Take the Tongue Twister Challenge!

My hope is that, through your blogging so far this semester, you have begun to pay attention to all of the language that surrounds you and your (future/current) students everyday! As we have found, there are so many interesting words out there -- from dog breeds to superhero words to words we pass by every week at the grocery store!

As you collect words with your children, keep in mind that enjoyment, wordplay, and authentic purposes for literacy should always come first. So before we use superhero words to teach our students about letters and sounds, why not say the words out loud with students in our best superhero voices just for fun? (And maybe even say them with movement? POW!)

One great way to first play with words (and THEN learn about letter-sound relationships) is with tongue twisters. This week, I challenge you to have a Terrific Tongue Twister Tournament (with a friend or with a little one you know) -- and I also challenge you to have FUN with language!

Are you ready to take the tongue twister challenge?

Find someone who will be willing to take the tongue twister challenge with you!

Choose one of the tongue twisters below and ... start the clock! In ten seconds, how many times can you read it?

Then have your partner try to read it as many times as possible! Who read it more times?

Try out one more tongue twister, repeating the directions from above.

Which Dishwasher?

Which dishwasher washed which dish?

Which dishwasher washed which dish?

Which dishwasher washed which dish?

Half-foot Heifer

I have a heifer with half a foot. Have you a half-foot heifer?

I have a heifer with half a foot. Have you a half-foot heifer?

I have a heifer with half a foot. Have you a half-foot heifer?

Two Torn Tutus

Sue took the two torn tutus to the tutu tailor and told the tailor to sew the tutus today.

Sue took the two torn tutus to the tutu tailor and told the tailor to sew the tutus today.

Sue took the two torn tutus to the tutu tailor and told the tailor to sew the tutus today.

Wright Writes Wrong

William Wright was a writer. Wright had a right to write, but Wright's writings were rarely right. What Wright wrote was wrong. What was wrong with what Wright wrote was Wright's weak words.

Report back:

How did it go? What was fun (or maybe not fun!)? Which tongue twisters were the hardest? Tell us about at least one phonics element (see Module 4 Discussion forum) that students might discover during the Tongue Twister challenge! Can you think of a way you might use this activity with your current/future students?

Create a tongue twister for your Blog Buddy using one of the phonics elements listed in last week's discussion forum (or find a good tongue twister online, if you find it too challenging to create your own). See how challenging you can make it! Buddies, see how many times you can say the tongue twister in 10 seconds and make sure to report back in your comment about it!