Phoneme Deletion Game
Remove a sound and say the new word.
How to run it
Start with initial deletion, which is easier than final. Cat without /c/ requires dropping the first sound and saying the rest; cart without /t/ requires holding the whole word and removing the end, which is considerably harder. Say the word slowly and let the child repeat it before the deletion — holding the word is half the task. Ten minutes covers the twelve.
Cueing ladder
Start at the top. Add support one step at a time.
- IndependentSay the item and wait 5 seconds for the student's answer.Log as correct
- Stretch itSay the word again slowly, stretching the sounds or tapping the syllables.Log as cued
- Two choicesOffer two answers, the right one not always second.Log as cued
- ModelDo it yourself, tapping as you go, then the student does it after you.Log as cued
Adjust it
Use pictures, fewer items, and words with fewer sounds.
Take the pictures away, or move on to substituting one sound for another.
Matching IEP goal
Given spoken words, Student will delete a sound from a word and say what is left in 8 of 10 opportunities across 3 consecutive sessions, given no more than one repetition.
Send it home through the parent portal →About this activity
Twelve deletion items: cat without /c/ gives at; stop without /s/ gives top; smile without /s/ gives mile; plane without /p/ gives lane; bring without /b/ gives ring; cart without /t/ gives car; block without /b/ gives lock; seat without /t/ gives sea. Deletion is the most demanding phonemic awareness task — the child has to hold the word, remove a piece, and say what is left.
What to listen for
Watch the cluster items. Stop without /s/ and smile without /s/ require separating two consonants that are produced together, which is harder than deleting a single initial sound, and a child who manages cat and not stop has hit the cluster boundary rather than a limit on deletion. Notice whether the child says a real word — flat without /f/ gives lat, which is not a word, and some children resist producing it.
Carrying it home
Deletion games work in a car. Say a word, ask what is left without the first sound, and let the child do one for you — no materials and five seconds, and the ones that leave a real word behind, like cat and at, are the easiest place to start.
What's in this activity
- cat without /c/ at
- stop without /s/ top
- smile without /s/ mile
- plane without /p/ lane
- bring without /b/ ring
- cart without /t/ car
- flat without /f/ lat
- train without /t/ rain
- block without /b/ lock
- spin without /s/ pin
- seat without /t/ sea
- clap without /c/ lap
Questions
- What grades is this for?
- First through third, as advanced phonemic awareness work.
- Is it free?
- Yes, all twelve items play with no account.
- Why is deletion harder than blending or segmenting?
- Because it requires holding the whole word in mind while manipulating it. Blending builds a word and segmenting breaks it apart; deletion does both and then reassembles what is left.
Use this board with your caseload
With a free account, every correct, cued and incorrect mark is saved to the student and scored against their IEP goal, with the data written up for you. Assign it as home practice through the parent portal.
Track progress freeFree for SLPs. No card, no trial clock.