LESSON 4: Tt /t/

Help Your Child Learn to Say, Write, and Explore the Letter Tt!

What Will We Learn Today?

The letter Tt spells the /t/ sound, like in the word tiger. It’s a common consonant that helps form many simple, early words. In this lesson, your child will learn how to say the /t/ sound, write uppercase and lowercase Tt, blend sounds into words, and enjoy simple activities that make learning the letter Tt fun and meaningful.

How to Make the /t/ Sound

The letter Tt spells the sound /t/, as in top, tap, and tiger.

Here’s how to teach your child to say /t/:

• Place the tip of your tongue just behind your top front teeth.

• Quickly pull your tongue down to let a little puff of air out.

• Don’t use your voice—/t/ is an unvoiced sound.

• Say the sound quickly: /t/. It’s a stop sound, so it cannot be stretched out.

Articulate
Have your child try tapping their tongue like a drumstick just behind their teeth. Practice short, quick bursts: /t/, /t/, /t/.

How to Write the Letter Tt

Time to grab your whiteboard and marker.

Uppercase T

• Draw a straight line down.

• Then draw a horizontal line across the top.

Lowercase t

• Draw a straight line down.

• Then draw a small horizontal line across the middle.

Make writing multisensory by tracing in the air, drawing with chalk, or shaping the letter with playdough.

Fun and Meaningful Activities for Letter Tt

Tt Sound Hunt

Invite your child to find things around the house that start with the /t/ sound—like toothbrush, toy, or towel.

Say each word clearly and ask:

“Can you hear the /t/ sound at the beginning of this word?”

Tt Collage

Draw or cut out pictures of objects that begin with /t/. Let your child glue them onto paper and decorate their own Tt Collage.

Read and Spot the /t/ Sound

Read these sentences and ask your child to listen carefully for words that start with /t/.

• Tim has a toy.

• The turtle is on the table.

• Tina taps the tin.

• The tiger runs fast.

Ask: “Can you say the /t/ sound in those words? Where do you hear it?”

Color, Trace, and Write

Use printable worksheets where your child can:

• Color pictures that begin with /t/

• Trace uppercase and lowercase Tt

• Practice writing the letter independently

Download the Tt Worksheet Here:

Flashcard Practice – Beginning Sound /t/

For flashcard practice, let’s focus on words with /t/ at the beginning.
These words help children hear and say the starting /t/ sound clearly.

Examples:

• tooth

• table

• tadpole

• tent

Show a picture card, say the word slowly, and ask:
👉 “What sound do you hear at the beginning of the word?”

Download the Tt Flashcards here:

Blending Sounds to Read Words

Now that your child knows a few letter sounds, you can begin blending sounds together to make simple words.

Start with these words:

• at

• mat

• sat

• Sam

Say each word slowly, stretching the sounds:
“mmm–aaa–t” → mat
Then say it fast: mat

Let your child try it:

“Can you blend these sounds together to read the word?”

Blending is a key step toward reading. Practicing with short words helps your child connect sounds to meaning.

Conclusion

The letter Tt opens the door to reading simple words and building strong sound awareness. By combining sound practice, writing, and blending, your child will grow in confidence and skill.

Keep things fun, interactive, and full of encouragement. What new Tt words can you find together today? Share your ideas in the comments!