PreK through first grade students who replace /k/ with /t/ in speech, and who need to hear the difference between the two sounds before practising saying them.

Yes. It plays free in the browser with no login. An account adds session data, goal scoring and assignment to a student.

Does hearing the difference mean the student can say it?

Not on its own. Listening practice is a first step for many children, and the next is saying /k/ in single words, with a board such as the /k/ initial word cards.

/k/ or /t/? Whack the /k/ Words

Listening practice for velar fronting: hit only the words that start with /k/ and let the /t/ words go.

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Game

Hit the words that start with /k/

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How to run it

Say each word aloud as it pops up, rather than letting the student rely on the printed word or the picture alone, so the task is really listening. Start slowly and name the rule first: hit the ones that start at the back of your mouth, like cow. After a round, pick two they hit and have them say the word, to connect hearing the sound with making it.

Cueing ladder

Start at the top. Add support one step at a time.

Step 1IndependentSay the word as it pops up and let the student decide to hit it or not. Wait 3 seconds.Log as correct
Step 2Repeat itSay the word again, a little slower, stressing the first sound.Log as cued
Step 3ContrastSay a /k/ word and a /t/ word back to back, like car and tar, then the word again.Log as cued
Step 4Show itLet the student watch your mouth: the tongue tip stays down for /k/ and goes up for /t/.Log as cued

Adjust it

Easier

Fewer words, one at a time, with the /k/ words said a little louder and longer.

Harder

Have the student say each word before hitting it, and judge their own production.

Matching IEP goal

Given spoken words, Student will identify whether a word begins with /k/ or /t/ in 8 of 10 opportunities across 3 consecutive sessions, given no more than one repetition.

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About this activity

A whack-a-mole board for hearing the difference between /k/ and /t/ at the start of a word. Cow, car, key, kite, comb and cup pop up alongside toe, tie, two, toy, tooth and table, and the student hits only the words that start with /k/. It is built for the child who says tar for car, and who may not yet hear that the two sounds are different.

What to listen for

Notice whether misses are all one kind. A student who hits toe and tie along with cow and car is not yet separating the two sounds, while one who hits nothing is being cautious. Watch whether they respond to your voice or only to the picture. Key and kite start with k while cow, car, comb and cup start with c, so a reader cannot solve it by looking for one letter.

Carrying it home

Play a quick listening game with real objects: put out a cup, a toy and a key, name one, and let the child grab it. Then swap roles, and listen for whether they say cup or tup. Say the pairs back to back, car and tar, so they hear the contrast. A few minutes a day is plenty.

What's in this activity

Hit the words that start with /k/|cow,car,key,kite,comb,cup|toe,tie,two,toy,tooth,table

Questions

Who is this for?: PreK through first grade students who replace /k/ with /t/ in speech, and who need to hear the difference between the two sounds before practising saying them.
Is it free?: Yes. It plays free in the browser with no login. An account adds session data, goal scoring and assignment to a student.
Does hearing the difference mean the student can say it?: Not on its own. Listening practice is a first step for many children, and the next is saying /k/ in single words, with a board such as the /k/ initial word cards.