SCROLL DOWN FOR THE MINIMAL PAIRS LIST: FREE, DOWNLOADABLE MINIMAL PAIRS PDF WORKSHEETS.
“Minimal pairs” are pairs of words that differ by only one phoneme (sound) resulting in a change in meaning of the word. SLPs often use “minimal pairs” therapy when phonological processes are present in order to highlight the sound contrast.
When using minimal pairs in speech therapy, the following steps are helpful
- Familiarize: Introduce the child to each minimal pairs picture card to ensure that the child is familiar with the meaning of each target word.
- Auditory Discrimination: Say each of the target words and ask the child to point to word/sound he or she heard.
- Alternatively, spread the individual minimal pair cards on the table and ask the child to listen to the target word and pick up the minimal pairs card. Repeat this step until all individual minimal pairs cards are accurately picked up.
- Production: The child practices saying the minimal pair target words.
- You may find it helpful to ask the child to play the role of “teacher.” The child instructs the SLP (or parent) on which word to pick up. Pick up the card that corresponds with the child’s production, regardless of what the child meant to say. if the minimal pairs card is incorrect (e.g., the child says, “No, I said bug!”), then pick up both minimal pair cards and ask the child which word she or he meant to say.
- Auditory Bombardment: You may wish to read a list of words with the target sound/sound pattern to increase the child’s awareness of the sound or sound pattern. (Earphones and slight amplification are typically recommended for auditory bombardment).
These Minimal Pairs PDF Worksheets assist in targeting several phonological processes, including:
- Gliding (L-W Minimal Pairs, R-W Minimal Pairs)
- Final Consonant Deletion (FCD Minimal Pairs)
- Fronting (S-SH Minimal Pairs)
- Stopping (F-P Minimal Pairs)
- Voicing (S-Z Minimal Pairs, P-B Minimal Pairs, K-G Minimal Pairs)
- Cluster Reduction (S-Clusters Minimal Pairs)
- Deaffrication (SH-CH Minimal Pairs)
Preview ofDownloadable Free Minimal Pairs PDF Worksheets:
Download Free Minimal Pairs PDF Worksheets:
/p/ and /b/ Minimal Pairs (P and B Minimal Pairs PDF Worksheets)
- P/B Initial Minimal Pairs (P vs B Minimal Pairs, Initial Position of Words)
- P/B Final Minimal Pairs (P vs B Minimal Pairs, Final Position of Words)
/θ/ and /f/ Minimal Pairs (Voiceless “TH” and F Minimal Pairs PDF Worksheets)
- θ/F Initial Minimal Pairs (TH vs F Minimal Pairs, Initial Position of Words)
- θ/F Final Minimal Pairs (TH vs F Minimal Pairs, Final Position of Words)
/s/ and /z/ Minimal Pairs (S and Z Minimal Pairs PDF Worksheets)
- S/Z Final Minimal Pairs (S vs Z Minimal Pairs, Final Position of Words)
/s/ and /ʃ/ Minimal Pairs (S and “SH” Minimal Pairs PDF Worksheets)
- S/SH Initial Minimal Pairs (S vs SH Minimal Pairs, Initial Position of Words)
- S/SH Final Minimal Pairs (S vs SH Minimal Pairs, Final Position of Words)
/ʃ/ and /tʃ/ Minimal Pairs (“SH” and “CH” Minimal Pairs PDF Worksheets)
- SH/CH Initial Minimal Pairs (SH vs CH Minimal Pairs, Initial Position of Words)
Final Consonant Deletion Minimal Pairs (FCD Minimal Pairs PDF Worksheets)
- Final Consonant Deletion Minimal Pairs for /k/
- Final Consonant Deletion Minimal Pairs for /p/
- Final Consonant Deletion Minimal Pairs for /t/
/k/ and /g/ Minimal Pairs (K and G minimal Pairs PDF Worksheets)
- K/G Initial Minimal Pairs (K vs G Minimal Pairs, Initial Position of Words)
- K/G Final Minimal Pairs (K vs G Minimal Pairs, Final Position of Words)
/d/ and /g/ Minimal Pairs (D and G Minimal Pairs PDF Worksheets)
- D/G Initial Minimal Pairs (D vs G Minimal Pairs, Initial Position of Words)
/r/ and /w/ Minimal Pairs (R and W Minimal Pairs PDF Worksheets)
- R/W Initial Minimal Pairs (R vs W Minimal Pairs, Initial Position of Words)
/l/ and /w/ Minimal Pairs (L and W Minimal Pairs PDF Worksheets)
- L/W Initial Minimal Pairs (L vs W Minimal Pairs, Initial Position of Words)
/r/ and /l/ Minimal Pairs (R and L Minimal Pairs PDF Worksheets)
- R/L Initial Minimal Pairs (R vs L Minimal Pairs, Initial Position of Words)
/f/ and /p/ Minimal Pairs (F vs P Minimal Pairs PDF Worksheets)
- F/P Initial Minimal Pairs (F vs P Minimal Pairs, Initial Position of Words)
S-Blends Minimal Pairs (Cluster Reduction/Consonant Blends Minimal Pairs PDF Worksheets)
- Initial S-Blends Minimal Pairs (S Blend Minimal Pairs, Initial Position of Words)
Many more free Minimal Pair PDF worksheets to come and added to the Minimal Pairs list. To get notified, please subscribe to our Speech Therapist Tools newsletter.
Credits:
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