Silent Tickle Teacher Guide
Silent Tickle Phonics
Teacher Facilitation Guide
🤫 WR Digraph
Objective
Students will identify and spell words beginning with the wr- digraph. They will use tactile sensory methods to internalize that the 'W' remains silent when followed by 'R'.
Materials Needed
- Trays (1 per student or pair)
- Sand, Shaving Cream, or Playdough
- Paper Towels (for cleanup)
- Silent Tickle Slides & Word Cards
Lesson Timeline
5 MIN
Warm-up: Air Writing
Stand up! We are going to practice "Silent Letters."
- W: Draw a huge 'W' in the air. As soon as you finish, quickly "zip" your lips with your fingers. Shhh!
- R: Draw a huge 'R' and let out a big "ROAR" like a lion!
5 MIN
Video Viewing: The Tickle Test
Watch the Scratch Garden video. Pay close attention to the Tickle Scene (0:44-1:06).
"Even if we tickle W, and W starts to laugh, we won't hear anything. He is silent!"
15 MIN
Activity: Sensory Spelling
Distribute trays with sand or shaving cream.
- Students trace the letters WR in their material.
- The Sound Rule: When they trace 'W', they say "Shh." When they trace 'R', they say "Rrr."
- Teacher Dictation: Call out target words: Wrap, Wrist, Wrench. Students spell them in the tray.
5 MIN
Closure: Wipe & Check
Wipe hands with paper towels. Final verbal check:
"What happens when W meets R?"
Expected response: "The W stays silent!" or "We tickle him and he doesn't make a sound!"
Video Pause Points & Discussion
- 0:49 Pause: "Before the video tells us, what sound do you think WR makes?" (Address the "wuh-rrr" misconception).
- 1:25 Pause: "Brainstorm! Can you think of any words that sound like /r/ but might start with a silent W?"
- 1:40 Pause: Give them 10 seconds to shout out a 'WR' word before the video reveals "Wrong."
Silent Tickle Slides
🤫
📝
The Silent Tickle
Mastering the 'WR' Sound
W
R
Warm-up: Air Writing
W
Draw it in the air!
"Then ZIP your lips!" 🤫
R
Draw it in the air!
"Then ROAR like a lion!" 🦁
Let's Watch!
The WR Sound | Scratch Garden
Embedded media
🪶
The Tickle Test
When W meets R, the W becomes silent.
W 👉
➡️
shhh...
"Even if we tickle W, he makes no sound!"
Sensory Spelling
✍️
STEP 1
Trace WR in your sand or cream!
🤫
STEP 2
Say "Shh" for W and "Rrr" for R.
👂
STEP 3
Listen for the words and spell them!
Can you spell these?
🎁
W R A P
⌚
W R I S T
🔧
W R E N C H
Silent Tickle Worksheet
Silent Tickle Spelling
The WR Rule
Name
Date
🤫
Remember the Rule!
When W and R hold hands, W stays quiet.
1. Trace the Silent Sound
wr
wr
wr
2. Write the Words
🎁 WRAP
⌚ WRIST
🔧 WRENCH
❌ WRONG
Circle the silent letter in every word above!
W
W
W
W
