The G Sound Speech Therapy Program Made for SLPs
Are you a speech-language pathologist looking for fun activities to address g sounds? If so, you’re in the right place! Targeting velar sounds in speech therapy can be tricky. Young children often struggle to produce these back sounds (the k sound and the g sound). This may be the result of apraxia of speech, a phonological disorder, or an articulation disorder. This article provides the correct tongue placement for the g sound. It lists common speech sound errors and also recommends k and g word lists. There are many tips for elicitation of the g sound. Finally, this article recommends an effective speech therapy program for correcting the g sound in speech therapy.
The Correct Position for G Sound Production
Tongue placement for the g sound involves the front of the tongue (the tongue tip) being placed behind the front lower teeth.
The back of the tongue is raised and makes contact with the soft palate. This forms a seal.
We hear a burst of air when the seal between the soft palate and the tongue breaks, releasing the built-up air pressure.
That release of air results in the g sound.
Since this is a voiced sound, the vocal cords vibrate.
Reference: Peña-Brooks Adriana, and M. N. Hegde. Articulation and Phonological Disorders: Assessment and Treatment Resource Manual, PRO-ED, Austin, TX, 2007.
Common Sound Errors
D sounds are often substituted for g sounds.
This is a phonological process known as velar fronting (when front sounds, such as alveolar, are substituted for back sounds, such as velars).
This can occur in the initial, medial, or final positions of words.
An example is saying “dough” when you mean to say “go”.
Another example is saying “bad” when you mean to say “bag”.
It involves saying sounds in the front of the mouth as opposed to the back of the mouth.
The back of their tongue is not lifting.
There are many phonological processes in addition to velar fronting.
Read more about the different phonological processes.
K & G Word Lists
It can be useful to have word lists for speech sounds.
This article provides a list of g words for speech practice.
If you are looking for k words, check out this word list.
G Sound Speech Therapy Tongue Position Tips
There are many strategies for teaching the g sound.
Mirror
It is beneficial for a child sit in front of a mirror while practicing this target.
This allows the child to visualize the correct tongue positioning.
Since the tip of your tongue should be placed behind the lower front teeth, the child may need reminders to keep the tongue tip down.
Fruit Loops
Fruit loops or Cheerios could be used to assist the child.
Make sure the child is seated upright.
Ideally, the child is seated in front of a mirror.
Place one piece of cereal along the gum line or near the bottom front teeth, and have the child hold it in place with the tip of their tongue.
Hand Motions
If you prefer not to use food, there are many different ways to teach the g sound.
Try using hand movements.
The fingers can represent the tip of the tongue, and the back part of the hand can represent the back of your tongue.
Gravity
Have the child lie down while practicing this sound!
Gravity pulls the tongue towards the back of the mouth.
It can be a simple way to prevent fronting.
More Elicitation Tips
Need more ideas?
Read more g sound elicitation tips here.
G Sound Speech Therapy Program
Are you ready to start seeing success with a child’s productions of the g sound?
This is the ultimate program a speech therapist can use for correcting that g sound!
This g sound speech therapy program is perfect for the student on your caseload who is having a hard time producing velar sounds.
It is ideal for preschool, kindergarten, first grade, and second grade speech therapy students.
Target the g sound in isolation and real words easily with this resource.
And even better news?
This program is included in the Correct that Speech Sound Mega Bundle.
Visuals
Correct that G includes amazing visuals to help your student easily visualize tongue placement.
These visual cues are clear and simple.
They show up-and-down tongue movement.
There is also a visual for children to see the “front of the tongue” versus the “back of the tongue”.
Word Lists
This program includes print-n-go auditory bombardment word lists:
- initial g words
- medial g words
- final g words
Your student will listen carefully as you read these words to them.
They do not repeat the words after you say them.
Auditory bombardment provides repeated exposure to the correct production of the target sound.
Sound Elicitation Techniques
Feeling stuck?
Looking for another great way to try to elicit this sound?
The Correct that G Program includes 6 tried-and-true sound elicitation strategies.
Simple Syllable Shapes
Practice the g sound in different vowel sounds within real words!
There are articulation cards and worksheets included for these targets:
•CV combinations
•CVC words
•CVCC combinations
•CCVC words
•Core vocabulary words
G vs D Minimal Pairs
If you prefer a minimal pairs approach, this resource provides minimal pairs for:
- g vs d initial
- g vs d final
There are minimal pair word cards and worksheets for each target.
Your student can also practice minimal pairs in sentences.
Articulation Word Level Practice
Here’s the perfect g sound speech therapy practice for word level!
This program included articulation cards and words for the g in the initial, medial, and final positions of words.
Best of all, there are opportunities to practice 1 syllable, 2 syllable, and 3 syllable g words.
Velar Assimilation Targets
Velar assimilation is a phonological process that involves replacing a velar sound (such as k and g) with non-velar sound.
An example is pronouncing the word “dog” as “gog”.
The ‘d’ is influenced by the neighboring ‘g’ sound.
This program includes practice for those “tricky words” to help improve speech clarity.
G Sound in Consonant Clusters
Practice the g sound in consonant clusters easily with this program!
This is an important step speech-language pathologists won’t want to skip.
It includes:
•initial g consonant clusters
•medial g consonant clusters
•final g consonant clusters
There are articulation cards and worksheets included to target these tricky clusters.
G in Phrases and Sentences
Make sure to practice the g sound in phrases and sentences!
These motivating activities are a great way to challenge students to correct that g sound.
There are tongue twisters, game board pages, and dice roll worksheets.
Correct that Speech Sound Bundle
Perhaps there are a variety of specific sounds you are trying to correct in speech therapy!
The Correct that Speech Sound MEGA Bundle is the answer for busy speech-language pathologists.
It includes proven programs that speech therapists can count on.
There are no prep and low prep worksheets and activities.
Additionally, each program included in the bundle provides strategies, sound elicitation techniques, and more.
Correct that speech sound step-by-step!
Don’t just correct that g sound!
You can also correct other sounds and errors, such as the k sound, vocalic r sounds, and lisps.
Related Articles
Speech-language pathologists may wish to read the following related articles:
- The Different Phonological Processes (List for SLPs)
- Initial and Final K Words for Speech Therapy
- G Words for Speech Therapy
- Try These Beneficial Fronting Activities for Speech Therapy
Recommended Speech Therapy Resources
The Correct that G Program provides speech-language pathologists with everything they need to correct that g sound, from start to finish.
This program is included in the incredible Correct that Speech Sound MEGA Articulation Bundle, available on Teachers Pay Teachers.
