Letter Match Lesson Plan LiPS Aligned • Tier 2 Intervention (3–5 Students)
Letter Match Mission (LiPS Foundation)
Kinesthetic & Articulatory Cues for Mixed-Case Letter Identification
Framework: LiPS Articulation
Duration: 20 Minutes
LiPS Articulatory Pairs
Bb • Lip Popper Dd • Tongue Tapper Mm • Nose Sound Tt • Tongue Tapper Gg • Tongue Scraper Hh • Air / Panting
LiPS Core Objective
Students link visual uppercase and lowercase forms to tactile mouth movements (lips, tongue, airflow, voice box vibration).
Key Materials
Individual handheld student mirrors, LiPS visual mouth cards, tactile letter cards, practice worksheets.
1. Mirror Warm-Up: "What Is My Mouth Doing?" (3 Minutes) Articulatory Self-Awareness
Routine: Distribute handheld mirrors. Have students look directly at their lips and tongue while making target sounds.
Teacher Script: "Hold up your mirror! Put your lips together and make /b/... Feel that? Your lips popped! That is our Lip Popper. Now touch your throat—is your voice box humming? Yes, it's noisy!"
Quickly contrast with /d/: "Look at your mirror for /d/. Did your lips pop? No! Your tongue tapped behind your front teeth! That is our Tongue Tapper!"
2. Explicit Model (I Do): "Mouth Move to Letter Shape" (5 Minutes) Connecting LiPS Cues to Letterforms
Anchor LiPS Strategy for Tricky Lowercase Letters:
Letter Bb (Lip Popper):
"When we say /b/, our lips press shut into a line, then pop out a round belly! Big B has 2 bellies; little b has a tall back line, then pops 1 round belly in front!"
Letter Dd (Tongue Tapper):
"When we say /d/, our mouth opens round like a donut, and our tongue taps up behind our teeth! Little d starts with the round mouth first, then shoots up to tap!"
Tactile Prompt: Students place one hand on their throat to feel voice vibration while air-tracing the letter with their writing finger.
3. Guided Practice (We Do): "LiPS Mouth Match" (6 Minutes) Manipulative Pairing Routine
Card Pairing Routine:
Teacher places the LiPS Tabletop Parking Mat in front of the group.
Show the Big B card. Ask: "Who is this leader? What does your mouth do when it makes the sound?" (Students respond: "Lip Popper!" ).
Students check their mirror, pop their lips, and search their deck for the matching lowercase b .
Place both cards on the Parking Mat: "Big B, Little b, Lip Popper Match!"
Repeat for Tongue Tapper (D/d, T/t), Nose Sound (M/m), and Tongue Scraper (G/g).
Letter Match Mission • LiPS Small Group Intervention Page 1 of 2
LiPS Intervention Protocols
Articulatory Matrix & Error Correction
Systematic Sensory Cues for Common Case and Letter Confusion
LiPS Reference Guide
Master LiPS Articulatory Sound & Case Guide
Letters
LiPS Sound Label
Mouth & Vocal Feeling
Visual Form Anchor
Bb
Lip Popper (Noisy)
Lips press flat together, air pops out, throat hums.
Tall back line first, then pops 1 round belly in front.
Dd
Tongue Tapper (Noisy)
Tongue tip taps firmly behind front top teeth, throat hums.
Mouth is open round (circle first), then tongue taps up tall!
Mm
Nose Sound (Lips Closed)
Lips closed, humming air buzzes through nose.
Two rounded hills like two closed humming lips.
Tt
Tongue Tapper (Quiet)
Tongue taps behind top teeth with no voice box hum.
Tall line crossed like the tongue touching the tooth roof.
Gg
Tongue Scraper (Noisy)
Back of tongue scrapes soft palate in throat with voice on.
Round head above the line, tail scoops deep down like a throat curve.
Aa
Smiley Vowel / Chin Drop
Jaw drops, tongue relaxed, lips pull back in open smile.
Round open mouth shape with a short side stem.
LiPS 3-Step Error Correction Script (When Student Confuses b and d)
Step 1: Check the Mirror
"Look at your mouth in your mirror. When you make that sound, what do you see? Are your lips pressing together, or is your tongue tapping up?"
Step 2: Feel the Motor Action
"Put your finger in front of your lips. Say /b/. Feel that little pop of air? Lips together = Lip Popper letter b!"
Step 3: Trace the Stroke
"Trace the straight line first for the closed lips, then trace the round pop! Bat, then ball."
✓ Multisensory LiPS Reinforcements
Have student touch their throat to verify noisy vs. quiet sound pairs.
Place a small piece of paper in front of mouth to see air pop on Lip Poppers.
Use tactile felt mouth shape cutouts alongside the letter cards.
✓ Small Group Pacing & Exit Criteria
Work on maximum 4 pairs per session until automaticity is established.
Pairing time target: Under 3 seconds per letter pair with correct LiPS mouth label.
Transition to student practice worksheet immediately following the card routine.
Letter Match Mission • LiPS Small Group Intervention Page 2 of 2
Letter Match Activity Cards 👄
Letter Match Activity Cards: LiPS Articulatory Set
Cut along dashed lines. Each card displays the LiPS mouth action to connect form to feeling.
LiPS Aligned Deck
Upper Card 1
A
👄 Smile Vowel • Open Chin
Lower Card 2
a
👄 Smile Vowel • Open Chin
Upper Card 3
B
👄 Lip Popper • Noisy Voice
Lower Card 4
b
👄 Lip Popper • Lips Flat & Pop
Upper Card 5
D
👅 Tongue Tapper • Noisy Voice
Lower Card 6
d
👅 Tongue Tapper • Round Mouth First
Upper Card 7
E
😁 Grinning Smile • Mid Jaw
Lower Card 8
e
😁 Grinning Smile • Mid Jaw
Upper Card 9
G
🗣️ Tongue Scraper • Back Throat
Lower Card 10
g
🗣️ Tongue Scraper • Tail Below
Upper Card 11
H
💨 Air Panting • Open Mouth
Lower Card 12
h
💨 Air Panting • Warm Breath
Upper Card 13
M
👃 Nose Sound • Lips Closed
Lower Card 14
m
👃 Nose Sound • Two Humming Arches
Upper Card 15
R
👅 Tongue Curler • Sides Up
Lower Card 16
r
👅 Tongue Curler • Little Branch
Upper Card 17
T
👅 Tongue Tapper • Quiet Tap
Lower Card 18
t
👅 Tongue Tapper • Quiet Tap
✂ LiPS Tip: Have students read the mouth label aloud as they pair each card. LiPS Cards • Page 1 of 2
🔍
LiPS Mirror & Match Tabletop Mat
Place cards on the bays, check the mirror in the center, and lock in the match.
LiPS Interactive Mat
1. Big Leader
UPPER
Place Big Card Here
2. LiPS Mirror Check
🪞 Look in Mirror
What are lips & tongue doing?
3. Little Partner
lower
Place Little Card Here
LiPS Lock-In: "Check the mirror, feel the sound! Big and Little match is found!"
3 LiPS Intervention Card Activities
Activity 1: Lip Popper vs. Tongue Tapper Sort (b vs. d Fix)
Essential b/d Focus
Place the B, b and D, d cards in a pile. The student draws one card at a time. They look in their handheld mirror, produce the sound, and sort the card under the "Lip Popper Column" (lips closed flat) or "Tongue Tapper Column" (tongue tapping behind teeth). Completely resolves mirror-image confusion!
Activity 2: "Touch Your Voice Box" Noisy/Quiet Hunt
Tactile Vibration
Students place a flat hand gently on their vocal cords. Compare T / t (quiet tongue tap, no throat buzz) with D / d (noisy tongue tap, throat vibrates!). Students match lowercase to uppercase while naming if the sound is "noisy" or "quiet".
Activity 3: Mouth Action Mystery Clue
Kinesthetic Prompt
Teacher gives a mouth clue without speaking: teacher presses lips closed and pops them silently. Students identify: "Lip Popper! That's B and b!" and race to grab the matching uppercase and lowercase pair from the table.
Letter Match Mission • LiPS Mat & Articulatory Routines Page 2 of 2
Letter Match Practice Worksheet LiPS Mouth Match
Letter Match Practice Worksheet
Feel your mouth move as you connect each Big Letter to its Little Partner!
Name:
Date:
Part 1: Draw a Line to the Mouth Match
Say the sound, feel your lips or tongue, and draw the matching line.
Big Letter & Mouth Move Little Partner & Mouth Move
A 👄 Open Smile
👄 Lip Popper b
B 👄 Lip Popper
👅 Tongue Tap d
D 👅 Tongue Tap
👄 Open Smile a
E 😁 Grin Smile
🗣️ Throat Scrape g
G 🗣️ Throat Scrape
😁 Grin Smile e
Part 2: Circle the Matching Small Letter
Say the mouth sound. Circle the correct small partner letter.
M
👃 Nose Sound (Lips Closed)
m
n
w
T
👅 Tongue Tap (Quiet)
l
t
f
H
💨 Air Panting (Open Throat)
h
n
u
Letter Match Mission • LiPS Practice Worksheet Page 1 of 2
LiPS Motor Practice
Mouth Cues & Letter Writing
Use the LiPS mouth cue to write the little partner correctly.
Page 2: Writing & Bubble Hunt
Part 3: Feel Your Mouth & Write the Little Letter
Notice if your lips pop or your tongue taps before you write!
B 👄 Lip Popper
Bat first, pop belly
D 👅 Tongue Tapper
Donut first, tall stick
E 😁 Grin Smile
Hit ball, round bases
G 🗣️ Throat Scrape
Circle head, drop tail
Part 4: LiPS Sound & Case Bubble Hunt
Color only the bubbles where the Big and Little letter make the TRUE match!
Say the mouth move for each letter! If they share the exact same sound, color the bubble.
A a Bubble 1
B d Bubble 2
M m Bubble 3
D b Bubble 4
E e Bubble 5
G q Bubble 6
T t Bubble 7
H h Bubble 8
R r Bubble 9
D d Bubble 10
A o Bubble 11
B b Bubble 12
Letter Match Mission • LiPS Practice Worksheet Page 2 of 2
Letter Match Exit Ticket LiPS Progress Monitoring • Quick Check
Letter Match Exit Ticket (LiPS)
Tracking mixed-case recognition and articulatory mouth awareness.
Total LiPS Score
_____ / 10
Student:
Date:
Teacher/Tutor:
Task A: Circle the Correct Lowercase Partner (5 Pts)
1 pt each correct match
B 👄 Lip Popper
d
b
p
D 👅 Tongue Tap
b
d
q
A 👄 Open Smile
e
o
a
G 🗣️ Throat Scrape
g
q
j
E 😁 Grin Smile
c
e
s
Task B: 1-on-1 Oral Name & LiPS Mouth Probe (5 Pts)
Student names letter + LiPS mouth movement
m
Nose Sound
✓ ✗
b
Lip Popper
✓ ✗
t
Tongue Tap
✓ ✗
d
Tongue Tap
✓ ✗
g
Tongue Scrape
✓ ✗
LiPS Clinical Diagnostic Notes & Decision Rubric
8–10: Firm Articulation Child readily pairs visual form with mouth movement.
6–7: Emerging Feeling Needs handheld mirror to differentiate b vs d.
<6: Sensory Prompting Pair with tactile physical props & 1-on-1 mirror feedback.
Observed Motor/Articulatory Notes:
Letter Match Mission • LiPS Assessment Tracker Page 1 of 1
Letter Match Pocket Strips ✂
Pocket Chart Category Header Strips
Cut along the outer dashed borders. Slide into top pockets of your tabletop pocket chart.
Header Deck • Set 1
Pocket Chart Row Header LiPS Sound Family
👄
LIP POPPERS
Lips press shut tight into a line, then pop open!
B b (/b/ Noisy)
Tactile Cue: Feel air pop against flat palm Cards to sort here: B, b, P, p
Pocket Chart Row Header LiPS Sound Family
👅
TONGUE TAPPERS
Mouth opens round, tongue taps behind top teeth!
D d (/d/ Noisy)
Tactile Cue: Tongue clicks against roof/teeth ridge Cards to sort here: D, d, T, t
Pocket Chart Row Header LiPS Sound Family
👃
NOSE SOUNDS
Lips stay closed, humming sound escapes through nose!
M m (/m/ Hum)
Tactile Cue: Touch the bridge of your nose to feel buzz Cards to sort here: M, m, N, n
Pocket Chart Row Header LiPS Sound Family
🗣️
TONGUE SCRAPERS
Back of the tongue arches up to scrape throat roof!
G g (/g/ Scrape)
Tactile Cue: Feel vibration deep inside throat Cards to sort here: G, g, C, c
★ Master Anchor Chart Strip for Pocket Chart Base b vs. d Fix
b
Lip Popper
Lips press shut like a bat, then pop out the ball!
d
Tongue Tapper
Mouth opens round like a donut, tongue taps up high!
Keep this strip visible in the pocket chart at all times during small group intervention.
Letter Match Mission • LiPS Pocket Chart Category Headers Page 1 of 2
🗂️
Letter Match Pocket Insert Strips
Cut into horizontal strips. Students slide these into rows or match separate tiles on chart.
Insert Strips • Set 2
Strip 1 • Smile Vowel Pocket Insert #1
A
Big A
➔ Mouth Match
a
Little a
👄 Open Chin Smile "ah" like apple
Tall teepee tent ➔ round apple with stem Pair: A = a
Strip 2 • Lip Popper (Noisy) Pocket Insert #2
B
Big B
➔ Mouth Match
b
Little b
👄 Lip Popper Bat first, pop ball
Two bellies ➔ straight back, pop belly in front Pair: B = b
Strip 3 • Tongue Tapper (Noisy) Pocket Insert #3
D
Big D
➔ Mouth Match
d
Little d
👅 Tongue Tapper Donut first, tall stick
Big tummy ➔ round open mouth, tap high Pair: D = d
Strip 4 • Grinning Smile Pocket Insert #4
E
Big E
➔ Mouth Match
e
Little e
😁 Grinning Smile Hit ball, round bases
Three shelves ➔ straight line across, round dome Pair: E = e
Strip 5 • Tongue Scraper (Noisy) Pocket Insert #5
G
Big G
➔ Mouth Match
g
Little g
🗣️ Tongue Scraper Back throat rumble
Open gate ➔ circle head, monkey tail hangs below Pair: G = g
Letter Match Mission • LiPS Pocket Chart Insert Strips Page 2 of 2
Letter Match Answer Key Teacher Reference • Answer Key
Letter Match Practice Solutions
Answer Key for Student Practice Worksheet (Pages 1 & 2)
Worksheet Total 25 Total Points
Part 1: Matching Lines (5 Pts)
Solved
Big Letter
Match
Little Letter
A (Open Smile)
➔
a (Row 3 right)
B (Lip Popper)
➔
b (Row 1 right)
D (Tongue Tap)
➔
d (Row 2 right)
E (Grin Smile)
➔
e (Row 5 right)
G (Throat Scrape)
➔
g (Row 4 right)
Teacher Note: Ensure student didn't cross B to d or D to b.
Part 2: Circle Partner (4 Pts)
Solved
1. M (Nose Sound) Circle 'm' (1st)
2. R (Tongue Curl) Circle 'r' (2nd)
3. T (Quiet Tap) Circle 't' (2nd)
4. H (Air Panting) Circle 'h' (1st)
Distractor analysis: 'n' distracts M; 'f' distracts T; 'n' distracts H.
Part 3: Letter Formation Scoring Criteria (4 Pts)
Letter b (Lip Popper)
Tall stem from top to baseline; round belly faces RIGHT into space.
Letter d (Tongue Tap)
Round donut body first on baseline; stem reaches high up to topline.
Letter e (Grin Smile)
Starts under midline, horizontal stroke right, curve over to baseline.
Letter g (Throat Scrape)
Circle sits on baseline; tail drops down below line and curves left.
Part 4: Detective Bubble Hunt Key (12 Bubbles • 8 Matches / 4 Tricks)
8 Correct Bubbles
A a ✓ COLOR (True)
B d ✗ BLANK (Trick!)
M m ✓ COLOR (True)
D b ✗ BLANK (Trick!)
E e ✓ COLOR (True)
G q ✗ BLANK (Trick!)
T t ✓ COLOR (True)
H h ✓ COLOR (True)
R r ✓ COLOR (True)
D d ✓ COLOR (True)
A o ✗ BLANK (Trick!)
B b ✓ COLOR (True)
Letter Match Mission • Teacher Answer Key Page 1 of 2
Exit Ticket Solutions & Diagnostic Guide
Exit Ticket Key & Oral Scoring Rubric
Scoring criteria and acceptable verbal responses for 1-on-1 progress checks.
Assessment Total 10 Total Points
Task A: Circle Partner Key (1 Point Each • 5 Total) Correct Choice Highlighted
1. Stimulus: B (Lip Popper)
d ✓ b (Correct) p
Common error: chooses 'd'
2. Stimulus: D (Tongue Tapper)
b ✓ d (Correct) q
Common error: chooses 'b'
3. Stimulus: A (Open Smile)
e o ✓ a (Correct)
Common error: chooses 'o'
4. Stimulus: G (Tongue Scraper)
✓ g (Correct) q j
Common error: chooses 'q'
5. Stimulus: E (Grin Smile)
c ✓ e (Correct) s
Common error: chooses 'c'
Task B: 1-on-1 Oral Probe Response Rubric
Item
Correct Name & Case
Target LiPS Articulatory Label
Acceptable Student Phrasing
1. 'm'
"Little m"
Nose Sound (Lips Closed)
"Humming lips", "nose sound", or student hums /m/ with closed lips.
2. 'R'
"Big R"
Tongue Curler
"Tongue curler", "curls back", or student demonstrates tongue retraction.
3. 't'
"Little t"
Tongue Tapper (Quiet)
"Tongue tap", "quiet tap", or "taps behind front teeth with no voice".
4. 'H'
"Big H"
Air / Panting Breath
"Puff of air", "panting breath", or "warm throat breath".
5. 'b'
"Little b"
Lip Popper (Noisy)
"Lip popper", "lips pop together", or demonstrates pop with palm.
Tier 2 / RTI Instructional Next Steps Based on Total Score
Score 9–10: Mastered Advance to next phoneme cluster (Lip Chillers: F/V, Tongue Lifter: L). Student demonstrates firm orthographic-motor mapping.
Score 7–8: Close to Benchmark Provide 2 additional days of Guided "We Do" Pocket Chart strip sorting. Focus specifically on the 1–2 missed letter pairs.
Score <7: Tier 3 Intensive Return to tactile sand tracing and handheld mirror routines. Reduce stimulus to only 2 contrasting pairs (Bb vs Dd).
Letter Match Mission • Teacher Answer Key & Rubric Page 2 of 2