Bruce Murray, College of Education
The Reading Genie
Melanie Hummer (MHummer@cvschools.org) helps children learn phonemes by exploring their mouth moves and representing their sound analogies with hand gestures. Melanie is a reading specialist at Green Ridge Elementary School in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Most of her sound analogies begin with the same sound they are representing.
| Phoneme | Mouth Feel | Gesture | Sound Analogy |
| /a/ | Jaw and tongue are down. | Rub eyes with fists. | Crying baby |
| /b/ | Lips start out together, then they open and a puff of air comes out. Voice box on. | Pat chest. | Beating heart |
| /d/ | Tip of tongue touches above your top teeth. Voice box on. | Knock on table. | Door knock |
| /e/ | Mouth open, tongue behind bottom teeth. | Cup hand behind ear. | Hard to hear |
| /f/ | Top teeth touch your bottom lip. | Swirl open hand. | Electric fan |
| /g/ | Mouth is open, tongue humped at back of mouth. Voice box on. | Raise glass. | Gulping milk |
| /h/ | Air comes out of open mouth. | Pant. | Hot dog |
| /i/ | Mouth is open, tongue is slightly lowered. | Mouth open, tongue out. Voice box on. | Icky sticky |
| /j/ | Tongue is up, lips are open. | Twirl hands. | Jumping rope |
| /k/ (letter c) | Tongue is humped in the back of your mouth. | Pull index finger to click camera. | Click |
| /l/ | Tip of tongue touches above your top teeth and stays there. | Hold up fist. | Ready to lick a lollipop. |
| /m/ | Lips come together. | Rub tummy. | Mmm mmm good |
| /n/ | Tongue behind top teeth, air comes out your nose. | Swat at bug. | Buzzing gnat |
| /o/ | Mouth open, jaw dropped. | Open mouth. | Doctor says “Open wide” |
| /p/ | Lips open and a puff of air comes out. | Pop fingers open. | Popcorn popping |
| /kw/ (letters qu) | Back of tongue is humped in back of mouth, lips make a circle. | Hands on hips. | “Quiet!” said the queen. |
| /r/ | Tongue curls up to roof of mouth. Voice box on. | Clench teeth. | Dog growls “Ruff ruff” |
| /s/ | Tip of tongue touches above your top teeth. Then blow a hiss of air. | Hiss and undulate hand side to side | Snake |
| /t/ | Tip of tongue touches above your top teeth. | Move finger like pendulum. | Tick tock |
| /u/ | Mouth is open, tongue is down. | Pretend to punch stomach. | Punch |
| /v/ | Top teeth touch bottom lip. Voice box on. | Push arm back and forth. | Vacuum cleaner. |
| /w/ | Lips make a circle. | Move from side to side. | Washing machine |
| /ks/ (letter x) | Begins with back of tongue humped in back of your mouth. Then hiss. | Open a soda can. | Soda can |
| /y/ | Tongue is touching side of teeth, mouth is open. | Slap side of leg. | “Yah!” |
| /z/ | Tip of tongue touches above your top teeth. Voice box on. | Pretend to zip up a coat. | Zipper sound |
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Last modified: January 28, 2018