Two Ways to Make an R

The R sound is by far the trickiest for kids to learn and it is also the hardest to teach.  Those of us who learned the R when we were little may wonder why it’s so hard for some kids to pick it up.  Maybe it’s because the R sound is made almost completely with the tongue, and so requires careful tongue control.  This can be difficult for kids who haven’t fine-tuned that particular muscle.

To make things even more complicated, there are many different types of R.  In addition to the R at the beginning of words (ring, red), there are seven other types of R that typically come after a vowel (ER, AIR, AR, OR, IRE, EAR, and OUR).  And believe it or not, there are two different ways to produce these R’s: the Bunched R and the Retroflex R. 

The Bunched R is made by pulling the tongue up and back so that the sides of the tongue touch the insides of the back molars.  The tongue stays relatively horizontal, but just bunched backwards tightly.  Here is a video of my son making the bunched R. 

Bunched R sounds

You can teach the Bunched R by using a tongue depressor to gently push the child’s tongue up and back as he says the ‘EEEEEE’ sound.  It should eventually turn into ‘ER’.  If you don’t have a tongue depressor, you could use a lollipop (always a hit), or a measuring spoon as I did (--wasn’t a hit).  Here is a video demonstrating the process.  Be aware that it won’t happen this easily – my son already knew how to make an R and so he had to fake it.

Teaching Bunched EE to ER

The Retroflex R is made by not only pulling the tongue up and back, but curling the tip of the tongue backwards while tightening the whole thing.  This is the way I make my R’s and is sometimes easier to teach if the child can do it.  Here is a video of me making the retroflex R.  My tongue is not pretty, so I apologize in advance.  Also, at the very end of the video I say the word 'red' and I'm rounding my lips.  That's actually a no-no when teaching 'R' because little kids tend to turn it into a 'W' sound.  Typically we tell them to keep the jaw and lips still in a kind of half smile, and it's easier for them to make their tongue do the work.

Retroflex R sounds

You also teach the Retroflex R by using a tongue depressor to gently push the child’s tongue up and back, only this time the child is starting with the ‘L’ sound.  Have him put the tip of his tongue behind his front teeth, making an ‘L’ sound, and then pretend to slowly lick peanut butter off the top of his mouth by moving the tongue slowly backward.  About 3/4 of the way back, the tongue should quit touching the roof of the mouth but continue to bend backward.  The sound should gradually change from an ‘L’ to an ‘ER’ sound.  Here is a video showing how to teach the ‘L’ to ‘ER’.  At the very end, he makes a few 'ER' sounds the bunched way because that is his normal way.

Teaching Retroflex L to ER

Keep in mind that it may take a long time to master these R sounds, but eventually it will happen.  Don’t give up!

Good luck!

Following Directions

Some of your kids may have a language goal that reads something like this:  “Johnny will follow 2-3 step directions using basic concepts with 80% accuracy…”

 

You may wonder what that is, and what it has to do with language.  The reason we work on following multiple-step directions is that it is crucial for success in school and the workplace.  Understanding directions is a basic part of understanding language – we use directions all the time when communicating with each other.  Children who have a hard time remembering multiple directions have a hard time succeeding in the classroom. 

 

 

For example, imagine you’re Johnny and your teacher  says, “Now class, take out your math book and turn to page 104.  Skip down to the section that says ‘Understanding Decimals’.  Do problems 4, 7, 8 and 11.”  Johnny may remember only the first thing she said, or the last thing.  He may turn to his neighbor and ask for help, or raise his hand and ask the teacher to repeat it again…and again.  Or he may surreptitiously glance at the other kids in the class to see what they’re doing, and try to follow.  This wastes time and interferes with learning.  Now flash forward 15 years to Johnny sitting in a staff meeting at work.  His boss turns him and says, “John, I need you to add another 500 gobstoppers to Country Kitchen’s order this week.  Use the same PO as last month, and give them a 20% discount.  And be sure to add them to our Christmas card list because they’re our best customer.  Address their card to Ms. Julia Childs, since she’s the one in charge of purchasing.”  If Johnny has not yet mastered the skill of listening and following multiple directions, he is going to have trouble fulfilling his assignment without returning to his boss to ask for a reminder, or worse, leaving something out.

 

We include ‘basic concepts’ in the Following Directions goal to make sure that the child understands words like ‘before’, ‘after’, ‘until’, ‘unless’, ‘above’, ‘below’, etc.  You would be surprised how many little kids can easily follow 3-step directions until you throw in the word ‘before’.  Some kids don’t pick up these concepts unless explicitly taught them.  For instance, if I say, “Before you pat your head, stand up and jump up and down 3 times,” the child will begin with patting her head because I said that first, completely ignoring the word ‘before’.

 

These skills of listening, following directions, and understanding basic concepts become increasingly important as the child advances through elementary school and the upper grades.  The good news is that children love to practice following directions as long as you make them fun.  Below are some possible directions you can have your child practice with you.  You can also make up some of your own.  Be sure to point out and explain words like ‘before’, ‘after’, ‘until’, ‘unless’, etc.

 

 

FOLLOWING VERBAL DIRECTIONS

 

1. Stand up

2. Turn around

3. Knock on the door

4. Clap 2 times

5. Sit down

 

1. Wiggle your ears

2. Tap your head

3. Say ‘I’m so lovely’

4. Stand up

5. Touch the wall

 

1. Stand up

2. Squat down

3. Pat your head

4. Get up

5. Sit down in your chair

6. Say ‘Whoopee!’

 

1. Get out a pencil

2. Get out some paper

3. Write your name at the top

4. Write the date at the bottom

5. Number your paper 1 through 5

6. Write down your favorite 5 foods

7. Give your paper to me

 

1. Tell me your name

2. Tell me your favorite color

3. Sing a verse of a song

4. Pat your head

5. Rub your stomach

6. Pat your head while rubbing your stomach

7. Say ‘Thank you. Thank you very much!’

 

Before you stand up, rub your nose. Then pat your head.

After you pretend to sneeze, stand up and take a bow. Then clap your hands.

While you are touching your nose, stand up and turn around.

Stand up and tell me your name after you raise your hands up high.

While you are singing ‘Happy Birthday to Me’, hop from one foot to the other.

Stand up and touch the door before you jump twice and sit down.

Stand up and turn around. Then clap your hands after you say, ‘I love broccoli!’ Then sit down.

Touch your toes before you shake your head. Then fold your arms. Before you wiggle your nose, blink your eyes twice.

While you are humming ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’, get up and go to the door. Knock 3 times before you say, ‘Is anybody home?’ Count to 3 while you listen for an answer. Before you return to your seat, shake your head. After you sit down, say, ‘I’m so smart!’