One of my favorite things about speech therapy is that no two children or speech students are alike. One student needs an initial k words speech therapy list while another student is working on sequencing or following directions.
Every session I get to work on something new!
As a Speech-Language Pathologist in the elementary setting about half of my caseload was articulation students.
That’s why I’m on a mission to provide you with simple easy to use articulation lists and hopefully a variety of home practice sheets for students to work on their articulation sounds at home.
Today I will be sharing with you my initial k word list.
Initial K Sound – Correct Position
The initial k sound is one of many back of the mouth sounds. When working on the initial k sound, one of the velar consonants, the first thing you want to do is pull your tongue to the back of the mouth and place it against the soft palate (the top of your mouth).
Once your tongue is in position then push air through your mouth while lowering towards the front of the mouth.
If your child or student is struggling to place their tongue in the correct position you can use a tongue depressor to provide your child’s tongue with a tactile cue.
Age Mastered
By 2 years of age children will begin making the k sound and by the age of 3 years old the child will have mastered the sound according to the GFTA-2 Standardized sample.
If your child is struggling or making slow progress to produce the initial k sound, the first thing you’ll want to do is get testing done by a speech therapist.
Minimal Pairs
A great way to work on sound production is through minimal pairs.
A minimal pair is two words that differ by only one phoneme, in this case, the initial /k/ sound.
For example, “key” and “tea”.
When you pronounce these words side by side, it’s easy to hear the difference in the initial sound.
Having a list of initial k minimal pairs is a great way to work on correct production, especially for your phonology students!
Target Words: Initial K Words Speech Therapy
Here’s a list of initial k articulation sounds for you to use in therapy or at home practice to work on your student or child’s articulation disorder.
- For Example: cat, can, kite, kangaroo, carrot, cup, key, cut, cab, cap, corn, comb, candle, kiss, kid, coin, cash, cone, king, cow.
See full list of words, phrases, and sentences below.
Be sure to grab my one page freebie of initial k sounds below. Simply scroll to the bottom of this post and grab your free copy!
Word Positions: Initial K Words Speech Therapy
Initial Sounds
The initial position of the k sound is at the beginning of a word. For example, “candy” or “coat”.
Medial Sounds
Some words have the k sound in the medial position of a word, such as “baker”, “soccer”, and “socket”.
Final Sounds
The final position of the k sound are when the target sound is at the end of a word. For example, “take” or “bake”.
Initial Words at Word Level
Some ways to practice include having your child or student say each initial k word one by one as they go through a list.
Using a dot marker can also be a fun way to practice having your child put a dot under each initial K sound.
In addition, I’ve compiled an easy-to-download one page overview of initial k sounds below. Simply scroll down to the bottom of this post and download your free copy.
- 1 Syllable: king, key, kids, kiss, kite, kind, keep, kale, kick, kayak, kelp, kiln, kept, card, cow, card, cut, coat, cave, card, cake, cold, cool, cop, corn, cone, cub, coin, can, cat, comb, catch
- 2 Syllable: candy, color, carrot, kitchen, kindness, kingdom, keyboard, kitty, Kenya, karate, Korea, kidney, Kansas, karma, karaoke, kidding, ketchup, keeper, kicker, kindle, kiwi, keyhole, cutting, cushion, courage, cousin, country, costume, cookie, correct, confess, cookbook, confess, cartoon, candle, cactus, cabbage, cabin
- 3 Syllable: koala, Kennedy, Kentucky, kinetic, kidnapping, kilogram, kindhearted, kimono, cantaloupe, Canada, camera, calendar, capital, carpenter, colorful, coconut, cardinal, customer, coyote, courtesy, counselor, correction, consider, comedy, computer
- 4 Syllable: kindheartedness, kookaburra, kaleidoscope, category, cauliflower, coincidence, Colorado, caterpillar, combination, comedian, community, congratulate, Kindergarten, cooperate, Connecticut, conversation
Practice in Flash Card Mode Right Here from Your Computer!
| 1 Syllable | 2 Syllable | 3 Syllable | 4 Syllable |
|---|---|---|---|
| king | candy | koala | kindheartedness |
| key | color | Kennedy | kookaburra |
| kids | carrot | Kentucky | kaleidoscope |
| kiss | kitchen | kinetic | category |
| catch | kindness | kidnapping | cauliflower |
| kite | kingdom | kilogram | coincidence |
| kind | keyboard | kindhearted | Colorado |
| keep | kitty | kimono | caterpillar |
| kale | Kenya | cantaloupe | combination |
| kick | karate | Canada | comedian |
| kayak | Korea | camera | community |
| kelp | kidney | calendar | congratulate |
| kiln | Kansas | capital | Kindergarten |
| kept | karma | carpenter | cooperate |
| card | karaoke | colorful | Connecticut |
| cow | kidding | coconut | conversation |
| cut | ketchup | cardinal | |
| coat | keeper | customer | |
| cave | kicker | coyote | |
| cake | kindle | courtesy | |
| cold | kiwi | counselor | |
| cool | keyhole | correction | |
| cop | cutting | consider | |
| corn | cushion | comedy | |
| cone | courage | computer | |
| cub | cousin | ||
| coin | country | ||
| can | costume | ||
| cat | cookie | ||
| comb | correct | ||
| confess | |||
| cookbook | |||
| cabin | |||
| cartoon | |||
| candle | |||
| cactus | |||
| cabbage |
Short Sentences or Phrases
When working on initial k sound production, it’s important to work on short phrases once your child or student has mastered the sound at the word level at or near 80% or higher accuracy.
Here is a list of initial k word phrases to try:
Initial K Words Speech Therapy in Phrases
| 1 Syllable | 2 Syllable |
|---|---|
| the king waved | candy store |
| house key | favorite color |
| 5 kids | ate a carrot |
| kiss her cat | kitchen utensils |
| kite flies | kindness showed |
| kind girl | her kingdom |
| keep up with | keyboard clicked |
| kale salad | kitty purred |
| kick the ball | Kenya trip |
| kayak on the lake | karate class |
| kelp floats | South Korea |
| kiln fired up | kidney beans |
| kept a secret | from Kansas |
| holiday card | singing karaoke |
| dairy cow | just kidding |
| cut her hair | ketchup and mustard |
| wear a coat | she is a keeper |
| cave with bats | football kicker |
| birthday cake | kindle for fire |
| cold outside | ate a kiwi |
| cool temperatures | fit in the keyhole |
| cop car | cutting tomatoes |
| corn fields | couch cushion |
| ice cream cone | has courage |
| bear cub | my cousin |
| coin holder | country fields |
| soda can | fireman costume |
| cat meowed | chocolate chip cookie |
| comb your hair | correct answer |
| catch a fish | she did confess to |
| recipe from my cookbook | |
| Saturday morning cartoon | |
| light the candle | |
| cactus in the desert | |
| store for cabbage | |
| cabin in the mountains |
| 3 Syllables | 4 Syllables |
|---|---|
| koala bear | kindheartedness goes a long way |
| Kennedy laughed | kookaburra hopped |
| from Kentucky | look in the kaleidoscope |
| kinetic energy | different category |
| kidnapping was witnessed | cauliflower pizza |
| weighs a kilogram | what a coincidence |
| kindhearted lady | Colorado sunsets |
| wore a kimono | caterpillar inched |
| cantaloupe is deliscious | chocolate combination |
| travel to Canada | comedian laughed |
| forgot my camera | safe community |
| put it on the calendar | congratulate my friend |
| capital of Ohio | Kindergarten teachers |
| carpenter by trade | cooperate with me |
| colorful skirt | born in Connecticut |
| coconut tree | conversation starter |
| cardinal flew | |
| customer service | |
| coyote howled | |
| courtesy call | |
| counselor smiled | |
| correction was brutal | |
| consider a different option | |
| comedy show | |
| computer science |
SEE ALSO: 21 Best Reinforcement Games for Speech Therapy
Sentence Level: Initial K Words Speech Therapy
The next step after working at the word and phrase levels are to work on the initial k sound at the sentence level.
For example, you could give your child or student a list of sentences to read aloud while they work on their initial k sound.
Another idea would be to give your child or student pictures with their initial k sound in them and then have them create a sentence about those pictures.
Below is a list of sentences to use with your child or students.
Initial K Words Speech Therapy in Sentences
| 1 Syllable | 2 Syllables |
|---|---|
| The king waved to the people. | I love the candy store. |
| I found my house key. | My favorite color is blue. |
| My sister has 5 kids. | The rabbit ate a carrot. |
| She gave her cat a kiss. | I need some kitchen utensils. |
| A kite flies above the beach. | She showed kindness. |
| The kind girl shared her toys. | Her kingdom goes as far as the mountains. |
| I can keep up with you. | The keyboard clicked loudly. |
| We made a kale salad. | The kitty purred when I pet it. |
| He ran to kick the ball. | I am excited about my trip to Kenya. |
| I like to kayak on the lake. | She signed up for karate class. |
| Kelp floats near the beach. | My mom is from South Korea. |
| Put your ceramics in the kiln. | She will not eat kidney beans. |
| She knew her friend would keep a secret. | She is from Kansas. |
| I sent out holiday cards this year. | I love singing karaoke. |
| We have a dairy cow on the farm. | I was just kidding about my joke. |
| She cut her hair short. | I put ketchup and mustard on the hot dog. |
| I wore my new coat. | She is a keeper. |
| Bats flew out of the cave. | He was a football kicker in high school. |
| I made you a birthday cake. | She got kindle to help start the fire. |
| It is so cold outside. | I cut and ate a kiwi. |
| Cool temperatures are coming next week. | The new key fit in the keyhole. |
| The cop car turned on its lights. | I am cutting tomatoes for a salad. |
| The corn fields seem to go on forever. | The couch cushion has a stain. |
| I licked my ice cream cone. | The soldier has courage. |
| The bear cub stayed close to its mom. | My cousin came over for a sleepover. |
| There are quarters in the coin holder. | The country fields are green in the spring. |
| He crushed the soda can. | He picked a fireman costume. |
| A cat meowed. | I ate 2 chocolate chip cookies. |
| Go comb your hair. | She picked the correct answer. |
| I want to catch a fish. | She did confess to lying and stealing. |
| I will get you the recipe from my cookbook. | |
| Saturday morning cartoons were my favorite. | |
| I will light the candle on the birthday cake. | |
| Cactus thrive in the desert. | |
| I ran to the store for cabbage. | |
| We took a trip to a cabin in the mountains. |
| 3 Syllables | 4 Syllables |
|---|---|
| I saw a koala bear at the zoo. | Kindheartedness goes a long way. |
| Kennedy laughed at her friend. | The kookaburra hopped on the ground. |
| Her aunt is from Kentucky. | The kids loved to look in the kaleidoscope. |
| The kinetic energy is strong. | It is time to pick a different category. |
| The kidnapping was witnessed and he was caught. | I made cauliflower pizza for dinner. |
| This weighs a kilogram. | It seemed to be a coincidence. |
| The kindhearted lady helped me to my car. | Colorado sunsets are beautiful. |
| I wore a kimono to the event. | The caterpillar inched forward on the branch. |
| This cantaloupe is delicious! | I love a chocolate combination. |
| We will travel to Canada for the holidays. | The comedian laughed at his own joke. |
| I forgot my camera. | We live in a safe community. |
| She will put it on the calendar. | I got a card to congratulate my friend. |
| The capital of Ohio is Columbus. | Kindergarten teachers are so fun. |
| His dad was a carpenter by trade. | I asked nicely if he would cooperate with me. |
| I love your colorful skirt. | He was born in Connecticut. |
| The coconut tree bent in the wind. | He is a great conversation starter. |
| The cardinal flew to the branch. | |
| The customer service was great. | |
| The coyote howled. | |
| They gave a courtesy call. | |
| The counselor smiled at him. | |
| The correction was brutal. | |
| You can always consider a different option. | |
| I loved the comedy show. | |
| He studied computer science. |
SEE ALSO: Free Articulation Games for Speech Therapy
Initial K Words Speech Therapy Ideas
Boom Cards
Boom cards are a fun game and an engaging way to strengthen your child or student’s articulation skills.
Here are a few favorite boom cards to work on the initial k sounds:
1. FREEBIE: “artic”-tac-toe: initial /k/ words Boom Cards by carajoyspeech is a great resource that engages students with tic tac toe to practice initial ‘k’ sounds.
2. Starts With C or K? BOOM Cards – Digital Task Cards by Kirby Tutoring is a fun way to practice the ‘k’ sounds while also practicing spelling!
3. Free Feed The Penguin K Sound Boom Cards | Articulation | Speech Therapy by GoldieTalks Speech is an engaging way to help your students practice initial ‘k’. They will have fun feeding the penguins the appropriate sound!
4. Football Themed Articulation Practice BOOM CARDS™ for Initial /k/ Freebie by Speech with Kat formerly Caffeinated Kathryn SLP is a great way to get students engaged with initial K practice. Students will hit 100 initial k targets while moving their football player down the field.
Dot Markers
One way to help your child or student see the initial k sound in words is by using a dot marker.
Have them say the word and then put a dot above the letter that makes the /k/ sound. For example, have them say “kite” and then put a dot above the k in the word “kite”.
Another way to use a dot maker is to use them as reinforcement boards allowing the student to make a dot with their dot marker after practicing one of their initial k words.
Here are a few examples your child or student might enjoy:
5. K and G Fall Trees Printable Articulation Activity Speech Therapy FREEBIE by Pinwheel Speech Resources is a fun dot marker activity that color codes both K and G sounds!
6. Spring Do-A-Dot Initial K & G by Speech Circus is a fun activity created to help students practice initial K and initial G sounds!
7. March St. Patrick’s Day Dot and Say Freebie – K Sound by Red Rose Speechies is a fun, St Patricks Day themed dot activity. This is a no-prep activity with 6 different K sound worksheets ready to go!
8. Spring Alphabet Dab & Dot Worksheets – Initial Letter Sounds by Printable Parents is a great resource that compiles dot marker activities for all initial sounds with a fun spring theme!
SEE ALSO: 279+ Free Speech Therapy Digital Materials
Parent Guide
Here is a handy parent-friendly print page that you can provide to parents working with children on the initial k sound.
9. Mini book – I can see a car – colour. by Clip it Together is a simple activity to send home with parents to practice the ‘k/c’ sounds with their child at home!
Final K Sound
If you need a list of final k words you’ll want to check out my complete list of final k words here.
Initial K Packet
I have a fillable form below to access my free initial k articulation lists along with free picture cards. Simply scroll to the end of this post and fill out the form to grab your own copy!
Go Fish
Go Fish was a fan favorite in my therapy room! It’s perfect for young children because they get to play a game while working on their therapy sounds.
I have a Go Fish game with multiple sounds in my tpt store currently.
10. Articulation Activity Go Fish | T and K Minimal Pairs | Speech Therapy by Speechies and Cream is an engaging Go Fish game for students to practice K and other sounds! This has a fun underwater theme with 32 cards.
11. Initial Sound Go Fish by Elisabeth Haywood is a great activity for students who are practicing initial k, as well as other sound targets.
Velar Fronting – T for K
When your child or student substitutes the initial k sound for the initial t sound this is called velar fronting and they are taking back sounds for the same sound that is made in the front of the mouth.
An example of this would be saying the word “tight” instead of the word “kite”.
One way to work on velar fronting of the initial k sound would be to work on minimal pair words. By having your child or student have the words “tight” and “kite” side by side with a picture and then have your student practice saying each word and listening for the slight difference.
Here are a few resources to get you started:
12. Fronting & Backing Minimal Pairs (/k/ /t/ and /g/ /d/) by Rachel’s Speech Goodies is a set of 5 pages of flashcards targeting both fronting and backing of the k and t! There are 24 pairs in total.
13. FREE /T/ and /K/ Minimal Pairs Speech Handout (Fronting/Backing) by The Speech Scoop is a set of 2 pages with pictures that target T and K. This is great for early intervention or younger elementary students!
14. K & T minimal pairs by Adventures in Speech Language and Literacy is a great resource to use when targeting the velar fronting of K and T! This resource is a no-prep, print-and-go worksheet to practice with your students!
Interactive Game
Playing an interactive game can be a fun way to work on articulation sound disorders.
Here are a few interactive games that your students might enjoy:
15. Initial g and k words speech “fishing” homework freebie by Saidi Marshall is a set of worksheets for students to color while practicing initial k sounds!
16. /k/ initial Bingo by Just Peachy Speech with Jenny has been a favorite of many students while practicing initial k! Initial K Bingo is engaging and great for early elementary students!
Free Articulation Lists
Inside each of the articulation word lists I’ve included free word lists, phrase lists, sentences, and picture cards to make your therapy planning faster.
These worksheets also make for appropriate homework pages for any age or grade since they use real-life photos.
Plus send them home for even faster progress on your student’s articulation sounds.
In Conclusion: Initial K Words Speech Therapy
We hope you have found this article helpful for working on your child or student’s initial k sound.
Be sure to grab your freebie of 20 words to start practicing 5 minutes a day!
Grab Your Free Initial K Word List with Pictures Here!
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