S Sound Initial Position Worksheet

Practicing S in the Initial Position

The S sound (or /s/ phoneme) in the initial position of words is one of the most common articulation targets in speech therapy. Many children develop this sound between ages 3 and 8, and targeted practice with clear prompts helps build accuracy and confidence.

This worksheet provides 59 open-ended prompts featuring words that begin with the S sound. Each prompt presents a single target word for the student to practice saying aloud, use in a sentence, or repeat multiple times as directed by their speech-language pathologist.

How to Use This Worksheet

Print the worksheet and work through the prompts during therapy sessions or as homework practice. For each word, ask the student to say it clearly, then use it in a short sentence. Listen for correct tongue placement — the tongue tip should be behind the upper front teeth with air flowing through a narrow groove. Mark each word as the student practices, and revisit any that need additional work in future sessions.