategies for teaching correct placement for the sh sound.

How To Say the SH Sound

The SH sound is a lingua-palatal sound. It is a fricative. It is also a voiceless sound, meaning the vocal folds do not vibrate during production. When we produce the sh sound, the lips are protruded. The correct production of sh involves the front of the tongue (the tongue tip and tongue blade) angling toward the lower front teeth. The sides of the tongue make contact with the upper molars. The tongue is raised, flattened, and has a wide groove, which is much wider than it is for the s sound. Air is directed through this wide opening.

References:

Peña-Brooks Adriana, and M. N. Hegde.  Articulation and Phonological Disorders: Assessment and Treatment Resource Manual , PRO-ED, Austin, TX, 2007.

Bauman-Wängler Jacqueline Ann. “Chapter 8: Therapy for Phonetic Errors.” Articulatory and Phonological Impairment: A Clinical Focus , Pearson, Harlow, Essex, 2014.

Common SH Sound Errors

Sometimes, students with articulation disorders or phonological disorders have difficulty producing the sh sound. A student with a lisp, such as a lateral lisp , may have difficulty with the production of the sh sound. Read about the different types of lisps , and make sure to check out these lateral SH tips for speech therapy .

Another error may involve the phonological process of stopping. A student might substitute “t” for “sh”. The result would be saying “two” for “shoe”. Stopping minimal pairs might be beneficial if this occurs. Read more about the different phonological processes .

Reference: Bauman-Wängler Jacqueline Ann. “Chapter 8: Therapy for Phonetic Errors.” Articulatory and Phonological Impairment: A Clinical Focus , Pearson, Harlow, Essex, 2014.

How To Teach the SH Sound in Speech Therapy

A speech language therapist might find it beneficial to try giving this sound a silly name. It could be something like “your quiet sound”. Raise a finger to your lips as an additional reminder.

A speech pathologist could try to shape SH from S. Have your student say the s sound, then pucker the lips (or make “fish lips”).

Try incorporating minimal pairs . For example, if a child says ‘t’ for ‘sh’ (“two” for “shoe”), try using stopping minimal pairs . If a child says the s sound as a substitution for the sh sound (“Sue” for “shoe”), try using fronting minimal pairs .

A mirror may be helpful to provide visual feedback.

And don’t miss these tips for lateral SH .

Author’s clinical experience

Peña-Brooks Adriana, and M. N. Hegde. “Chapter 8- Therapy for Phonetic Errors.” Articulation and Phonological Disorders: Assessment and Treatment Resource Manual , PRO-ED, Austin, TX, 2007, pp. 300–301. 

Speech Sound Word Lists for the SH Sound

The following word lists contain words with the initial sh sound, medial sh sound, and final sh sound. These SH articulation word lists allow the SLP to easily work on a target sound in speech therapy . Quickly pull these SH word lists up during your speech therapy session and pair them with the game or activity of your choice. Check out the best games for speech therapy here . These lists are helpful for a student with an articulation disorder. To practice at the sentence level, have students combine words and generate sentences.

Initial SH Word List for Speech Therapy

Here is a list of initial sh words (sh at the beginning of a word) to use in speech therapy:

Medial SH Words for Speech Therapy

Here is a list of medial sh words (SH in the middle of a word) to use in speech therapy:

Final SH Word Lists for Speech Therapy

Here is a list of sh occurring at the end of the word (sh at the ends of words, final position):

5 Best SH Words Speech Therapy Activities

Speech-language pathologists are often looking for fun ways to work on the sh sound in speech therapy! Here are the top articulation activities that include sh words.

• Speech Sound Mouth Articulation Cards

How about a nice change from traditional articulation drill cards? These speech sound mouth articulation cards are the answer! Your speech therapy students will be excited to see articulation cards in the shape of lips! The picture of the mouth is very helpful as a visual cue. Even better, these articulation cards can double as speech room decor . Prep them once and hang them in your speech room for everyday use!

Several speech sound targets are included in this resource, including sh initial, sh medial, and sh final.

• Articulation Manicure

This creative articulation activity is going to be a HIT in your speech therapy session! Banish boring and try an articulation manicure instead! Your student simply picks a play dough color (aka, a nail color), while you pick the target speech sound. Your speech therapy student will say the target word, then smash a small piece of play dough on a “nail”. Your student continues to say each target articulation word and each time she gets to smash a small piece of playdough onto a fingernail. Before you know it, the manicure will be complete!

• Articulation Card Game Companion

Your students love playing that very popular color-coded card game- and you’d like a way to incorporate that into articulation therapy. No problem!

Speech-language pathologists will absolutely love this articulation card game companion because it makes data collection a breeze. Not only that, but it ensures an engaging session for your elementary speech therapy students.

Here’s how it works: before your student puts down a blue card during his turn, he must say the sh articulation word that is listed under the blue section. If he draws a yellow card, then he must say the sh articulation word that is assigned to that target color. It’s fast, easy, and motivating!

SH Sound Speech Therapy Minimal Pairs

Need some easy-to-use minimal pairs for speech therapy? Speech therapists will love how simple and organized these minimal pairs are to use in therapy! If you aren’t a fan of searching through hundreds of cards in. a pile, trying to find exactly the words you need, then give these a try!

Everything you need to implement a successful minimal pairs session is available on one page. First, there is an auditory bombardment word list that you can read to your speech therapy student. Then, your student can complete an auditory sorting or auditory discrimination activity. Finally, have your student practice saying the 6 minimal pair target words per page.

Try these fronting minimal pairs or stopping minimal pairs to target the sh sound. Or, just grab the bundle so you’ll always be set!

Articulation Activity for Older Students

Do you have older students working on the SH sound? This Type & Say Articulation Challenge is a hands-on activity that your students will love! No, it doesn’t involve using any laptops or tablets.

Here’s how it all works: your student will pretend to “type” the word using the ”keyboard” on the paper, then they will practice saying the target word. This can also open up great conversations about how speech sound targets can be represented in print in various ways.

More Articulation Words for Speech-Language Pathologists

Are you in a hurry and need this article summed up? To see the SH words, simply scroll up. Next, make sure to try out these best-selling SH sound articulation resources:

• Minimal Pairs Bundle
• Type & Say Articulation Challenge

Don’t miss these other articulation word lists!

• S Word Lists
• L Word Lists
• F Word Lists
• K Word Lists
• TH Word Lists
• R Words for Speech Therapy
• Z Word Lists
• V Words for Speech Therapy
• G Words for Speech Therapy

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290+ SH Words Speech Therapy

Are you a speech therapist or parent looking for SH words for speech therapy to practice with your child or student?

Then this blog is just what you need!

It has over 290 SH words that will help strengthen your child’s or students’ /sh/ sound. 

SH Words Speech Therapy

I know Speech-Language Pathologists are always on the lookout for speech therapy sh words organized by word, phrase, and sentence levels.

That’s exactly why I’m on a mission to bring you a complete list of all the articulation sounds in an organized fashion.

Use the links below to help navigate this post:

• SH Words Overview
• Flash Cards – Initial SH (word, phrase, sentence, + question)
• Word Level – Initial SH
• Flash Cards – Medial SH (word, phrase, sentence, + question)
• Word Level – Medial SH
• Flash Cards – Final SH (word, phrase, sentence, + question)
• Word Level – Final SH
• Phrase Level – Initial SH
• Phrase Level – Medial SH
• Phrase Level – Final SH
• Sentence Level – Initial SH
• Sentence Level Medial SH
• Sentence Level Final SH
• Additional SH Word Resources

Target Words

Here’s a list of sh articulation sounds for you to use in therapy or at home practice to work on your student or child’s articulation disorder.

• For Example: shark, ship, sheep, shop, shy, cashier, station, flashlight, seashell, t-shirt, push, hush, dish, wish, brush

See full word lists of words, phrases, and sentences below.

Be sure to grab my one page digital download freebie of sh sounds below. Simply scroll to the bottom of this post and grab your free copy!

Word Positions: SH Words Speech Therapy 

Initial position of words.

The initial position of the sh sound is at the beginning of a word. For example, “shake” or “shine”.

Medial Position of Words

Some words have the sh sound in the medial position of a word, such as “station”, “fashion”, and “ocean”.

Final Positions of Words

The final positions of words are when the target sound is at the end of a word. For example, “push” or “fish”.

Correct Production

Let’s review how to make the correct sound production of the sh sound.

I’ll begin by reviewing the phonetic placement of the teeth, lips, tongue, and jaw.

• Teeth: The /sh/ sound is made by having the front teeth come together.
• Lip Position: Lips should be slightly parted and the corners of the lips should be puckered like a kiss.
• Tongue Tip: Have the tongue tip just below the roof of the mouth just behind the alveolar ridge (or the bumpy part).
• Middle of the Tongue: Have the mid-tongue come up slightly and barely touch the corners of the top teeth.
• Air: Then blow air over the center of your tongue.
• Voice: This sound is unvoiced or voiceless. The sound is made only from the passage of air through the mouth and not from the vocal cords vibrating. 

Visual Cues: Many children are familiar with being told “shhh” when they need to be quiet. Using the visual cue of putting a finger in front of your mouth making the visual symbol of “shh” can be helpful for your child. You can then encourage your child or student to make the “shhh” sound back at you (children always seem to enjoy “shooshing” the adult).

Common Error

One of the most common sound errors is when the child makes the /s/ sound in place of the /sh/ sound. 

If your child or student is making speech errors when producing the /sh/ sound it is important to have them evaluated by a Speech-Language Pathologist.

SH Words at Word Level

Some ways to practice include having your child or student say each sh word one by one as they go through a list. 

Using a dot marker can also be a fun way to practice having your child put a dot under each sh sound. 

In addition, I’ve compiled an easy-to-download one page overview of sh sounds below. Simply scroll down to the bottom of this post and download your free copy.

Initial SH Words Speech Therapy

• 1 Syllable:  she, shy, shop, show, ship, short, shelf, shell, shed, shock, sharp, shut, shaft, shack, shout, shine, sheep, sheen, shoe, shield, shore, shape, shame, shoes, shade, shea, shake, shrew, shave, shrimp, should, shoot, shirt, shared, sheet, shard, shapes, shun, shift, shove, shoo, shire, sheath, shush, shawl, shrink, ships, shocked, shook, shrill, shear, shrub, shuck, shaped, shred, shrug, Shane
• 2 Syllable:  shadow, shiver, shallow, shamrock, shelter, shopping, shower, shooting, shrieking, shepherd, sheriff, shovel, shortage, showers, shyness, shoulder, shaper, shatter, showtime, shuttle, shipping, shoving, shuffle, shortly, Shiloh, shutter, shuffling, shipment, sherpa, shudder, shaken, shaver, shimmer, shampoo, shining, shaker, shabby, shaking, shedding, showing, shingle, shorter, shouting, shoebox, shocker, sheltered, shielding, shading, shoring, shrinking, shunning, shaving, shifting, shapeless, shiny, sharing, sharpie, Sherlock, shepherd, shady, shimmy, sherbet, shiner
• 3 Syllable:  Shakespeare, shattering, shoplifting, shoreline, shimmering, shoemaker, showstopper, shoemaking, shuddering, shivering
• 4 Syllable:  shapeshifter, shopaholic, sharecropping, shenanigans, shareholder, shamefulness, shamelessly, shamefully

Initial SH Flash Cards

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Medial SH Words Speech Therapy

• 1 Syllable:  washed, pushed, cashed, hushed, dashed, gashed,
• 2 Syllable:  Joshua, Marshall, sunshine, seashell, fisher, washer, bushel, wishes, smashing, kosher, cashew, crushing, seashore, blushing, nutshell, freshman, clashing, eggshell, flashing, outshine, flushing, brushing, pusher, slashing, windshield, rashly, swishing, crashing, wisher, blushful
• 3 Syllable:  punishment, earthshaking, banishment, bedsheet, Irishman
• 4 Syllable:  perishable

Medial SH Flash Cards

Final SH Words Speech Therapy

• 1 Syllable:  fish, ash, wish, bush, dish, Josh, rush, push, cash, dash, brush, fresh, bash, wash, smash, flash, flesh, crash, trash, hush, lash, crush, rash, squash, blush, leash, swish, harsh, posh, lush, clash, flush, marsh, squish, slash, thrush, stash, whoosh
• 2 Syllable:  Irish, cherish, English, Spanish, British, Amish, Swedish, Polish, foolish, catfish, goldfish, finish, lavish, ambush, rubbish, radish, toothbrush, Scottish, starfish, perish, flourish, selfish, danish, Jewish, blemish, backwash, publish, childish, furnish, garnish, brainwash, stylish, punish, eyelash, banish, dogfish, swordfish, refresh, skittish, tarnish, parish, blowfish, crawfish, mouthwash, sailfish, Finnish, backlash, paintbrush, kiddish, vanish, bluefish, hairbrush, brackish, shellfish, whiplash, codfish
• 3 Syllable:  abolish, jellyfish, angelfish, astonish, refurbish, relinquish, demolish, devilish, diminish, extinguish, squeamish, establish, sagebrush, unselfish
• 4 Syllable:  amateurish, horseradish

Final SH Flash Cards

Short Sentences or Phrases

When working on sh sound production, it’s important to work on short phrases once your child or student has mastered the sound at the word level at or near 80% or higher accuracy.

Here is a list of sh word phrases to try:

Initial SH Words Speech Therapy in Phrases

Medial SH Words Speech Therapy in Phrases

Final SH Words Speech Therapy in Phrases

SEE ALSO: 21 Best Reinforcement Games for Speech Therapy

Sentence level: initial sh words speech therapy.

The next step after working at the word and phrase levels are to work on the sh sound at the sentence level.

For example, you could give your child or student a list of sentences to read aloud while they work on their sh sound. 

Another idea would be to give your child or student pictures with their sh sound in them and then have them create a sentence about those pictures.

Below is a list of sentences to use with your child or students.

Initial SH Words Speech Therapy in Sentences

SEE ALSO: Free Articulation Games for Speech Therapy

Medial sh words speech therapy in sentences.

Final SH Words Speech Therapy in Sentences

SH Words Speech Therapy Ideas

Interactive resource.

Are you looking to add some fun and engaging activities to your therapy sessions? 

Board games are a great way to reinforce practice while working on your students’ sounds. 

Bonus: some board games can also work on language skills so you can get articulation and language practice done all at the same time.

• Ch – Sh Interactive SmartBoard Game by Mr. T’s ICT is a fun interactive game to practice differentiating between ch and sh sounds.
• Interactive Artic Bingo : /SH/ in All Positions for teletherapy- Board 1 by The Modern Speechie is a great set of bingo cards with sh in all positions! Use PowerPoint to play this game.
• SH Articulation Game by SpeechTeachPro is a fun game to help students produce final sh. This is geared towards 3rd – 5th grade students.

Digital Boom Cards

Boom cards are another fun and engaging way to strengthen your child or student’s articulation skills and can also be used during distance learning.

Here are a few favorite boom cards to work on the sh sounds: 

• Digraphs Ch and Sh Boom Cards Distance Learning Free by Marcia Murphy is a set of highly rated digital boom cards that are fun and interactive! 
• Snowman Roll & Build Articulation Game SH BOOM CARD FREEBIE by Speechiepeep is a great game to have fun with while practicing sh sounds and building a snowman. Up to 5 players can play together!
• FREE Sh Digraphs Digital BOOM Phonics Task Cards  by Leaping into Learning with Kaley is a great boom card game incorporating phonics practices to work on the sh sound! 

Are you a speech therapist looking for a fun video game that you can use to work on your clients sh words? 

Here are a couple of fun video games that you can use in your therapy room to work on the sh sound.

• Digraphs Roblox Obstacle Course! Perfect For Distance Learning! By ABZ Learning is a great game to play if your students love Roblox! Practice sh and other sounds while running through a Roblox obstacle course.
• Feed the Shark Sh Articulation by PinkCatGames is a fun video game to play with students to practice multiple productions of the SH sound. 

SEE ALSO: 279+ Free Speech Therapy Digital Materials

Enough Time

Feeling like you don’t have enough time to work on your child or students sh sound? 

Articulation therapy can be as simple as doing everyday speech practice for 5 minutes a day.

Here is a list of 5 minute therapy ideas to work on the sh sound.

• No Prep Articulation Coloring Pages for “sh” “ch” and “th” by Carly Flower is a set of 7 coloring pages for your students to practice sh articulation. This is a print and go resources and an easy quick activity for your students.
• Freebie SH Articulation Worksheets for Speech Therapy by Talking with Rebecca is a set of free articulation worksheets that are easy to print and go. They are simple and quick activities! 
• SH Articulation Drills FREEBIE All Positions: Initial, Medial, Final by Snuggle Bug Speech is great, simple and quick articulation practice for sh in all positions.

Have Students Working on Other Speech Sounds?

You won’t want to miss out on my complete growing list of all my articulation word lists !

In Conclusion: SH Words Speech Therapy

We hope you have found this article helpful for working on your child or student’s sh articulation skills at the sound level, word level, phrase level, and sentence level.

Be sure to grab your freebie of 20 words to start practicing 5 minutes a day for faster progress!

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Simply enter your name and email to have this free SH words list with pictures emailed directly to your inbox!

Grab our Initial SH Words List!

Grab our medial sh words list, grab our final sh words list, want even more sh words speech therapy.

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Parent's Academy › Speech Disorders › Speech Sound Disorders › Articulation Therapy: The “SH” Sound

Articulation Therapy: The “SH” Sound

Stacie bennett.

Speech-Language Pathologist , Trenton , New Jersey

Jan 15, 2022 Teaching the /sh/ sound can be a little frightening at first. Typically, children who have difficulty producing the /sh/ sound in words, usually don’t have any issues with it being said in isolation.

The physical production of /sh/ sound articulation can lead to kids making speech errors. The easiest way to test if your child can produce /sh/ is by asking them to hold their finger to their mouth and say “SHHHHHHH,” as if they are trying to keep a secret. 

If your child can say the SH sound then you’re ready to practice the SH sound in syllables. If your child struggles with producing the SH sound clearly don’t worry, we speech therapists can teach them.

Sound Elicitation

There are a few different ways of teaching the SH sound. You may want to begin with phonetic placement , which is when you teach the child how to position his/her tongue, jaw, lips and teeth for a good production of the target sound. “Or, you may try shaping the sound from another sound. Shaping is when you use a sound the child can already say accurately to teach a sound they are not able to say” (mommy speech therapy).

Phonetic placement

A few simple steps to teach the child where to place his/her tongue, jaw, lips and teeth for a good SH sound include:

• Have your child part his/her lips slightly
• Then touch your child’s tongue with a tongue depressor or his/her toothbrush just behind the tip of the tongue. Have him/her place the part of the tongue just touched on the roof of the mouth just behind the “bumpy part.”
• Next, have the child lower his/her tongue just a little. You may need to use a tongue depressor or popsicle stick to help your child lower it slightly.
• Finally, have your child hold this position, pucker his lips and breathe out through his mouth.

Provided your child has the oral motor capabilities and cognitive ability to follow these instructions this should produce a nice SH sound. If not, we may need to use other strategies and techniques to get the SH sound created. 

Show Visual and Audio Cues with the Help of Speech Blubs 

Speech Blubs App  has multiple activities that you can use to target specific speech sounds. The games are fun and highly engagable so your child won’t even realize that they are working on speech sounds!

Boost Your Child’s Speech Development!

Improve language & communication skills with fun learning!

To practice making the SH consonant here is the list of sections and words in them that you can practice with your child:

• Wild Animals & Petting ZOO: Fish.
• When I grow up: Chef.
• Ride your Wheels: Ship.

How to Play Articulation Bingo?

• Use the button below to download our Articulation Bingo Board
• Print out the board and give it to your child or cut out the pictures and put them into a bag
• Let your child pick a word from the board/bag 
• Find the word in Speech Blubs App and practice it, play with fun filters, and watch educational videos
• Your child is a winner when he practices three pictures in a row (across, down, or horizontally) or the entire board

Moving the SH Sound into Words, Syllables, Sentences, and Conversation

Now that your child can say the SH sound, follow the steps on our articulation process blog for moving that sound from isolation (saying the sound all by itself), to syllables, to words, to sentences and finally conversation.

You want to make sure you are working on the sound in the beginning, middle, and final position of words. Just because they have mastered the sound in one position, doesn’t mean it will be accurate in every placement of words! Articulation errors are likely, but just turn them into a learning moment.

Ask if they can hear the difference between a correctly articulated sound and an incorrect one. Then, ask them to try the correct way in all word positions. You want to make sure that hearing loss isn’t an issue.

You can also work on a sound when it’s in a rotating sentence . A rotating sentence is when the sentence stays the same, except for one word that changes.

For example, the sentence may be, “Shave the _______ with shears.” The idea is that you can rotate all the word cards you have been practicing at the word level through one sentence. It would look like this, “Shave the shower with shears.” Or, “Shave the sheep with shears.”

In this example, you can see that sometimes the sentence will make sense, and sometimes it won’t. 

The important thing is that the child is able to memorize the sentence, which allows for the independent production of the target sound at the sentence level regardless of the child’s age or reading ability.

The other benefit of practicing the sound using a rotating sentence is that you can target language at the same time. The child may say, “You can’t shave a shower!” Or, “That’s silly.” At this point, you may just agree or open it up for discussion. “Why can’t you shave a shower?”

Finally, you may also download simple SH stories targeting the sound in all positions of words. Each story has pictures that allow children of all reading abilities to practice and retell the story independently.

Older children also benefit from specifically targeting the SH sound while reading a book of their choice aloud. This gives the child lots of practice in a concentrated setting. Your child can master /sh/ sound articulation exercises with just a little help!

If your child has difficulties with other sounds, here are the articles that can help you with speech therapy and articulation activities ideas:

Articulation Therapy: An All-in-One Guide for Parents

• B Sound Articulation Therapy
• H Sound Articulation Therapy
• JJ and CH Sounds Articulation Therapy
• L Sound Articulation Therapy
• Lisp Articulation Therapy
• M Sound Articulation Therapy
• N Sound Articulation Therapy
• NG Sound Articulation Therapy
• R Sound Articulation Therapy
• S Sound Articulation Therapy
• T and D Sounds Articulation Therapy
• W Sound Articulation Therapy

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Speech with Tara

(608) 571-5737

• Apr 6, 2020

"Sh" Practice and Resources

Here you will find resources for practicing the "sh" sound. The "sh" words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs are from the Home Speech Home site. Practice them at the appropriate level and as always you can find different activities on the Activities site in Articulation Nation. The video below helps teach and remind students how to correctly produce the "sh" sound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh7mXvkSR9E

Another way to produce the "sh" sound that I like to teach my students is to have them say "eee" (like "cheese"). Then I have them whisper their "eee". From there, while whispering "eee" the child should round their lips (like she does in the video). Using this as a starting sound works well for transitioning into single syllable words with "sh" in the beginning of words. So it would be "eee"-"shoe" as one word.

"Sh" Picture Level Initial "sh"

Medial "sh"

Final "sh"

"Sh" Word Lists Initial "sh"

"Sh" Phrases Initial "sh"

"Sh" Sentences Initial "sh"

"Sh" Paragraphs

"Sh" Tongue Twisters Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks. I slit the sheet, the sheet I slit, and on the slitted sheet I sit. Selfish shellfish She sells seashells by the sea shore There sheriff should shoot slowly Sally says she shall sew six sheets for her sister Shelly The sun shines on the shop signs The sheep shouldn't sleep in a shack

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZM_eLOVlIA8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3vkQd6HkFU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwJHTHiduCY

• Articulation Nation

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Sentence Comprehension & Language Comprehension

Improve sentence comprehension, language and reading comprehension, and picture comprehension with 4 activities and over 125 prompts for speech therapy or classrooms! Target comprehending, receptive language, and more.

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Save your time and energy, this set is NO PREP! Includes everything you need to elicit creative, engaging stories from your students.

Perfect for SLPs, teachers, or parents looking to expand language or writing in a fun and creative way!

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Sh book list for articulation therapy.

• Book Lists , Books , Literacy-Based Speech Therapy

Book Lists For Articulation: SH words

Without a doubt, my passion is literacy-based speech therapy. I LOVE children’s picture books; they are an endless wealth for targeting articulation and language concepts. When I select books, I’m not just looking for the target sound in the book title. I only recommend books that contain the sound with high frequency or a word containing that sound is repeated throughout. As we all know, muscle memory comes from repetition. You may also like to read how to choose the best books for literacy-based speech therapy .

If you find this list useful, please PIN an image below to share with others! Additionally, if you have any books to recommend, please drop a comment below so I can add it to the list! Certainly print the list off at the bottom of the post and take it to your library. If you’d like to add them to your own library, my Amazon affiliate links are provided.

Initial SH Articulation Books

Mrs. Wishy-Washy’s Farm by Joy Cowley Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox Shoe Town by Janet Stevens Sheep On A Ship by Nancy Shaw (series) Sheep In A Shop by Nancy Shaw (series) Sharing A Shell by Julia Donaldson Shoes by Elizabeth Winthrop I Love My White Shoes by James Dean (series) Smily Shark by Ruth Galloway Big Shark, Little Shark by Anna Membrino

Medial SH Articulation Books

Mrs. McNosh Hangs Up Her Wash by Sarah Weeks (series) Five Silly Fishermen by Roberta Edwards Over In The Ocean: In A Coral Reef by Marianne Berkes

Final SH Articulation Books

The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Phister (also on R book list ) The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen (series) Trashy Town by Andrea Zimmerman (also medial SH)

I hope this list helps you! If you have a favorite book to work on SH, drop a comment below and I will update the list! I organized the list by initial, medial, and final sounds. There is a column on the right for you to add your own notes if needed. I like to write where I can locate the book. For instance, I will label them as “mine,” or “library” if I borrow theirs, etc. If you’d like to download this list, simply enter your name and email and I will send it to you immediately!

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Fun & Engaging SH Sound Speech Therapy Activities

Feb 17, 2024

I recently had a third grade group in which all of my students were working on the /sh/ sound. At first, I was relieved to plan a session all around one sound. When I looked closer, I realized my students were all at different “stages” in working on the sh sound. It was one of their first sessions working on the sh sound, another was working on it in the middle of words and the third was working on it in sentences. This is our job as SLPs, but it made me really brainstorm some ideas so that all of my students felt successful, challenged and most importantly, motivated. Here is my list of SH sound speech therapy activities from elicitation to conversation. 

This blog post contains Amazon affiliate links for your convenience. I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

SH Sound Speech Therapy Resources for Elicitation

First off, we need to elicit the SH sound all by itself. Here are some helpful resources for teaching the sh sound in speech therapy. 

• Visit Mommy Speech Therapy where you can find tips for elicitation and picture words for the /sh/ sound. 
• Watch this SH video from Peachie Speechie with your students. Hint: This can be helpful to share with teachers and caregivers to help promote carryover!
• The Marshall Guide has lots of tips for producing various sounds, including the SH sound!
• If you need visuals, word lists, and tips for eliciting the /sh/ sound, check out this Speech Sound Handbook from Peachie Speechie
• When working with students who have lateral lisps, peachie speechie has a helpful video as well as this lateral lisp blog post from Amy Graham.

SH Syllable and Word Speech Therapy Activities

Once I’ve elicited the sound in isolation, I’ll start working on the /sh/ sound in syllables and words. As all SLPs know, we continuously have to push our students to the next level so they’re making progress all while feeling successful and challenged. (Quite the balancing act)

• Try using my FREE articulation syllable practice sheet for sh syllable practice. Use dry-erase markers or post-it notes to practice SH at the syllable level.
• Try these SH word activities speech therapy digital folders to customize quick drill activities for your in-person and teletherapy sessions. These digital folders keep everything in one place between links to websites, YouTube videos, Google Slides, progress monitoring tools, and PDFs.
• If you’re using a minimal pairs approach for the SH sound, there are also stopping and cluster reduction digital folders.
• Check out these SH, CH, J Words activities flipbook and don’t forget to check out the NO print version .

Word Lists and Word Level Activities

• Use these SH word lists from Speech and Language at Home or another word list for SH from Home Speech Home.
• Incorporate Articulation station activities into your sessions along with SH with pipe cleaners .
• Play I Spy games, drill based activities, sensory bins and more with my SH speech word picture cards .
• For kids who need movement or games that are sound-loaded, Home Speech Home has some fun suggestions. 
• Make an I Spy sensory bin with SH mini trinkets . You can also pair mini trinkets with the free SH sound mat printables.
• Pair your word lists with sound-loaded SH games to maximize your trials in a session.

Sound Loaded SH Phrases & Sentence Ideas

Now that your student has SH in words, get working on the sound in phrases and sentences!

• Make sound-loaded phrases with your students on paper that you can practice in the session and then take home for the weekly homework. For example, you can use the phrase “Let me show you the ____.” Then, students think of different words. They don’t have to have an /sh/ because the word your student will be working on is “show.” When using mixed groups, give them a category group to name items. Here are some more examples for sound loaded phrases:
• “She has a ___.”
• “I want to share the ___.”
• “We need to wash the ___.”
• “Add ___ to the shopping list.”

Sentence Level Articulation Ideas for the SH Sound

• If you do a theme-based approach, you can do this activity but use the theme’s vocabulary. See this IG for more details . 
• Compare and contrast similar nouns that contain the sh sound. For example, goldfish and shark,  or shovel and brush would be great SH words to compare. If you need pre-selected compare-and-contrast flashcards, check out the SH, CH, J articulation carryover set . 
• Play a sentence articulation challenge game that keeps the student motivated to practice high trials in a short amount of time. 
• Have your students create tongue twisters with your word lists that they can practice. You can even have them illustrate  tongue twister to make a fun speech sound book. For example, you could use “Shelly shared shells at the shore” or “She shouldn’t wash dishes with a shovel.” ChatGPT would be a great way to get more SH tongue twisters quickly!
• You can make alliteration SH poems and then students can draw their poem.
• Play guessing games for secret words that only have the SH sound. Add in carrier phrases for people to use, like “You surely won’t guess this word! It is especially tricky,” or “You sure are correct,” or “You should guess again.”

Speech Therapy Crafts for the SH Sound

During your students’ journey up the ladder, it’s always fun to incorporate crafts so your students can decorate a bulletin board in your room or bring home a piece of work to share with their caregivers. Here are some craft ideas:

• Make speech sound wallets that they can store in their speech folders or use to practice at home. 
• I love doing crafts with my students but I prefer something that’s quick and easy to prep. The paper plate challenge craft is just this for a SH sound speech therapy craft.
• Make some milkshake craft or a shape craft to use for practicing the SH sound.
• Have students decorate their own shirt, shorts, or shoes! Sketch the shape of their clothing item on paper, cut it out, and have them decorate. They can decorate with /sh/ words or more craft materials (stickers, bingo daubers, crayons, etc). 

Articulation Games with the SH Sound

Most of our speech students are always asking to play a game when they come to speech. There are plenty of options for /sh/ sound games.

• There are so many games with natural opportunities for SH sound to help keep kids motivated. 
• Check out Shark Bite , Let’s Go Fishing or Go Fish . 
• Play Pinball on Toy Theater and practice words like “Push,” “Shoot,” and “Shake.”
• On ABCYa , make a face and practice words or phrases like “She has…,” “Should I give the face…”

Count fish in ABCYa’s Counting Fish game or dash through a dungeon in ABCYa’s Dungeon Dash (there are also versions with numbers, shapes and colors!). 

Where to Find SH Sound Loaded Stories

If your student is a reader, incorporate SH sound-loaded reading passages into your therapy sessions. 

• Use this Free story from Ms. Lane’s SLP Materials . 
• Try some fictional SH stories in the articulation carryover resource.
• On Wonderopolis, learn about 
• How Shells are Formed
• Can You hear the Ocean in a Shell
• The Largest Shark
• If your student isn’t quite a reader, read these stories with them. Ask questions involving the SH sound. Ask them to share what details they remember or what facts they thought were the coolest!

SH Sound Conversation Activities

Once your student has shown consistent success for /sh/ in sentences (and reading or retell), time to focus on generalization of the sound in conversation. While having a conversation can seem like the most straightforward task, ensuring that your student uses /sh/ sounds in the speech therapy conversation activities can feel tricky. Here are some ideas:

• I linked this before, but make sure to check out my SH Sound conversation activities for some low-prep ideas. 
• Find more sound-loaded non-fiction articles to read aloud. Discuss them afterward with your students. How much can they retell you? (There are non-fiction passages in the SH carryover activities.)
• Make sound loaded questions, or would you rather games . 
• Make a game like “What should I do?” and make up silly scenarios that students have to explain what you “should” or “shouldn’t” do.
• Have students read the directions of a game, or read the cards while playing a game like Bubble Talk .
• Create a list of words that start with the SH sound (shopping, shark, dishes, washing, brush, flush) then have students make silly sentences or create a story trying to get the sound-loaded words in the story.

What Articulation Activities Do You Love to Plan for SH?

While we generally follow the same sequence of steps with sounds, it can be tricky to think of activities for each sound and each step. I hope these ideas help keep your students motivated and/or help you think of some more speech therapy SH sound activities. What else is in your SH sound toolkit? SHare with us on social media!

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11 Ways How to Teach the SH Sound in Speech Therapy

As children develop their speech and language skills, it’s normal for them to struggle in producing some sounds or combinations of letter sounds – the /sh/ sound is among those sounds. A lot of children between 3-7 years old are able to articulate the /sh/ sound correctly in isolation but find it difficult if the sound is already within a word. Thankfully, there are many great ways to help a child learn to make the /sh/ sound the right way. Keep reading to learn 11 ways how to teach the SH sound.

Common Errors Trying to Pronounce the SH Sound

When children are learning the correct way to pronounce the /sh/ sound within words, they are prone to make several errors:

Substitution Errors

Instead of saying /sh/, children may substitute it with other sounds such as the /s/ and /ch/ sound. So, instead of saying “sheep”, it becomes “seep”. Instead of saying “shoe”, it becomes “choe.”

Deletion Errors

A child is also prone to omitting the /sh/ sound altogether. Instead of saying “she”, they might say “ee.”

Distortion Errors

In this type of error, a child may produce a sound that is similar to /sh/ but isn’t accurate. Instead of the child saying the word “shoe”, they will say “syoe.”

Addition Errors

This error makes a child produce an extra sound to a word that contains the /sh/ sound. Using the word “shoe” as an example again, instead of the child pronouncing the word correctly, they might pronounce it as “sh-uhoe”.

If you notice a child struggling with the pronunciation of the /sh/ sound, it’s advisable to begin offering assistance sooner rather than later especially if they are beyond 7 years old. To facilitate this process for both therapists and parents, we’ve provided a helpful guide on effectively teaching the “sh” sound in Speech Therapy .

When to know if the child is ready to practice /sh/ sound

Knowing the appropriate time for a child to start working on the /sh/ sound is influenced by various factors. Children typically acquire mastery of these sounds as they mature, although the timing of readiness can differ from one child to another. Here are some questions to ask yourself to help assess whether a child is prepared to practice the /sh/ sound:

Is the child in the right age to practice the sound?

Children typically start mastering the /sh/ sound between the ages of 3 and 4, some may acquire it earlier than others (between ages 1-2 years old). If a child reaches the age of 7 and is still struggling to correctly articulate the sound, then it’s appropriate to consult a speech therapist soon.

Can the child pronounce other sounds that are related to the one being practiced?

Assessing a child’s ability to pronounce related sounds is a key factor in determining their readiness for targeted speech therapy. If the child keeps on making sound errors when trying to say words with the /sh/ sound in it, it’s a great indication that the child is ready to practice the correct form of the sound.

Is the child motivated and interested in practicing?

Discovering a child’s motivation and interest in speech therapy is crucial for effective and engaging sessions. If the child cooperates and shows signs of excitement every practice session, its a strong indication that the child is prepared to work on perfecting the sound.

Have you checked if the child has the physical capability of producing the sound?

Examining if the child can physically make the sound is an essential part of speech therapy. Articulation can be affected by several factors including but not limited to hearing loss. If you noticed that a child struggles to produce the sound being practiced despite all other readiness factors being addressed, it’s best to consult a pediatrician before moving forward with the speech therapy.

Children develop at their own pace. What works for one may not work for another. Being patient and understanding is crucial when it comes to speech development. If any concerns arise a child’s speech development, it’s best to seek advice from a speech-language pathologist for tailored support.

11 Ways How to Teach /sh/ Sound to Children

The /sh/ sound is produced by bringing the teeth together and forming a slight pucker with the lips, similar to giving a kiss. The middle of the tongue lightly touches the corners of the upper teeth without contacting the roof of the mouth. The front of the tongue dips down slightly but doesn’t touch anything else in the mouth. Importantly, the /sh/ sound is unvoiced, meaning it relies solely on the passage of air through the mouth and doesn’t involve vocal cord vibration to create sound.

For speech therapists and parents alike, this instruction could serve as a guide in deploying verbal, visual, and tactile cues. For children, here are some fun exercises that could help employ these cues:

Verbal Cues

Teaching a child individual sounds is a key part of language development. Start by slowly and clearly articulating the sound on its own, like “/sh/, /sh/, /sh/,” so the child clearly grasps what you’re concentrating on. This method provides them with a clear model to mimic.

Encourage your child to replicate the sound. If they find it challenging, guide them to begin with the elongated /e/ sound and gradually morph it into the /sh/ sound. You can do this by instructing them to whisper the long /e/ sound and then gently bring the edges of their mouth together as if blowing a kiss, and then lifting the tongue up slightly which should naturally lead to the /sh/ sound. Once your child is able to produce the /sh/ sound independently, you can progress to practicing with syllables, then simple words, and finally, complete sentences.

Below are some activities that can be used to practice verbal cues:

1. Collect and Play with ‘Shushing with Shells’

This activity encourages children to collect shells and associate each with the ‘shushing’ sound. As they pick up a shell, they say ‘shush,’ reinforcing the /sh/ sound in a playful and interactive way. The tactile sensation of the shells combined with the verbal cue helps in better sound recognition and articulation.

2. Create a ‘Shopping List’

In this activity, children make a shopping list with items that start with the /sh/ sound. They then read the list aloud, practicing the sound verbally. This not only aids in articulation but also in recognizing the sound in different words and contexts. Words like “shoes,” “shampoo,” “sugar,” and “shaving cream,” are some of the most common shopping items that can be used to incorporated in practice sessions.

3. Recite Tongue Twisters

Tongue twisters that focus on the /sh/ sound are an excellent way to practice verbal cues. They challenge the child to concentrate on articulating the sound clearly in a fun and engaging manner. The repetition and the rhythm of tongue twisters make them an effective tool for speech practice. Some traditional tongue twisters that can be used for this activity include “She sells seashells by the seashore.”  and “Shelly’s shell shop showcases shiny shells from the shore.”

Visual Cues

Children often recognize the /sh/ sound as a common cue for silence, commonly seen when someone places a finger on their lips and puckers them. This universal gesture for quietness can be a helpful tool in teaching your child to make the sound.

Demonstrate this by putting your finger to your lips and making the “shhh” sound yourself. Encourage the child to mimic this action and sound back at you. This familiar and playful interaction can make them more at ease with producing the sound, paving the way for its use in forming syllables and eventually in words.

Below are some activities that can be used to practice visual cues:

4. Practice with Mirror Exercises

Have the child stand in front of a mirror and practice making the /sh/ sound. Encourage them to watch their mouth movements. This visual feedback helps them understand how to position their lips and tongue. You can stand beside them and demonstrate the sound, allowing them to mimic and compare their own articulation with yours.

5. Utilize Articulation Cards

Use cards that have pictures of words containing the /sh/ sound. Show the card to the child and ask them to say the word while focusing on the /sh/ sound. The visual cue of the picture helps reinforce the word and sound association. You can also use these cards for games like memory or matching, where they have to find and say words with the /sh/ sound.

6. Solve Word Puzzles

Create or use existing puzzles that focus on words with the /sh/ sound. As the child puts the puzzle together, they can say the words out loud. This activity helps in visually and physically connecting the pieces while associating them with the correct pronunciation.

7. Engage in Story Telling

Use storybooks that have a lot of words with the /sh/ sound. As you read the story, emphasize and articulate the /sh/ sound clearly. You can ask the child to point to words with the /sh/ sound or show pictures in the book every time they hear the sound. This visual association with the sound in context helps in understanding and imitation.

8. Explore Speech Apps

There are many speech therapy apps designed to help with articulation. Choose apps that provide visual cues such as animations or highlighted text for the /sh/ sound. These apps often turn practice into a fun game, keeping the child engaged while they see and repeat the sound.

Tactile Cues

The correct pronunciation of the /sh/ sound involves a gentle flow of air through the lips. To make this tangible for a child, let them place their hand near your mouth as you articulate the /sh/ sound. They will feel a stream of air on their hand.

Next, encourage them to do the same—placing their hand in front of their mouth while they attempt the sound. Ask if they can feel the air on their hand. This sensation serves as a practical indicator for them to understand whether they are producing the sound correctly. This simple yet effective technique helps in reinforcing the proper articulation of the /sh/ sound.

Below are some activities that can be used to practice tactile cues:

9. Pretend Library

Set up a pretend library where speaking loudly is not allowed. Use whispering voices, emphasizing the sound to maintain ‘silence’ in the library. Provide books for the child to ‘check out’ from the librarian, using the /sh/ sound in words like “Shhh, quiet please.”

10. “Chef and Sous-Chef” Cooking Game

Engage in pretend cooking where the kitchen is a ‘quiet zone.’ Use the sound to remind each other to be quiet, like “Shhh, the cake is sleeping in the oven.” The child can mix and stir pretend ingredients, linking the tactile activity with the sound practice.

11. Whispering Walk

Go on a walk, indoor or outdoor, and point out items that start with or contain the sound. Encourage whispering and the use of gentle /sh/ sounds as you discuss each item.

Conclusion on how to teach /sh/ sound in Speech Therapy

Thank you for reading this resource on how to teach the /sh/ sound in speech therapy. Teaching the /sh/ sound in speech therapy is most effective when using a variety of methods that appeal to different ways of learning. By combining visual activities like mirror exercises, listening exercises with articulation cards, and hands-on activities like the “Chef and Sous-Chef” game, children can learn and practice the sound in a way that’s both fun and engaging.

Repeating the /sh/ sound in different situations, through games, puzzles, stories, and speech apps, helps children understand and correctly say the sound. This approach not only helps with this specific sound but also improves their overall speech and language skills, making learning enjoyable and successful.

SpeechTherapyByPro is an  online speech therapy directory  that connects speech therapy pros with clients in need. If you’re a speech therapist, you can  Join our community and add your practice listing here . We have assessments, practice forms, and worksheet templates speech therapy professionals can use to streamline their practice. View all of our  speech therapy worksheets here .

Author: SLP Team

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How to Teach S Blend Sound: Articulation Activities, and Word Lists for Effective Speech Therapy

How to teach th blend sound: articulation activities, and word lists for effective speech therapy, how to teach sh blend sound: articulation activities, and word lists for effective speech therapy.

The “sh” blend sound is a consonant blend that combines the “sh” sound with another consonant sound, such as “sh” + “p” in “shop” or “sh” + “t” in “shirt.” In speech therapy, these sounds may be referred to as “sh clusters.”

To produce the “sh” sound, you can start by placing the tip of your tongue close to the roof of your mouth, just behind your upper front teeth. Then, purse your lips as if you were saying “oo.” While keeping your tongue in position and your lips pursed, exhale air through your mouth to produce the “sh” sound. For example, to produce the “shp” sound in “shop,” you would begin with the “sh” sound and then quickly transition to the “p” sound by closing your lips together and then releasing them to create the plosive sound.

Here are few tips you can follow to teach the “Sh blend” sound:

Demonstrate the sound: Start by demonstrating the “Sh blend” sound for your child. Make the sound and have your child watch your lips and mouth movements. Explain that the sound is made by bringing the tongue close to the roof of the mouth and forcing air through a small space between the teeth, while also rounding the lips slightly.

Visual Cue: Show the child how to place the tip of their tongue behind their upper front teeth and the middle/back part of their tongue towards the roof of the mouth, leaving a gap for air to pass through. You can use a visual cue such as a picture or flashcard of “Sh” to help your child remember the sound.

Understand the sound: Help your child understand that the “Sh blend” sound is a combination of the “S” and “H” sounds, made by bringing the tongue close to the roof of the mouth and forcing air through a small space between the teeth, while also rounding the lips slightly.

Practice Blowing: Help your child get used to the sensation of blowing out air with their mouth by having them practice blowing bubbles, blowing feathers across a table, or blowing out candles.

Practice Tongue Placement: Show your child how to position their tongue close to the roof of their mouth and force air through a small space between their teeth, while also rounding their lips slightly to make the “Sh blend” sound. You can make it more fun by having them imitate the sound of a train or a ship while using the “Sh blend” sound.

Practice in Isolation: Once your child has mastered the correct tongue, lip, and mouth position, have them practice making the “Sh blend” sound on its own without any other sounds.

Add Syllables: After your child has mastered the “Sh blend” sound in isolation, have them practice using it in different syllables, such as “sha,” “shi,” “sho,” and “shu.” You can make it more fun by having them say words like “shark,” “shoe,” and “sheep.”

Practice in Words: Once your child has mastered the “Sh blend” sound in syllables, have them practice using it in different words such as “shell,” “shop,” and “shower.”

Practice in Phrases: After your child has mastered the “Sh blend” sound in words, have them practice using it in phrases like “big shell,” “silly shop,” and “warm shower.”

Practice in Sentences: Finally, have your child practice using the “Sh blend” sound in different sentences such as “She sells seashells by the seashore,” “I like to shop for shoes,” and “The shower is refreshing.”

Practice Everywhere: Encourage your child to practice using the “Sh blend” sound in different contexts, such as during playtime, mealtime, or while reading books. You can also make it more fun by having them use the “Sh blend” sound in different accents or dialects.

Word Lists for SH Sounds

• October 31, 2021
• Activity Type , Articulation , Materials , SH Sound , Speech , Word Lists

Word lists make it SO much easier for you when having students practice targeted sounds and are also great for auditory bombardment. With this file, you’ll have 150 words that include the “sh” sound at your fingertips!

Included are:

• Initial “sh” – 50 words
• Medial “sh” – 50 words
• Final “sh” – 50 words

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• previous post: Star Collecting for L Sound
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1100+ S Words, Phrases, Sentences, and Reading Passages Grouped by Place, Syllable, & Blend

As promised here are the words for your unlimited use .

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grasshopper

SC/SK - Blends

Sl - blends, sm - blends, sn - blends, sp - blends, st - blends, sw - blends, see also:   the best free app for speech therapy.

Initial S by Syllables

Central Park

self-control

soccer ball

celebration

certified mail

safety glasses

satellite dish

seeing-eye dog

sewing machine

subdivision

superficial

supermarket

supervision

symmetrical

sympathetic

civilization

psychological

self-analysis

superintendent

supervisory

systematically

Medial S by Syllables

tennis shoes

disadvantage

participate

policewoman

vice-president

association

classification

disobedient

electricity

necessarily

potato salad

precipitation

unnecessary

vice presidency

water moccasin

Final S by Syllables

White House

apple juice

lemon juice

adventurous

camera case

nevertheless

opera house

praying mantis

table tennis

tomato juice

appendicitis

hippopotamus

magnifying glass

metamorphosis

simultaneous

tuberculosis

Initial S Phrases and Sentences

circle of hands

fast sailboat

healthy salad

tasty sandwich

sharp scissors

playful seal

gray seatbelt

number seven

street sign

bathroom sink

garden sunflower

They made a circle with their hands.

She is so sad she is crying.

They are taking the sailboat on the water.

We ordered a salad for lunch.

The salt was dumped out on the table.

The desert had endless hills of sand.

You made a tall sandwich.

Don't run with scissors.

The seal rolled over on his back.

Put on your seat belt before leaving.

The seed will grow into a tree.

They made a seven out of stars.

She can sew the hole closed.

She is too sick to go to work.

The sign said 106 more miles.

She was not nervous to sing.

Get some water from the sink.

She would sit and wait everyday for the bus.

Wash your hands with soap.

They always want to play soccer.

The sock is hanging on the fence.

She told her dad sorry for not listening.

I ate chicken noodle soup when I was sick.

She found out that lemons are sour.

The sun was starting to set.

A sunflower grew in the garden.

Medial S Phrases and Sentences

blue bicycle

metal bracelet

ballet dancer

December holiday

scary dinosaur

wood dresser

pencil eraser

water faucet

wear glasses

tiny grasshopper

flying insect

kissing her

listen carefully

medicine bottle

secret message

small motorcycle

short pencil

nice policeman

bright popsicle

horse racing

credit card receipt

recycle bin

His bicycle is the blue one.

Her grandmother gave her the bracelet.

She was a ballet dancer.

Christmas is a holiday in December.

There was a dinosaur in the park.

The dresser is made of wood.

He used an eraser on his paper.

The faucet started to drip.

His glasses helped him see.

The grasshopper has big legs.

The insect has orange wings.

She is kissing the horse

Listen with the headphones.

He is holding the medicine bottle.

There was a message in the bottle.

He needed to clean his messy room.

We ride the motorcycle in the field.

His muscle is so big.

It is a beautiful day outside.

He needs to sharpen his pencil.

He has been a policeman for 10 years.

The popsicle is cold.

They are racing on the horse track.

The waiter gave him his receipt.

This is the best cookie recipe.

She is showing people how to recycle.

Final S Phrases and Sentences

green cactus

night class

wooden doghouse

yellow dress

erase a mistake

beautiful face

white fence

water glass

two story house

orange juice

green lettuce

little mouse

silver necklace

empty office

police officer

tied shoelace

tennis ball

I ran to catch the bus.

Cactus grow in funny shapes.

He took a night class.

The pug likes his doghouse.

She is wearing her yellow dress.

If you make a mistake, erase it.

She has a beautiful face.

The fence went around the land.

Pour me a glass of water, please.

I need to cut the grass.

The horse is running fast.

They moved into their new house.

The ice is melting quickly.

I want juice for breakfast.

The farmer grows lettuce.

She has pink lips.

The mouse wanted some cheese.

She is holding her necklace.

The office workers were all gone.

The police showed up at the crime scene.

She takes her purse everywhere.

They all wanted to race together.

Tie your shoelace before jogging.

Tennis is her favorite sport.

The walrus has huge tusks.

He said "Yes!" after being chosen for the job.

S Reading Paragraphs

Last December I was sad because my favorite baseball team lost in a tournament. You should have seen my face, it looked like someone erased my smile.

To cheer me up my dad took me out on our sailboat. It was a little messy so we took some soap and cleaned it up first. We took some sandwiches, soup, and juice and left the house early on Saturday morning.

We spent a few hours sailing around the lake. It was relaxing to just sit and listen to the water against the boat and soak up some sun. Dad told me he was sorry about the baseball team losing.

"They will have more chances to win in the future," he said. I told him I wasn't too sad anymore. "I just really wanted them to win," I said. Dad suggested that we sing the team song. He thought that would help us get excited for next years tournament.

"Next year we will sit outside on the grass behind the fence to watch the game," dad said. "We can take some salad, popsicles, and your toy dinosaurs. It will be the most fun we've ever had at a baseball game." I love my dad. He is so good at helping me be happy. 

No-Kissing Club

Kissing is gross. It makes me sick. On Valentine's Day my dad gave my mom some sunflowers in a glass vase. But that wasn't all. He also bought her a new purse, a bracelet, and a red dress. Mom was so surprised! She was so excited about all of her gifts that she threw her arms around dad and gave him a big kiss.

Yuck! It's one thing for them to say that they love each other all the time, but the kissing is too much for me. I have decided to start a club called "Anything But Lips" for people like me who don't like kissing.

I posted a sign outside and told all of my friends to come. We are going to meet in my dad's office once a week at six o'clock. We will talk about anything that is not related to kissing.

I have put a list of different topics together that we will discuss which includes: grasshoppers, motorcycle's, seat belts, soccer, tennis, soup, car racing, and insects, to name a few. Before I will let them come in the office, everyone will have to sign a contract saying they won't talk about kissing.

We have our first meeting tomorrow. I hope some people come. 

The Ice Hotel

My family and I want to see the ice house. It is really called "IceHotel", but I call it the ice house. It is located in a small town in Sweden called "Jukkasjarvi", I don't know how to say it but that's o.k. Everything inside of it is made of ice. Really!

There are ice sculptures, ice beds, ice walls, an ice roof, ice chairs, ice couches, and even an ice restaurant. People get married there, see the Northern Lights, snowmobiling, dog-sledding, and learn how to ice sculpt. It looks like so much fun, if you don't mind the cold.

Some of my friends have wondered how someone would sleep on a bed of ice. I told them you sleep on a bed of ice the same way you sleep on your bed at home...with blankets! I have wondered if the hotel has ice showers with ice soap but my mom told me it would be too cold for people to do that. I did read that they have a sauna in one of the deluxe rooms though.

Our family is going to save our money this year so we can go to Sweden in December and experience everything the ice hotel has to offer. We are so excited that we have already started packing! 

Return to Top of S Words Page

SEE ALSO:   The Best Books for Speech Therapy Practice

Initial SC/SK Blends by Syllable

schoolhouse

scholarship

scorekeeper

scoutmaster

Medial SC/SK Blends by Syllable

grade school

grass skirt

high school

butterscotch

fire escape

ice skating

public school

roller skates

stethoscope

discontented

discontinue

Easter basket

figure skater

kaleidoscope

microscopic

picnic basket

private schooling

roller skating

San Francisco

Final SC/SK Blends by Syllable

school desk

mammoth tusk

office desk

reading desk

Initial SC/SK Phrases and Sentences

really scared

school room

white skirt

furry skunk

skydive jump

She is scared to get a shot.

The scarf keeps her warm.

The school built three new rooms.

She wanted to skate on her own.

She is learning how to ski.

She is wearing her favorite skirt.

The skunk was walking in the dirt.

The sky was blue and bright.

To celebrate they want to skydive.

Medial SC/SK Phrases and Sentences

warm buscuit

secret escape 

high school club

learn to ice skate

go to preschool

rescue swimmer

long whiskers

Their lunch was in the basket.

The butter melted on the warm buscuit.

The mouse made his escape.

They are all in high school.

The husky is playing in the snow.

She knows how to ice skate well.

My son goes to preschool.

They were able to rescue the swimmer.

The cat has long whiskers.

Final SC/SK Phrases and Sentences

ask questions

ripe corn husk

classroom desk

wear gas mask

wood school desk

blue swim mask

clean whisk

You learn more if you ask questions.

The corn husk was ready to be picked.

I will sit in my favorite desk.

The gas mask kept him safe.

Wear a mask to the party.

She kept books in her school desk.

He left his swim mask by the ocean.

The elephant has a long tusk.

Use the whisk to mix the eggs.

SC/SK Reading Paragraphs

Scared to ski.

Scarlet had been scared to ski since high school. It had been 3 years since her skiing accident. She twisted her knee while skiing down a steep hill. She still didn't remember what had gone wrong.

All she remembered was that she was wearing her red scarf, black ski mask, and sky blue snow coat. She had brought a basket with some home made biscuits for her and her friend Skip to eat at lunch.

As she skiied down the hill she remembered one ski caught an edge in the snow and the next thing she knew her knee was in a lot of pain and she was being rescued by the ski patrol.

While she was in the hospital, the doctor asked her a few questions about how she was skiing on the hill. She remembered he had a deep husky voice. He told her that skiing accidents happen all the time and sometimes for no reason.

As she sat at her work desk she rubbed her knee just thinking about how bad it had hurt. She wanted to ski again, but she couldn't escape the fear of hurting her knee again. She didn't like feeling scared to ski. She had skiied for almost 10 years and didn't want to give it up.

She decided she would go skiing the coming weekend. "If I take it easy and go with a friend, maybe I can get past being scared," she thought.

Adventurous Skunk

Skylar is the most unique skunk you will ever meet. She wears pink skirts and likes to sky dive. Her favorite color is pink. If you ask her why she likes to sky dive she will simply say "I like the wind in my face." Skylar likes the wind in her face so much that she also ice skates, water skis, and scuba dives. She isn't scared of anything.

I asked Skylar why she scuba dives because you can't feel the wind in your face under water. She just smiled and simply said "I like the water in my face, as long as I have my mask on, it feels good on my whiskers."

I asked Skylar how she learned to do these types of sports. She told me she has been interested in ice skating since she was in preschool. As she got older she began to water ski and scuba dive. "I only started sky diving last year after I finished high school," she said.

I asked her where she gets the money to pay for these sports. She told me she works two jobs. She sells biscuits and other breads at the bakery during the day. At night she makes computer desks and sells them to furniture stores.

Skylar works hard and she plays hard too. I told her to have fun and be careful.

Initial SL Blends by Syllable

sleigh bells

slalom course

sledgehammer

sleeping bag

sleepwalking

slide trombone

slow motion

slow moving

sluggishness

Medial SL Blends by Syllable

cross legged

purposeless

super slide

translation

wrestling camp

wrestling coach

wrestling match

wrestling team

dislocation

legislation

legislative

Final SL Blends by Syllable

blood vessel

Initial SL Phrases and Sentences

light sleep

shirt sleeve

playground slide

toy slingshot

fuzzy slippers

dog slobber

He went fast downhill on his sled.

Sleep on the couch for a nap.

He fixed the sleeve under his coat.

He went fast down the slide.

His mom let him play with a slingshot.

She left her fuzzy slippers on the couch

I hope the dog doesn't slobber on me.

Sloths hang upside down in trees.

Drive slow, children are playing.

Medial SL Phrases and Sentences

fast asleep

race bobsled

dogsled race

big mudslide

quiet ski slope

English translator

loud whistling

They fell asleep on the couch.

Bobsled is a sporting event.

The dogsled team was out in front.

Stay far away from the mudslide.

He was excited to get on the ski slope.

Our translator speaks 4 languages.

He is whistling at the car.

The boys are in the championship wrestling match.

Final SL Phrases and Sentences

tiny blood vessel

vitamin capsule

kings castle

ancient fossil

big missile

You can see the blood vessel on her eyelid.

She prefers to take a vitamin capsule.

The castle is on top of a cliff.

The fossil is of a fish.

He will get tackled if he doesn't hustle.

The truck has a missile on the back.

The sumo's are starting to wrestle.

SL Reading Paragraphs

Dogsled racing.

I have a dog named Sylvester but we call him Sly for short. When we wrestle he likes to lick and slobber on me. We compete in dogsled races.

Dogsled races are hard work and we don't sleep much when we train for them. We don't go slow, we hustle...for many days. Some days it is hard not to fall asleep on the trail.

I talk to Sly through words and whistling. Dogsled races can be dangerous. One time we almost got caught in a mudslide and another time I pulled a muscle and needed help from another dogsled team. 

Sly and I help each other though. He is my best friend.

A Spy in Pajamas

My friend Sloan sleeps a lot. He told me about a crazy dream he had yesterday. In the dream he was a spy. He was being chased by bad guys on sleds down a ski slope. He had taken an expensive bracelet and destroyed the bad guys' castle. The bad guys were launching missiles at him and trying to slow him down.

When Sloan reached for something to defend himself, all he could find was a slingshot. He fired rocks from the slingshot as fast as he could. The bad guys began to laugh at him. Not because of the slingshot, but because Sloan was doing all of this wearing pajamas and pink bunny slippers.

Sloan didn't care though.

He remembered he had a special capsule that could help him. He reached up his sleeve, grabbed the capsule and ate it.

A few seconds after he ate the capsule, Sloan was invisible. The bad guys couldn't see him. Just as he was about to escape, he woke up. It was a funny dream. 

Initial SM Blends by Syllable

smoke screen

smart aleck

smelling salts

smoke chase

smoke jumper

smorgasbord

Medial SM Blends by Syllable

businessman

Christmas card

Christmas Eve

Christmas tree

first baseman

locksmith shop

second baseman

silversmith

third baseman

embarrassment

junior classman

lower classman

senior classman

upper classman

Initial SM Phrases and Sentences

smash glass

happy smile

black smoke

smooth rocks

fruit smoothie

He feels small next to him.

She is a very smart girl.

He didn't mean to smash the window.

He stopped to smell the flower.

She has a beautiful smile.

Many large cities have smog.

The smoke was high in the sky.

The black rocks are smooth.

Would you like a drink of my smoothie?

Medial SM Phrases and Sentences

empty basement

tool making blacksmith

important businessman

favorite classmate

skilled first baseman

nice locksmith

square placemat

He does laundry in his basement.

The blacksmith makes old-fashioned swords.

The businessman had many important meetings.

She sells Christmas trees.

Sue was her favorite classmate.

The first baseman caught the fly ball.

The locksmith is fixing it.

I will put my food on the placemat.

SM Reading Paragraphs

Smart locksmith.

Smitty is a clever businessman. He is smart, a smooth dealmaker, and always smells like pizza. Some people might not like that but since I love pizza, it's o.k. with me.

I am a locksmith and Smitty is the person I order parts from. When people break, smash, or ruin their door handles or locks, they call me. There are thousands of different types of locks and handles, but Smitty knows all of them. That's why I think he is so clever.

He and I were classmates at Smith High School and have worked together for 10 years now. He always answers my questions and has just the right locksmith tools and products I need to help my customers. I have wondered if he has a secret locksmith lab in his basement. That way he can be around locksmith parts and tools all the time.

When I asked him how he knew so much he smiled and said he was given a book at Christmas 10 years ago. The title of the book was "Everything You Need to Know About Locksmithing". "It isn't a small book," he said. He has learned everything he knows from that book.

Of course, he still has to be smart and remember the information in it, and being a smooth salesman helps too. There is a lot to be learned from reading. I should start reading some of the books I have in my basement.

Dumb Robber

As the policeman looked at the crime seen he saw some clues. The robber who had broken into the house was not that smart. He had smashed the window to unlock the door. But the door wasn't locked. The handle had just been replaced by the locksmith and didn't have a lock on it.

Then the robber had made himself a smoothie and left fingerprints all over the blender, the glass he drank the smoothie out of, and the placemat he had put the smoothie on. The robber even spilled some of the smoothie on the ground, stepped in it, and left footprints in the kitchen. Now the policeman had fingerprints and a shoe size.

The policeman followed the footprints past the Christmas tree. The robber had knocked some of the ornaments off so the policeman could tell that he went down the stairs to the basement. The home owner was a businessman who worked out of his basement office.

When he reached the basement, the policeman could smell some of the smoothie so he knew the robber had been there. The policeman looked around the basement. There were pictures of the home owner playing baseball. Judging by the pictures the policeman thought that the home owner was a first baseman.

The policeman saw a small ashtray on the home owner's desk. It looked like the robber had smoked while he was in the basement which would give the policeman more evidence to catch him. "This will be an easy case to solve," he thought, as he walked back upstairs. 

Initial SN Blends by Syllable

snake charmer

snowball fight

snow blower

snapping beetle

snapping turtle

Initial SN Phrases and Sentences

healthy snack

green snake

snap in half

going to sneeze

use snorkel

cold snowman

She is eating a midnight snack.

The snail has a hard shell.

The snake in the grass made me jump.

He showed us how to snap the pencil.

Allergies made him sneeze a lot.

He would snore loudly during his nap.

He uses the snorkel to breath under water.

The pig put his snout through the fence.

We will make a snowman this winter.

SN Reading Paragraphs

Sneezing and snacking.

Sometimes I snore at night. I sneeze a lot too. I can't help it. My wife told me to go see a doctor, but I haven't yet and I'll tell you why. I love midnight snacks too much.

Before my snoring and sneezing problem I would have to sneak out of bed at night to go to the kitchen. My wife is a light sleeper and I woke her up a lot. When she did she would get a little snippy with me, so I had to be more careful.

There was one night that my daughter caught me eating my snack in the kitchen. I asked her to go back to bed. The next day she snitched on me and my wife said eating midnight snacks can be unhealthy if you eat bad food. I told her I eat healthy food and she said it was o.k. then.

Don't get me wrong, I love my wife, and I love to sleep, but I get to see a lot of cool things at midnight too. Since eating snacks at midnight I have seen a snake in our yard, snow storms, and one night I watched a snowplow run into a snowman in my neighbor's yard. I was surprised that I didn't wake everyone up because I was laughing so hard. My neighbor is kind of a snob, so I thought it was funny it happened to him.

I will go see the doctor about my snoring and sneezing some day. There are too many fun things about having a midnight snack that I don't want to give up. I just hope my wife doesn't get sneaky and make a doctor's appointment for me.

My friend Terri plays the snare drum in her band. The band's name is "Snakebite". Terri told me that the band's guitar player was bit by a snake when he was a teenager and wanted to name a band after it.

When I went to listen to them play I started to snooze. They were good, but I didn't like their style of music. When Terri asked me how I liked their sound, I told her she played the snare drum well. She knew I was being sneaky and asked what I really thought.

I told her that I had fallen asleep during their song. "I thought I heard someone snoring during the song," she said. "You all play really well, it just isn't my type of music," I said. "Next time I listen I will have to bring some snacks to help me stay awake."

The guitar player heard me talking to Terri and snickered "You wouldn't know good music if it sneezed on you."

"I think you sound great," I told him. "I just don't like the type of music you play. I think Snakebite is going to be very successful." He apologized and told me that I was a nice guy and that he liked my sneakers. Then he gave me a firm hand shake and snapped his fingers. "We'll remember you when we're famous," he said. 

Initial SP Blends by Syllable

space heater

space station

Spanish rice

speed limit

spelling bee

spinal cord

sponsorship

sporting goods

sportsmanship

sportswriter

spectacular

speech therapist

speech therapy

speedometer

spider monkey

spinal column

spiral notebook

spontaneous

Special Olympics

specialization

specifically

specification

Medial SP Blends by Syllable

Shakespeare

loudspeaker

mispronounce

outer space

transparent

correspondence

desperation

disposition

inspiration

perspiration

respectable

respiration

responsible

tablespoonful

unspeakable

hospitality

indisputable

irresponsibly

respiratory

inspirationally

respectability

responsibility

Initial SP Phrases and Sentences

speeding car

spill juice

green spinach

spooky night

silver spoon

play sports

It would be amazing to go into space.

The police chased the speeding car.

The spider waited for flies in the web.

Don't spill on the carpet.

Spinach is very healthy for you.

She squeezed the water out of the sponge.

The graveyard was spooky at night.

I eat cereal with a spoon.

You can choose to play many sports.

Medial SP Phrases and Sentences

asparagus stalk

crispy chicken

disposable dishes

high-speed train

big hospital

blue passport

brown suspenders

one tablespoon

whisper softly

I eat my asparagus steamed.

They made crispy chicken.

It's easier to clean with disposable dishes.

She was riding on a high-speed train.

We are going to the hospital tonight.

You must have your passport to enter.

He wears suspenders instead of a belt.

The recipe says to use one tablespoon.

She whispered into the girl's ear.

SP Reading Paragraphs

My friend spring.

Her parents named her Spring because she is happy despite what is going on in her life. Spring loves to eat asparagus and go to the spa. She spends most of her time studying space because she wants to be an astronaut. Either that or she wants to be in the hospitality business.

I have known her for one year, but Spring and I have only been on one date. We have spent a lot of time together during the last year. She speaks softly but is confident. She is an amazing cook and loves to eat spicy food. She uses spices I have never even heard of. She chews spearmint gum and likes spooky things, especially at Halloween.

She and I met in a speech therapy class in college. We have had many of the same classes and spent time doing homework, studying for tests, and working on class projects together. She is amazing at spelling. In addition to taking college classes, Spring volunteers for Special Olympics. She is inspiring to watch. As a coach, she sparks happiness in people even when they are really sad.

Spring also likes to speed when she drives. Don't tell her I told you though. I told her she is special to me and that I don't want her to get hurt. I think she respects my opinion. I told her I would spy on her to make sure she slows down. She just laughed and said she will try and be better.

Sports Crazy

Spike is a sports nut. Some people might say he is a sports lunatic. He knows specific statistics about almost every baseball, basketball, soccer, volleyball, hockey, tennis, rugby, and cricket game that has been played in the last 6 years. The first basketball game he watched sparked his interest. From that time on, he has almost become a specialist in most sports and their players.

I think he should be a sports writer. If he had it his way, he would eat spoonfuls of sports for breakfast. When I told him that he responded by saying "They might be a little crispy!"

Recently, he has become more interested in motor sports like car, motorcycle, and speedboat racing. A few months ago he was changing spark plugs in his car. He realized there were sports that use machines and he didn't know anything about them. Since then he has spent every day watching and researching motor sports.

He spends a lot of time and money learning about sports. That way he can speak to others about them and answer questions they might have. Some people have asked him to speculate about what teams or drivers will win so they can bet on them. Spike won't do that though. He says he has too much respect for sports to "sell them out". 

Initial ST Blends by Syllable

stateswoman

stepbrother

stepping stone

stomach ache

storm cellar

storm warning

storm window

study group

station master

station wagon

Medial ST Blends by Syllable

bus station

distinguish

gas station

outstanding

post office

question mark

consistency

constitution

establishment

grocery store

interesting

investigate

misunderstand

pessimistic

questionable

solar system

superstition

T.V. station

understanding

United States

constituency

investigative

unquestionable

Final ST Blends by Syllable

hornet's nest

pathologist

psychologist

ventriloquist

audiologist

cardiologist

ophthalmologist

Initial ST Phrases and Sentences

bright star

juicy steak

stir around

sore stomach

clothing store

I see more than one star.

The steak is on the grill.

The gum on my shoe is too sticky.

I need to stir to soup.

His stomach was sore from the pain.

Always stop when you see the sign.

It was their favorite store to shop at.

It was a big lightning storm.

Mom read a story to her son.

Medial ST Phrases and Sentences

at the bus stop

busted criminal

bamboo chopsticks

Halloween costume

red lipstick

old postcard

ask a question

rusty metal

long yardstick

The man waited at the bus stop.

The man was busted for theft.

His chopsticks were made from bamboo.

He wore a costume to the party.

She is putting on red lipstick.

Send us a postcard when you get there.

She raised her hand to ask a question.

The rusty containers were in the field.

A yardstick is 3 feet long.

Final ST Phrases and Sentences

eat breakfast

dentist visit

dressed man

thick forest

green toothpaste

I love bacon, eggs, and orange juice for breakfast.

His chest is muscular.

I went to the dentist for a check-up.

He was dressed for work.

You can tell that the horse is fast.

Many trees are in the forest.

There are eggs in the nest.

Toothpaste will help keep your teeth clean.

He is holding his wrist.

ST Reading Paragraphs

Spicy chinese.

Stan's stomach began to ache from eating spicy Chinese food. It started about 2 hours after he finished lunch. He used chopsticks so he wouldn't eat too fast but the food was catching up to him.

He stopped at the store on the way home from work because his chest was burning. He hoped that he could find something to help stop the burning.The antacid pills he bought didn't cost too much, especially if they would help.

It was starting to storm outside and Stan thought it would be a good night to stay in and relax on the couch with his favorite book "Stewart Little". He had plans to make steak for dinner, but he chose something lighter since his stomach was bothering him. When he got home he walked up the stairs to his bedroom and dressed in his most comfortable lounge clothes.

After changing and eating a light dinner Stan tuned his stereo to some classical music, sat down, and started to read his book. He read for about an hour and decided to stop and go to bed. He had thought about eating his leftover Chinese food for breakfast in the morning but he quickly changed his mind. The storm had passed and everything outside was still. Stan drifted off to sleep.

Running Stars

Steve and Dusty were the fastest runners on the high school track team. No one messed with them. Last August the both ran the longest races and finished in first and second place.

One time, someone asked them the question "How did you become such good runners?" Both of them had different statements. Steve said "I follow a constant and consistent training program and meal plan. I use a stopwatch to time my speed every race and I try to beat that speed everytime."

Dusty said "I run stairs everyday in the football stadium for thirty minutes without stopping. I can run long distances because I have established endurance in my lungs and muscles."

A woman came from the TV station wanted to ask them more questions like when they started running and how they became interested in it. Steve said "My grandpa told me stories about himself when he was a runner and that is what interested me in it." Dusty said "When I was a middle school student, I was always restless at night. I started falling asleep during the day. Running helped me stay calm, stop being anxious, and go to sleep. If I felt restless, I would go on a short run, and afterward, I would go right to sleep at night."

The woman from the TV station told them they were fantastic runners and wished them good luck on their next race. Steve and Dusty thanked the woman and headed to the shoe store to buy some new running shoes. 

Initial SW Blends by Syllable

sweat gland

sweat pants

sweat shirt

sweet tooth

Swiss cheese

swimming hole

swimming pool

swinging bridge

swinging door

Switzerland

sweet and sour

Initial SW Phrases and Sentences

dripping sweat

red sweater

The swan is a beautiful bird.

His shirt is covered in sweat.

She will buy the red sweater.

Their mom asked them to sweep up the leaves.

The dessert tasted very sweet.

He likes to swim in the lake.

She likes to swing at the playground.

Swipe your card to pay for it.

She will switch the light off.

SW Reading Paragraphs

Swap meet switch.

The swap meet was every Saturday at 10 a.m. Sweeney looked forward to the swap meet, there were so many fun and new things to see there.

Last week he had seen a swan with 4 ducklings and the week before that he saw a swarm of bees which was a little scary.

In the past, he had eaten sweet and sour chicken with Swiss cheese, bought a new swimming suit, and found the perfect broom for sweeping his floor at home.

During breakfast Sweeney was reading the newspaper and saw a new swap meet that was in town. He couldn't believe his eyes. "Two swap meets?" he thought. He wondered if he should switch which swap meet he went to.

He nervously searched the advertisement to see what time the second swap meet happened. His hands began to sweat. The newspaper said the second swap meet was on Saturdays at 2 p.m.

"Sweet!" said Sweeney. He knew exactly what to do. He would simply go to both swap meets! For a moment, Sweeney had thought he might have to switch which swap meet he would go too. He was so happy that he could go to both of them.

To celebrate he went into his room and put on his swap meet sweater and danced to his favorite Swedish music, both of which he had bought at a swap meet.

Sweet Birds

Have you ever met a swan or a swallow that loves sweets? There is a lake by our house that we go swimming in all the time.

Last week we were getting ready to eat lunch. We had brought ham sandwiches with Swiss cheese that were made from sweetbread and some sweets, chocolate cake and licorice. We began eating.

Just then a big white swan flew over by us. Then a tiny swallow flew down and landed on the ground by the blanket we were eating on. Both of them walked right up to the cake and stuck their beaks in it.

I swiped the cake away from them but they only switched their position to the other side of the blanket where I had put the cake.

I swatted at the swan. It didn't bother him and he just kept eating. I swatted at the swallow. He flew away from me but quickly came back to eating the cake.

I was working so hard to get the swan and the swallow away from our sweets that I began to sweat. I had never seen a swan or swallow with such a strong sweet tooth.

I worried that my wrists would be swollen from swatting at the birds so much. Luckily they weren't. Next time we go swimming at the lake I think I'll leave our sweets at home.

This list of functional words was professionally selected to be the most useful for a child or adult who has difficulty with producing the "S" sound.

We encourage you to use this list when practicing at home.

Home practice will make progress toward meeting individual language goals much faster.

Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) are only able to see students/clients 30-60 mins (or less) per week.

This is not enough time  for your child to overcome an articulation disorder with the "S" sound. But with high caseloads...

...it's all SLPs can do.

There's  only so much time  in the day.

Every day that your child goes without practice  it becomes more and more difficult  to correct an "S" error because he/she continues to say it incorrectly. 

We know life is busy , but if you're reading this you're probably someone who cares about helping their loved one as much as you can.

Practice 5-10 minutes whenever you can, but try to do it on a consistent basis (daily).

Please, please, please use this list to practice.

It will be a great benefit to you and your loved one's progress.

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