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Inaugural address of just 135 words, dead birds and diarrhea: some of the strangest inaugurations in u.s. history.

It was April 30, 1789, when George Washington was inaugurated as the first president of the United States of America. New York Chancellor Robert Livingston read the oath, and George Washington repeated it with one hand on the Bible: “I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of the President of the United States and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States”. 

He also added the words, “So help me God”, a custom followed by every President since.The presidential inauguration ceremony is one of America’s most significant events, however, there are many bizarre and interesting inaugurations throughout history. Here are some of them:

1. 1793:  George Washington’s second inauguration

President Washington’s second oath of office was taken in the Senate Chamber of Congress Hall in Philadelphia on March 4, 1793. His second inaugural address is the shortest ever delivered, in just 135 words.

Fellow Citizens:

I am again called upon by the voice of my country to execute the functions of its Chief Magistrate. When the occasion proper for it shall arrive, I shall endeavor to express the high sense I entertain of this distinguished honor, and of the confidence which has been reposed in me by the people of united America.

Previous to the execution of any official act of the President, the Constitution requires an oath of office. This oath I am now about to take, and in your presence: That if it shall be found during my administration of the Government, I have in any instance violated willingly or knowingly the injunctions thereof, I may (besides incurring constitutional punishment), be subject to the upbraidings of all who are now witnesses of the present solemn ceremony.

2. 1829: Andrew  Jackson’s inauguration

The inauguration of Andrew Jackson as the seventh President of the United States was held to the East Portico of the Capitol on March 4, 1829. More than 20,000 people came to see the swearing-in, so he had to enter the building through the west front basement door.

A ship’s cable had been stretched across the east front stairs to prevent the crowd from advancing, but when the cable broke and people surged forward, President Jackson was forced to retreat back into the Capitol and leave by the west door.

3. 1841: William Henry Harrison’s inauguration

The inauguration of the ninth President of the United States was held on March 4, 1841, on the East Portico of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.

It is said that President Harrison delivered the longest ever acceptance speech given at an inauguration. Hoping that he would show that he was strong enough to serve as president, he delivered a speech that lasted one hour and 45 minutes. He also refused to wear a hat or a scarf during the event. One month later, Harrison died of pneumonia.

4. 1857:  James Buchanan’s inauguration

The inauguration of James Buchanan as the 15th President of the United States was held on Wednesday, March 4, 1857.

President James Buchanan was staying at the National Hotel in Washington, D.C. while prepping for his upcoming inauguration when unfortunately he became ill from dysentery. Buchanan had diarrhea on his Inauguration Day and he had a doctor nearby during the ceremony.

5. 1873: Ulysses S. Grant’s second inauguration

Ulysses S. Grant’s second inauguration was held on March 4, 1873, and was the coldest of those ever held. One hundred canaries had been brought in to sing for the festivities and add a cheery atmosphere with their song.

Here is another story from us: List of all US Presidents who sported facial hair. Clean-shaven wasn’t always the norm

All of the 100 canaries froze to death during Grant’s inauguration.

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Second Inaugural Address

George washington’s second inaugural address is, by a good margin, the shortest inaugural address ever delivered. using just 135 words, washington focused directly on what is, of course, the key element of the inaugural ceremony—the oath of office, and the responsibilities that that oath imposes—and said little else..

The speech seems to fit awkwardly in the company of inaugural addresses to come, ones that articulate policy visions and make grand statements of what the American nation should aspire to become. It has, on at least one occasion, simply been left out of a comprehensive account of presidential inaugural speeches.

Nonetheless, Washington’s Second Inaugural—all four sentences of it—merits our close attention. That it happened at all is itself important, the result of a thoughtful assessment by Washington and his cabinet, including Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, and Henry Knox, of what was appropriate to the moment. And in the address’s focus upon the oath of office, Washington underscored an element of the presidency that can be overlooked: that the occupant of the office, while vested with substantial power, is also bound to adhere to the specific terms of an oath found in the Constitution itself.

There was no model to follow for what precisely should happen when a sitting president was elected to another term of office. The rituals of the American presidency were his to shape. In the election of 1792, Washington again had been elected president, unanimously, and again had great reluctance to take on the burdens of the office. There was a performative element in his repeated denials that he desired anything other than a long-delayed retirement, to be sure.

But it is also true that Washington primarily saw his continuation in the presidency as the performance of a duty owed to the nation, not as a personal accomplishment or, as so many subsequent presidents would see things, as a mandate to follow through on a specific political agenda. All of these things likely shaped his thinking about how, if at all, to talk publicly about his election to a second term in office.

Washington's inauguration at Philadelphia, by J.L.G. Ferris 1947. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

The Cabinet's Opinion

On February 27, 1793 , just days before the new term was to begin on March 4, Washington wrote to his Cabinet members and asked the four of them—Jefferson, Knox, Hamilton, and Edmund Randolph—to put their heads together and propose to him their “opinions as to the time, place & manner of qualification,” or oath. When they gathered at the War Office at 9:00 the following morning, the cabinet members discovered that they could not agree .

Jefferson and Hamilton, interestingly enough, both believed that Washington should simply take the oath privately, at his Philadelphia home, administered with no ceremony at all by Justice William Cushing of the Supreme Court, whose circuit included the nation’s capital. Knox and Randolph, on the other hand, advocated for a public event, in the presence of the members of Congress. In Jefferson’s recollection, Knox was “stickling for parade” and “got into great warmth” about the personal indispensability of Washington in the government’s survival: “it is the President’s character,” Jefferson remembered Knox arguing, “and not the written constitution which keeps it together.” Pomp and ceremony with Washington at the center, Knox believed, would serve a good purpose.

Ultimately, the four men recommended a public swearing-in , at noon, in the Senate Chamber with members of Congress and other dignitaries, such as foreign ministers, invited to observe. Hamilton acknowledged his initial concerns in a postscript he penned for President Washington, appended to the formal cabinet recommendation that Washington take the oath in a ceremony before Congress, but he did “think it right in the abstract to give publicity to the Act in question.” Washington agreed.

March 4, 1793

That Monday, Washington became the first man to be inaugurated president a second time. He also became the first president inaugurated on March 4, which would thereafter become one of the most important dates in the American political calendar—that is, until the ratification of the Twentieth Amendment in 1933, which moved the beginning of a presidential term to January 20. While the First Congress had been called to convene on March 4, 1789, Washington’s inauguration that year had come in late April, unavoidably delayed by the process of organizing the government. Beginning in 1793 and for nearly a century and a half, March 4 would become the standard date when one presidential term ended and another began.

Washington entered the Senate chamber precisely at noon, before an audience that included members of both houses of Congress, his own Cabinet, justices of the Supreme Court, foreign ministers, and “a number of private citizens, ladies and gentlemen,” according to the Philadelphia National Gazette. Vice President John Adams, who in many accounts is often mistakenly described as present, had left Philadelphia to attend to his wife, Abigail, during an illness. In his place, President Pro Tempore John Langdon called the proceedings to order by addressing Washington directly: “Sir, one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of the United States is now present, and ready to administer to you the oath required by the constitution, to be taken by the President of the United States.”

Washington stood and, to put it simply, briefly explained to Congress why it was that he had chosen to take the oath “in your presence.” He first noted that he would wait until “the occasion proper for it shall arrive” to go into more detail about “the high sense I entertain of this distinguished honor.” That time would come nine months later, in early December 1793, when Washington delivered his annual message to Congress and described both his “gratitude” and his “earnest wish for… retirement.”

On this day, at his second inaugural ceremony, Washington chose to focus on the oath itself and the public accountability it demanded. Should it be found that he had “in any instance, violated, willingly or knowingly, the injunction” of that constitutional oath, Washington asked to be held accountable, both to the strictures of “Constitutional punishment” (he refers here, of course, to impeachment) and to “the upbraidings of all who are now witnesses of the present solemn ceremony.” The man whom Americans most trusted to hold power spent the entirety of his Second Inaugural asking those around him to hold him accountable, both legally and morally, to the oath he was about to take.

Explore Washington's Full Address

Inaugural Address, March 4, 1793, in secretary's hand (probably Tobias Lear). Library of Congress

Inaugural Address, March 4, 1793, in secretary's hand (probably Tobias Lear). Library of Congress.

The Oath of Office

Washington’s focus on the oath should not be surprising. Oaths and affirmations were extraordinarily important to the founding of the new nation, one that despite its powerful racial hierarchies and exclusions was nonetheless held together primarily by shared belief, not by history or an ethnic nationalism more typical to European states.

The War for Independence itself had driven this point home for Washington, who wrote to John Hancock in February 1777 to “strongly recommend every State to fix upon some Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance to be tendered to all the Inhabitants without exception, and to out law those that refuse it.” As a wartime leader in a chaotic environment in which allegiances were constantly up for grabs, Washington saw that “by our inattention” to oaths as a way to bind the people together “we lose a considerable Cement to our own Force, and give the Enemy an opportunity to make the first tender of the oath of allegiance to the King.” Interestingly, it was in this same letter that Washington advocated to Congress that steps be taken to inoculate the Continental Army against smallpox. The goal, in some ways, was similar: to prevent the spread of danger by securing people against it in advance.

With independence won and, after the Constitutional Convention of 1787, a new federal government created, the oath remained a crucial component in holding things together. In fact, the very first bill signed into law under the new government, on June 1, 1789, was “An Act to Regulate the Time and Manner of Administering Oaths,” which dictated the precise oath to be taken by all state and federal officials as called for in Article VI of the Constitution—everyone, that is, except the president, whose oath was found in the text of the Constitution itself. Now, nearly four years later and entering a second term in office, Washington took an opportunity to underscore just why those oaths were important. They bound the officers of the government to remain faithful and to fulfill their constitutional duties.

His short speech concluded, Washington stood opposite Justice William Cushing, who administered the oath. It is worth noting that the contemporary account in the Philadelphia National Gazette makes clear that Washington did not add the words “so help me God” at the end, further evidence that the myth that he had added those words four years earlier in New York is without any basis.

After taking the oath, Washington left “as he had come,” wrote the National Gazette, “without pomp or ceremony.” Though brief, though distinctly different from the addresses that would come from all those who would later assume the office, Washington’s Second Inaugural Address had one point to make, and it made it well: in a constitutional order full of checks, balances, and structural limitations on arbitrary power, the presidential oath was yet another safeguard to protect the American republic.

Kevin Butterfield, PhD George Washington's Mount Vernon

“Cabinet Opinion on the Administration of the Presidential Oath, 28 February 1793,”  Founders Online,  National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-12-02-0173 .

“Cabinet Opinion on the Administration of the Presidential Oath, 1 March 1793,”  Founders Online,  National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-12-02-0183 .

"George Washington to the Cabinet, 27 February 1793,”  Founders Online,  National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-12-02-0166 .

"Inaugural Address, March 4, 1793, in secretary's hand (probably Tobias Lear).," Library of Congress,  https://www.loc.gov/item/pin0201/ . 

“Notes on Washington’s Second Inauguration and Republicanism, 28 February 1793,” Founders Online , National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-25-02-0265 .

"Washington's inauguration at Philadelphia" by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris. Pennsylvania Philadelphia, ca. 1947 (Cleveland, Ohio: The Foundation Press, Inc.) https://www.loc.gov/item/2004669765/ .

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Presidential Inaugurations: The Inaugural Address

Copyright © White House Historical Association. All rights reserved under international copyright conventions. No part of this article may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Requests for reprint permissions should be addressed to [email protected]

President Abraham Lincoln delivered his second inaugural address, March 4, 1865, near the end of the Civil War.

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George Washington delivered the first inaugural address, invoking God’s guidance, demurring about his qualifications for presidential tasks, and declaring his intention to accept no salary -- save expenses -- while serving. It was Washington who in 1793 gave the shortest inaugural address of 135 words, while William Henry Harrison ’s 1841 speech, lasting almost two hours, was the longest at 8,455 words.

Inaugural speeches set the tone for the incoming administration. Sometimes they are intended to persuade, as when Abraham Lincoln in 1861 urged the seceding southern states to avoid war, or to heal and reconcile, as when he stated his policy toward the defeated Confederacy in 1865, promising "malice toward none" and "charity for all."

Some presidents have spoken directly to the nation’s concerns. Franklin D. Roosevelt ’s 1933 inaugural assertion, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself," allayed the panic of a people gripped by the Great Depression. John F. Kennedy ’s 1961 challenge — "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country" — sent an idealistic message, calling for change and sacrifice.

Usually bipartisan and unifying, the inaugural address gives the president a first "center stage" opportunity to introduce his vision to the nation and the world.

This photograph is of President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivering his First Inaugural Address in Washington, D.C. on March 4, 1933.

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Do you wonder how long it takes to deliver your speech?

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The overview below provides an indication of the minutes for a speech (based on an average reading speed of 130 words per minute):

• Words in a 1 minute speech 130 words
• Words in a 2 minute speech 260 words
• Words in a 3 minute speech 390 words
• Words in a 4 minute speech 520 words
• Words in a 5 minute speech 650 words
• Words in a 10 minute speech 1300 words
• Words in a 15 minute speech 1950 words
• Words in a 20 minute speech 2600 words
• How long does a 500 word speech take? 3.8 minutes
• How long does a 1000 word speech take? 7.7 minutes
• How long does a 1250 word speech take? 9.6 minutes
• How long does a 1500 word speech take? 11.5 minutes
• How long does a 1750 word speech take? 13.5 minutes
• How long does a 2000 word speech take? 15.4 minutes
• How long does a 2500 word speech take? 19.2 minutes
• How long does a 5000 word speech take? 38.5 minutes

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What is an inaugural address.

Presidents of the United States deliver a plethora of speeches during their time in office. One of the most important of them all is the inaugural address. What is an inaugural address? What is the intention of the speech, why is it so significant, and how can the President be sure to get it right? 

What is an inaugural address?

The inaugural address is the speech delivered by the President following their Oath of Office. It is a chance to speak directly to the nation and provide a clear message about the four years ahead. When well-crafted and delivered effectively, it can give the President a positive start to their first term .

Delivering an Address During an Inauguration

The inaugural address is a massive moment in the long inauguration process. There is a grand ceremony on the western front of the United States Capitol where the President and Vice President are sworn into office to begin the new term. After the oath at noon, the new President delivers their speech to the nation. 

The position of the ceremony allows the President to speak to hundreds of guests in attendance, but also thousands lining the National Mall and the millions watching on TV worldwide. It is no surprise that there is a lot of pressure to get the speech just right. 

Everything from the structure and length of the speech to the tone and eloquence of the delivery falls under a microscope. People will judge the new President based on these words, especially those that voted for the other guy. So, each speech must be bipartisan, inspiring, perfectly composed, and just the right length. 

The Length of an Inaugural Address

There is no specific length for an inaugural address. Presidents can make theirs as long or as short as they want. Some choose the former to make the most of their time and say all they need to say, while others keep it short and sweet. 

President George Washington’s second inaugural address was a good example of keeping things short. As the only person to hold office, there was no precedent in place or any expectation for a long speech and drawn-out speech. So, he said just 135 words, repeated the oath, and returned to work. 

Over the decades, the speech has become a more symbolic moment in the ceremony, with greater expectations over the message and length. When Washington’s Vice President , John Adams, won his election, he delivered a speech of 2308 words – including one 737-word sentence. The longest ever came from William Henry Harrison , with an 8,445-word address in the pouring rain. 

Quality Over Quantity Helps With a Good Inaugural Address

The length of a speech is nowhere near as important as the message within. We will probably forget how long we spent waiting for a speech to end but will share quotes and videos from a good speech for a long time. So, each new President has to ensure that they set out their goals and principles in an appropriately presidential manner without going too far. 

Franklin D Roosevelt was a good example of one who knew when to keep things short and to the point. His fourth address did not overstay its welcome at just 559 words. By this point, the nation knew the man and his ideals as he had been elected to a historic fourth term. On top of that, Roosevelt was keen to keep things simple with a basic ceremony at the White House due to America’s involvement in World War II. 

Creating a Strong Bipartisan Address

An inauguration marks a new chapter in the nation’s history, so it makes sense for the President to highlight this after taking the oath. Some will reflect on the chance to make improvements for the nation or to lead them out of times of trouble. Others will reaffirm their desire to continue their hard work and dedication for a second term. 

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Ideally, these speeches should be bipartisan. This isn’t a time to talk down to the opposition in victory or to talk about all the ways a previous administration failed the nation. Doing so runs the risk of causing a divide in the crowds of people watching – either at the National Mall or on TV. 

President Joe Biden’s 2021 address is a good example of this with its opening lines. “This is America’s day. This is democracy’s day. A day of history and hope. Of renewal and resolve.” This speech set a strong positive tone, whereas his predecessor, Donald Trump’s speech, was criticized for its bleak and dystopian outlook. 

Who Writes the Presidential Inaugural Address?

You might assume that the President is the one to write the speech if it is such an important moment for them to articulate their vision and goals. However, the scale of the occasion and scrutiny of the speech means that this isn’t always the case. In the past, the first presidents undoubtedly did spend hours penning their own speeches, but not today.

The idea of the political speech writer is not such a big deal these days. We know that the White House has a communications team to create important speeches – often with multiple versions depending on a desired tone or outcome. They have been in use since the days of Calvin Coolidge . 

Therefore, it makes sense that this grand public address is another writer’s work. They are typically skilled and trusted members of the President’s team who can take the ideas and references given by the President and spin them into gold. 

The Inaugural Address Will Always Be an Important Moment in the Presidency

There will always be debate over who created the best or worst inaugural addresses in history. Often, the oratory skills of the man elevate the words into something even more profound. What is clear is that these speeches have great power, and each President must get it just right. Otherwise, the inauguration day address will go into the history books for all the wrong reasons. 

Alicia Reynolds

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Inaugural Addresses

Table of Inaugural Addresses

Washington 1789 - Biden 2021

Included here as "Inaugural Addresses" are speeches made by elected presidents following a public ceremony in which they take the oath of office.  "Accidental" presidents may also have given (or issued) a prominent address following taking office, but we do not classify those as Inaugural Addresses.

		1431
		135
		2321
		1730
		2166
		1177
		1211
		3375
		4472
		2915
		1128
		1176
		3843
		8460
		4809
		1090
		3336
		2831
		3637
		700
		1127
		1339
		2486
		2979
		1686
		4392
		2015
		3968
		2218
		984
		5434
		1704
		1526
		3329
		4055
		3672
		1880
		1808
		1359
		559
		2273
		2459
		1658
		1366
		1507
		2128
		1803
		1229
		2427
		2561
		2320
		1598
		2155
		1592
		2071
		2395
		2096
		1433
		2540

Citation: Gerhard Peters, "Table of Presidential Inaugural Addresses," The American Presidency Project . Santa Barbara, CA: University of California (hosted), Gerhard Peters (database), https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/324108

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Convert Speech Words to Minutes

How long will my speech be? Use the calculator below to convert your words to minutes. 1) Enter the number of words your speech is. 2) Choose your speaking style/speed 3) Find your speech length.

The following table below provides an indication of the minutes for a speech (based on an average reading speed of 125 words per minute):

• How many words are in 1 minute speech? 125 words
• How many words are in 2 minute speech? 250 words
• How many words are in 3 minute speech? 375 words
• How many words are in 4 minute speech? 500 words
• How many words are in 5 minute speech? 625 words
• How many words are in 10 minute speech? 1,250 words
• How many words are in 15 minute speech? 1,875 words
• How many words are in 20 minute speech? 2,500 words
• How many words are in 30 minute speech? 3,750 words
• How long does a 500 word speech take? 4.0 minutes
• How long does a 1000 word speech take? 8.0 minutes
• How long does a 1250 word speech take? 10.0 minutes
• How long does a 1500 word speech take? 12.0 minutes
• How long does a 1750 word speech take? 14.0 minutes
• How long does a 2000 word speech take? 16.0 minutes
• How long does a 2500 word speech take? 20.0 minutes
• How long does a 3000 word speech take? 24.0 minutes
• How long does a 4000 word speech take? 32.0 minutes

Welcome to our conversion tool - Words to Minutes! We are here to help estimate the duration of any speech for conventions, zoom calls, weddings, special celebrations, business presentations, graduations, classroom demonstrations, performances, you name it. Use the Convert Speech Words to Minutes calculator to better prepare yourself for your next presentation.

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• Enter Word Count: Enter the number of words in your speech. You can find your word count by copying and pasting your speech in Wordcounter.net or Google Docs. In Google Docs go to TOOLS --> Word Count to see how many words.
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Make sure to choose your speech speed as it can have a major impact on your timing. Remember you will likely speak fast at times, and slow as well. Thus, average is typically a good indicator as to how long your speech or presentation will take. Whether you are making a wedding speech or giving a business presentation, this conversion of words into minutes should hold true.

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Why should I use the Convert Speech Words to Minutes?

Do you know how many minutes are in a 5-minute speech, or maybe how long does a 2000 word speech take?

Using the words to minutes converter tool is crucial while preparing for a speech or presentation, especially when you are given limited time to convey your message and wrap up your ideas. Although the time may vary according to the delivery speed of each individual, converting words to minutes is a good indication of the length of your content and if it is suitable for the time frame you were given. That is how you know if you should work on your content length. Keep in mind that according to the National Center for Voice and Speech , the average rate of conversational talk in the US is around 150 words per minute (wpm), which means that balancing content, the number of words and reading speed does matter when preparing your speech.

How to craft an outstanding speech

Whether you are preparing content for a speech presentation for a business meeting, a graduation celebration of a wedding, the content does matter. While speaking in public does require a good amount of confidence, when you prepare yourself in advance, you will empower yourself with tools that will assure you are ready for it. With your speech, your main goal is to engage with your audience, catch their attention and delivery a message that will convey your idea in a clear and effective way. Here are some tips to help:

• Write using the first person. Use a conversational tone.
• Start by briefly introducing yourself.
• Prepare a striking outline/opening statement.
• Construe your speech in structural steps.
• Start with a topic sentence in every paragraph.
• Do not feel too shy to express your honest opinion.
• Practicing ahead of time will help tremendously. It helps with confidence, knowing the material, comfortability, and much more. This is our top tip!

In order to engage with your audience, try to include personal stories, share your personal experiences and do not feel constrained to share your personal opinion. Good luck, you got this!

What do you think about our Convert Speech Words to Minutes tool? Was it helpful? We want to hear from you.

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Prologue Magazine

Peaceful Transition of Power

American presidential inaugurations.

Winter 2000, Vol. 32, No. 2

By Maureen MacDonald

President Ronald Reagan delivered his first inaugural address from a specially built platform in front of the Capitol during Inauguration Day ceremony on January 20, 1981. (Ronald Reagan Library)

“I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of the President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." Every four years on January 20, a President-elect stands before the nation and takes this oath of office during the inauguration. These words have been said by every President of the United States since 1789, when George Washington became the nation's first President. The swearing-in ceremony allows for the peaceful transfer of power from one President to another. It formally gives the "power of the people" to the person who has been chosen to lead the United States. This oath makes an ordinary citizen a President.

The inauguration, a ceremonial induction into office, symbolically brings together all three branches of the U.S. government when the Chief Justice (judicial branch) of the United States administers the oath of office to the President-elect (executive branch) at the Capitol, where Congress (legislative branch) meets. The ceremony includes the swearing-in of the President as well as the presidential address to the nation. Besides the official passing of the torch to a new administration, the ceremony often has other interludes. President Bill Clinton's second inauguration included an invocation from the Rev. Billy Graham, a reading from poet Miller Williams, and songs by opera singer Jessye Norman.

The official swearing-in ceremony has not always been on January 20. The twentieth amendment (ratified February 1933) declared that the President-elect would take office at noon on January 20. On March 4, 1933, Franklin Delano Roosevelt became the last President to take the oath of office not on or around January 20. (Ronald Reagan's second inaugural ceremony was held on Monday, January 21, though a small, private ceremony was held in the White House on Sunday, January 20.)

The oath of office is usually administered by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. A notable exception was George Washington's swearing-in ceremony since he had not appointed Supreme Court justices for the first administration. In emergency situations such as the death of the President, the presidential oath can be administered to the Vice President by a nearby official. Several Presidents were never actually inaugurated. John Tyler, Millard Fillmore, Andrew Johnson, and Chester A. Arthur were all sworn in after the death of the President. Gerald Ford took the oath of office in the East Room of the White House on August 9, 1974, after the resignation of President Richard Nixon during the Watergate crisis. None of these men were reelected when their terms came to an end.

Although present-day inaugurations take place on the West Portico of the Capitol, the location of the inaugural ceremony has moved around. In fact, inaugural ceremonies have not always been held in Washington, D.C. George Washington was the only President inaugurated in two cities: New York and Philadelphia. The first presidential inauguration was held on the balcony of the Senate Chamber at Federal Hall in New York City on April 30, 1789. Washington’s second and John Adams’s only presidential inaugurations were held in Philadelphia. Thomas Jefferson was the first to be sworn in as President in Washington, D.C. He had his first and second inaugurations in the Senate Chamber of the Capitol. In 1817 James Monroe offered to take his oath of office in the House Chamber of the temporary "Brick Capitol," located where the Supreme Court Building stands today, since the Capitol was under construction after the fire in 1814. Inauguration organizers could not decide which House of Congress should host the ceremony. Speaker of the House Henry Clay denied the request to have the ceremony in the temporary House Chamber and suggested the first outdoor presidential inauguration take place on a platform next to the "Brick Capitol." Many of the ceremonies occurred on the Capitol’s East Portico, starting with Andrew Jackson’s inauguration in 1829. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s fourth inauguration was held on the South Portico of the White House. Because the nation was still engaged in World War II, it was a small ceremony without all the usual pomp and splendor. Ronald Reagan’s inaugural ceremony on January 20, 1981, was the first ceremony held on the West Portico of the Capitol with its spectacular view of the Mall. Since January 20 fell on a Sunday for Reagan’s second inauguration, there was a private ceremony in the White House on Sunday at noon to fulfill the twentieth amendment of the Constitution. The official public ceremony was held the next day inside the Capitol due to the extremely cold weather.

Traditionally, during the inaugural ceremony, the President will give an address to the nation to lay out the plans and ideas for the new administration. Some inaugural addresses have been so powerful and eloquent that they are still quoted today. President Franklin D. Roosevelt remarked in his inaugural address on March 4, 1933, that "we have nothing to fear but fear itself." President John E Kennedy will be remembered for his immortal words, "And so my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you- ask what you can do for your country." The shortest address in inaugural history was during George Washington's second inauguration. Delivered on March 4, 1793, the brief speech was only 135 words.The longest address was President William Henry Harrison's 8,495-word speech. Delivered on an extremely cold March 4, 1841, he consequently caught pneumonia and died one month later.

The tradition of the inaugural parade began in 1 789. George Washington had the first and longest parade. After the swearing-in ceremony, there was a thanksgiving service and dinner, followed by a tour around New York City to watch the celebration. Originally parades were merely to escort the President from the Capitol to the White House. During Thomas Jefferson's inauguration celebration, the tradition of the open house began, where the American people could come into the Executive Mansion and greet the new President. This tradition got out of hand when the crowds became so numerous and overwhelming that President Andrew Jackson felt the need to flee the White House through an open window. With the growing numbers of inaugural visitors, President Grover Cleveland decided that the festivities needed to be moved outside of the White House. Parade stands were set up to review troops in procession. Now these parades have become entertainment for the whole nation. President Clinton's second inaugural parade featured floats reflecting major turning points inAmerican history as well as marching bands, church choirs, and children's groups from all fifty states and the District of Columbia.

On inauguration day, the crowds gathered on Pennsylvania Avenue to view President Herbert Hoover’s parade. (111-SC-91408)

The first unofficial ball was held in honor of the first inauguration. President George Washington attended this event alone since Martha Washington had not yet arrived in New York. The first official ball as part of the inaugural celebration was in 1808 for President James Madison and was planned by his wife, Dolley. It was held in Long's Hotel in Washington, D.C., and was attended by the new President and first lady as well as outgoing President Thomas Jefferson. Guests paid four dollars to attend the festivities. Inaugural balls were also held in temporary structures, built especially for the festivities, which could accommodate more people. Large government buildings such as the Patent Office and the Smithsonian's Arts and Industries Building were also used. From 1885 to 1901, the balls were held in the Pension Building, which had a lovely ambiance and large rooms for dancing. Woodrow Wilson began an era of no official inaugural balls. He did not want to disturb the solemnity of the inaugural ceremony with festivities. Franklin D. Roosevelt brought back the official inaugural ball in 1933, but subsequent inaugurations for Roosevelt were more subdued due to the Depression and World War II. In 1949 President Harry Truman not only brought back the inaugural ball but brought in the idea of several balls so that many more people could participate and see the President and first lady. Although the festivities are part of the whole inaugural experience, each swearing-in ceremony truly marks the beginning of a new phase in American politics. It is a tribute to our forefathers that a successful election leads, time and again, to a peaceful transition of power to the successor. This transfer of power is a fine-tuned machine that ensures that there is always someone to lead the country. On January 20, 2001, another American political journey will begin, and the nation will give the "power of the people" to a newly elected President of the United States. As we celebrate this inauguration, here are some images from past presidential inaugural ceremonies, parades, and balls from the holdings of the National Archives.

[*An inaccurate  r eference to every President using the phrase "so help me God" was removed from the first paragraph 1/26/2017.]

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"with malice toward none...": lincoln's second inaugural address.

For more on Lincoln's eloquence and his remarkable use of language in his inaugural addresses, the Gettysburg Address, his 1862 Annual Address to Congress, and other writings, see Lincoln's Legacy: The Eloquent President.

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Presidential Speeches

March 4, 1793: second inaugural address, about this speech.

George Washington

March 04, 1793

In a simple, brief speech, Washington expresses his commitment to the Oath of Office and calls upon the people to reprimand him should he fail his duties.

Fellow-Citizens: I am again called upon by the voice of my Country to execute the functions of its Chief Magistrate. When the occasion proper for it shall arrive, I shall endeavour to express the high sense I entertain of this distinguished honor, and of the confidence which has been reposed in me by the people of United America. Previous to the execution of any official act of the President, the Constitution requires an Oath of Office. This Oath I am now about to take, and in your presence, 56 that if it shall be found during my administration of the Government I have in any instance violated willingly, or knowingly, the injunction thereof, I may (besides incurring Constitutional punishmt) be subject to the upbraidings of all who are now witnesses of the present solemn Ceremony.

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What is a good speech length?

“Learn to do common things, uncommonly well.” - George Washington

Introduction:

Rambling on to fill the time is a recipe for a disaster and never to be booked to speak again. Here's some great tips to consider when writing your next speech or business presentation.

The length of a speech varies by circumstance and speaker.

Have you ever sat through a long, rambling speech and found your mind wandering, or listened to a speaker who got right to the point in a clear, concise way the length of a speech can make a big difference in how well the message is received and remembered..

When George Washington gave his inaugural address in 1789, he set the record for the shortest State of the Union speech ever at just 135 words. It took him only about 60 seconds to deliver! His brief remarks showed he valued being straightforward over being longwinded.

You can read Washington's famously short inaugural speech here.

Just a few powerful lines that got right to the heart of his vision for the new nation's future. You can see why his focused words had such an impact.

Speech Length: Concise Communication is an Art

Longer speeches allow more time to lay out arguments and evidence, shorter speeches can often be more memorable and impactful. When brevity is your main goal, every word carries more weight. The speech is to-the-point and still powerful at the same time.

Compare Washington's tightly crafted 135 words to some of the longest inaugural addresses in recent decades that rambled on for over an hour! Effective speakers know that concise wording and careful editing can make their message hit home.

The point of any speech is to captivate the audience’s attention, compel them to keep listening, and convert them or inspire them to action.

Speech Length: Brevity for the Modern Age

Today's audience’s attention spans are short with more and more mental distractions and bings from mobile phones. Getting a message across in as few words as possible, while still preserving clarity and impact, is a crucial skill for leaders.

Whether it's a CEO giving a conference speech, a politician being interviewed, or an online business owner explaining their vision - knowing how long a speech should be and editing out the fluff can make all the difference. Brevity and clarity win out over long-winded ramblings.

So take a cue from George Washington's pioneering 135-word inaugural speech. When it's time for you to communicate something important, don't bury the lede - make a clear, powerful point with careful precision. Concise and focused beats longwinded every time.

Speech Length: How to Write a Concise Speech

Next time you’re writing a speech (of any length) set the goal for the speech. What is it you want your audience to do, think, or believe after they hear your speech? Keep that from, and center while writing. Re-evaluate every word and line through the lens of your goal. 

Then ask yourself: does this line, example, or story help move you closer or further away from your goal?

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135+ Initial J Words Speech Therapy (Articulation Word List)

Are you a speech therapist or parent looking for initial J words for speech therapy to practice with your child or student? Then this blog is just what you need! It has over 135 initial J words that will help strengthen your child or student’s /j/ sound. 

Effectiveness of a Using Licensed SLP

The help of a licensed speech-language pathologist is a vital service that helps individuals improve their communication skills. 

We know that one of the key aspects of speech therapy is targeting specific sounds, such as the “J” sound, to enhance clarity and articulation. 

Using Articulation Lists

I’ve created an initial J word list for you to focus on, so that speech therapists and caregivers alike can help with common phonological processes, articulation difficulties and overall speech development.

For children who struggle with pronouncing the “J” sound properly, working with a speech therapist can be a transformative experience. 

Using Different Tools and Techniques

We can use a variety of tools and techniques, including games, digital downloads, and high frequency word exercises to engage our clients, many of which are included in this post! 

It’s essential that our speech therapy sessions are tailored to the age and needs of the child, incorporating independent work and the use of minimal pairs when necessary to improve pronunciation and understanding. 

Key Takeaways

• Speech therapists utilize initial J word lists to target phonological processes and articulation.
• Various tools and techniques are employed to engage clients in speech therapy sessions.
• Adapting speech therapy for different age groups and incorporating independent work are crucial for effective treatment.

Initial J Words in Speech Therapy

As a speech therapist, when we focus on initial J words, we can help individuals improve their pronunciation of the /j/ sound. 

We can help our students with this target sound by using initial J word lists and activities to practice and reinforce the proper articulation of this sound.

How to Produce the J Sound

• CH Sound – The J sound is made with the exact same mouth position as the /ch/ sound, except for the fact that the j sound is voiced.
• Tongue Tip – The tip of the tongue should touch the top of your mouth right behind your upper teeth.
• Tongue – The J sound is produced when the middle of our tongue touches the roof of our mouth. 
• Lips – Now put your teeth together and pull the corners of your lips into the middle to make a pucker shape.
• Voiced – This sound is a voiced sound and is made with vibration of the vocal cords as the movement of air comes through the mouth.
• Tactile Cue – You can tell your students that their voice is turned on by instructing them to touch their voice box on their neck and feeling it vibrate as they produce the correct /j/ sound.
• Fun Tip – One effective way to ensure the correct tongue placement is by having the individual say the words “would” and “you” together quickly. This leads to the tongue being in the proper position to produce the /j/ sound.

Using Age-Appropriate Words and Activities

As an SLP, we know that choosing age-appropriate words and activities for our caseload makes all the difference. 

Below in our blog, we have a word list with engaging words such as:

• juice, joy, jump

Try to incorporate these target words into the suggested fun games, stories and exercises to make your sessions engaging and enjoyable!

Different Positions of the Target Sound

We may also practice the J sound in different word positions, such as a medial and final position. 

However, our primary focus for this blog remains on any initial word that begins with /j/ to ensure the individual develops a strong foundation in articulating the J sound.

Approach of Speech Therapist in Articulation Therapy

When we first begin working with a student, we should begin by assessing their current speech abilities and identify any areas that may require improvement. 

Then, we can create a customized treatment plan that targets their specific needs. As a speech therapist, it is common to work with students who struggle to produce individual sounds, especially the initial /j/ sound. When working on this goal, we should be using a combination of techniques, exercises and activities so that the student can practice correct production in a fun and engaging way.

Below we have provided a word list of over 135 initial J words for your students or child to practice. It is important that they not only hear these sounds, but also practice producing them. As we practice these sounds in our sessions, we should also have a focus on addressing phonological processes and articulation therapy. 

• Phonological processes – patterns of sound errors that typically developing children use to simplify speech as they learn to talk. An example is final consonant deletion. 
• Articulation Therapy – targets the physical production of speech sounds.

As we address these, we will be fine tuning the coordination of lips, tongue, teeth, palate and jaw to make sure that words and sounds are pronounced correctly. Focusing on these aspects will help the students achieve clear and effective communication. For each student, we may use specific techniques tailored to their individual needs. 

When working on articulation therapy, we should be working on exercises and activities that focus on producing the accurate target sound. These activities may include practicing tongue and lip placement, repeating target words, and engaging in interactive games that encourage correct sound production. 

Speech therapy sessions can be engaging and fun. Some helpful tips I have are to use a variety of resource types such as flash cards or visual cues, keep data sheets, and to make sure your students needs are always met by being calm and attentive. Below we will go over some great resources to use when practicing the j sound. 

Initial J Words Speech Therapy

As speech therapists, we know that using a variety of tools and strategies is a great way to help our clients improve their speech skills. 

Below, we have compiled some essential tools that will help make your speech therapy sessions fun and engaging.

• Word Lists – one of the best ways to practice the J sound in articulation therapy is to use a list of words and pictures. Our free resource has 20 initial words with the j sound with pictures, at word, phrase and sentence level.
• Flash Cards – use the flashcards below as a visual aid to improve engagement when practicing speech sounds. These are a great visual cue to practice the target sound at word, phrase, sentence and conversational level with a WH question prompt.
• Dice decks – are a fun and interactive way to practice initial J words. Cut the pictures in our free resource into small cards with a target word and a picture on each card. Have your students draw cards, roll a die, and then practice their J sound based on the word drawn. Whenever I incorporating this game-like element in therapy sessions, my students were motivated and the learning process was enjoyable! 
• Mini objects   – use small toys as tangible tools to practice J words. For example, a toy jar, a small giraffe or a doll jacket can provide a hands on experience that keeps students and children engaged as they practice the target word. 
• Dot marker – using a dot marker can also be a fun way to practice having your child put a dot under each Initial J sound. 

In addition, I’ve compiled an easy-to-download one page overview of Initial J sounds below. Simply scroll down to the bottom of this post and download your free copy.

• 1 Syllable:  Jack, Jo, joy, June, Josh, Jan, James, judge, John, jet, jar, jade, jazz, Jew, gem, jay, Jon, jeep, juice, Jane, Jones, Jude, jump, jab, jaw, joint, jeans, Jill, joke, Joel, joyous, Jean, jag, just, jock, jive, jail, jog, Jared, jinx, juke, jug, join, jokes, junk, germs,
• 2 Syllable:  journey, Jordan, joyful, justice, Jason, jelly, Jacob, Joshua, July, Jackson, jungle, Jenny, Joseph, jealous, jingle, jersey, java, jolly, Johnny, Johnson, Jimmy, jacket, Japan, jaguar, journal, Jerry, joker, jello, Juno, jewel, juicy, Judith, jester, jabbing, junction, jumper, jiggle, juggling, jury, jewels, Jewish, jumping, judgement, Jonas, jiffy, jogging, jumbo, Judah, jawbone, jigsaw, giant, journal, jungle, gender, genius, genie, gerbil, ginger, giant, gentle, giraffe
• 3 Syllable:  Jessica, Jupiter, Julian, jasmine, Jonathan, Jennifer, junior, Jefferson, Jeremy, Jamaica, jellyfish, jukebox, janitor, juvenile, juniper, jamberry, jambalaya, jewelry, Joseline, Jamestown, jabbering, Japanese, Germany, genuine, generous, general, gingerbread, gymnastics, gigantic
• 4 Syllable:  January, gymnasium, geometry, geology, geography, generalize, generation

Practice in Flash Card Mode Right Here From Your Computer!

1 Syllable	2 Syllable	3 Syllable	4 Syllable
Jack	journey	Jessica	January
Jo	Jordan	Jupiter	generation
joy	joyful	Julian	gymnasium
June	justice	Jasmine	geometry
Josh	Jason	Jonathan	geology
Jan	jelly	Jennifer	geography
James	Jacob	Junior	generalize
judge	Joshua	Jefferson
John	July	Jeremy
jet	Jackson	Jamaica
jar	jungle	jellyfish
jade	Jenny	jukebox
jazz	Joseph	janitor
jew	jealous	juvenile
gem	jingle	juniper
jay	jersey	jamberry
Jon	java	jambalaya
jeep	jolly	jewelry
juice	Johnny	Joseline
Jane	Johnson	Jamestown
Jones	Jimmy	jabbering
Jude	jacket	Japanese
jump	Japan	Germany
jab	jaguar	genuine
jaw	journal	generous
joint	Jerry	general
jeans	joker	gingerbread
Jill	jello	gymnastics
joke	Juno	gigantic
Joel	jewel
joyous	juicy
Jean	Judith
jag	jester
just	jabbing
jock	junction
jive	jumper
jail	jiggle
jog	juggling
Jared	jury
jinx	jewels
juke	Jewish
jug	jumping
join	judgment
jokes	Jonas
junk	jiffy
germs	jogging
	jumbo
	Judah
	jawbone
	jigsaw
	giant
	journal
	jungle
	gender
	genius
	genie
	gerbil
	ginger
	giant
	gentle
	giraffe

SEE ALSO: 21 Best Reinforcement Games for Speech Therapy

Short sentences or phrases.

When working on Initial J sound production, it’s important to work on short phrases once your child or student has mastered the sound at the word level at or near 80% or higher accuracy.

Here is a list of Initial J word phrases to try:

Initial J Words Speech Therapy in Phrases

1 Syllable	2 Syllable	3 Syllable	4 Syllable
Jack smiles	long journey	Jessica waves	birthday in January
Jo is short for	Jordan laughs	Jupiter is a	loud gymnasium
filled with joy	joyful time	Julian drives	geometry class
vacation in June	justice was served	jasmine flowers	study geology
Josh is my	Jason waved	Jonathan writes	learn geography
Aunt Jan	peanut butter and jelly	Jennifer smiles	generalize it
James waves	Jacob ran	junior in school	3 generations
the judge delivers	Joshua read	Thomas Jefferson
Papa Johns pizza	July is hot	Jeremy works
jet flies	Jackson has a	travel to Jamaica
coin jar	parrots in the jungle	jellyfish have tentacles
jade stone	my sister Jenny	jukebox plays
jazz music	Joseph draws	the janitor works
practicing jew	felt jealous	juvenile conversation
true gem	made a jingle	juniper bush
blue jay	wears his jersey	delicious jamberry
Jon reads	java is a computer program	made jambalaya
blue jeep	jolly man	jewelry store
apple juice	Johnny plays	Joseline is my
Jane is my	Mr. Johnson mows	visit Jamestown
last name is Jones	Jimmy is on the football	jabbering on
Jude plays	jean jacket	Japanese food
jump on the trampoline	travel to Japan	visit Germany
jab with his sword	jaguar naps	genuine character
jaw hurts	writes in journal	generous family
dislocated joint	Ben and Jerry	general idea
new jeans	he is a joker	make gingerbread
Jill loves	jello is a treat	gymnastics class
a funny joke	Juno is my dog	gigantic tree
Uncle Joel	blue jewel
joyous occasion	juicy fruit
middle name is Jean	Judith makes
drives a jag	is a jester
just in case	jabbing with his finger
he was a jock	at a junction
dance at the jive	wears a jumper
closed the jail	the pudding jiggles
go on a jog	juggling 3 balls
Jared is my	jury duty
it was a jinx	wears many jewels
made a juke	Jewish lineage
dropped the milk jug	jumping on the bed
join in	look of judgment
tells jokes	Jonas drinks
junk drawer	jiffy peanut butter
wash off the germs	jogging with my friend
	jumbo shrimp
	Judah laughs
	broken jawbone
	jigsaw puzzle
	giant bird
	write in my journal
	gender reveal party
	genius brother
	genie in a bottle
	gerbil as a pet
	ginger cookies
	gentle with
	giraffe has a

Sentence Level: Initial J Words Speech Therapy

The next step after working at the word and phrase levels is to work on the Initial J sound at the sentence level.

For example, you could give your child or student a list of sentences to read aloud while they work on their Initial J sound. 

Another idea would be to give your child or student pictures with their Initial J sound in them and then have them create a sentence about those pictures.

Below is a list of sentences to use with your child or students.

Initial J Words Speech Therapy in Sentences

1 Syllable	2 Syllable
Jack smiles at his friend.	It was a long journey.
Jo is short for Joanne.	Jordan laughs with his friends.
They are filled with joy.	It was a joyful time.
I go on vacation in June.	Justice was served today.
Josh is my brother.	Jason waved at me.
Aunt Jan makes muffins.	I ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
James waves at his mom.	Jacob ran at the track meet.
The judge delivers the sentence.	Joshua read his book.
Papa John’s pizza is the best.	July is a hot month.
The jet flies in the sky.	Jackson has a broken foot.
I collect coins in a jar.	There are parrots in the jungle.
I find a jade stone.	My sister Jenny is older than me.
We listened to jazz music.	Joseph draws a dragon.
He is a practicing Jew.	She felt jealous.
She is a true gem.	The bell made a jingle sound.
The blue jay lands on a branch.	He wears his jersey.
Jon reads his book.	Java is a computer program.
The blue jeep drives through snow.	He is a jolly man.
I love apple juice.	Johnny plays on the baseball team.
Jane is my sister.	Mr. Johnson mows his lawn.
His last name is Jones.	Jimmy is on the football team.
Jude plays the trumpet.	I wear my jean jacket.
We jump on the trampoline.	We will travel to Japan.
The pirate will jab with his sword.	The jaguar naps on a tree.
His jaw hurts.	She writes in her journal.
She dislocated her shoulder joint.	I love Ben and Jerry’s ice cream.
They shop for new jeans.	He is a joker.
Jill loves to garden.	Jello is a treat.
He tells a funny joke.	Juno is my dog’s name.
Uncle Joel drives a taxi.	The blue jewel is pretty.
It is a joyous occasion.	She bites into the juicy fruit
Her middle name is Jean.	Judith makes cornbread.
He drives a Jag.	He is a jester.
She prepares just in case.	He kept jabbing with his finger.
He was a jock in high school.	The train stops at a junction.
We dance at the jive.	She wears a jumper.
They closed the jail.	The pudding jiggles when I scoop it.
We go on a jog.	He is juggling 3 balls.
Jared is my best friend.	She is on jury duty.
It was a jinx.	She wears many jewels.
The basketball player made a juke move.	He has a Jewish lineage.
She dropped the milk jug.	They are jumping on the bed.
You can join in on our party.	He gives a look of judgment.
She tells jokes.	Jonas drinks a coffee.
It is in the junk drawer.	I love Jiffy peanut butter.
I wash off the germs.	I am jogging with my friend.
	I ordered the jumbo shrimp.
	Judah laughs and plays.
	He has a broken jawbone.
	He finished his jigsaw puzzle.
	That is a giant bird.
	I wrote in my journal.
	She has a gender reveal party for her baby.
	My genius brother wrote a program.
	I read about a genie in a bottle.
	I have a gerbil as a pet.
	I ate ginger cookies.
	She is gentle with the kitten.
	The giraffe has a long neck.

3 Syllable	4 Syllable
Jessica waves to her dad.	My birthday is in January.
Jupiter is a big planet.	This is a loud gymnasium.
Julian drives a small car.	She is in geometry class.
I love jasmine flowers.	He will study geology.
Jonathan writes a story.	I want to learn geography.
Jennifer smiles for the picture.	He will generalize the idea.
I am a junior in high school.	Three generations live in this home.
Thomas Jefferson was a president.
Jeremy works on cars.
We will travel to Jamaica.
Jellyfish have stinging tentacles.
The jukebox plays my favorite song.
The janitor works hard.
She thinks this is a juvenile conversation.
I planted a juniper bush.
This is delicious jamberry.
My uncle made jambalaya.
He owns a jewelry store.
Joseline is my friend.
I will visit Jamestown next week.
They keep jabbering on.
We ordered Japanese food.
My sister is going to visit Germany.
She has genuine character.
They are a generous family.
It is just a general idea.
We made gingerbread.
I am late for gymnastics class.
That is a gigantic tree.

Initial J Words Speech Therapy Ideas

Boom cards are a popular resource for speech-language pathologists to use in articulation therapy. They are a fun and engaging way to strengthen your child or student’s articulation skills.

Here are a few favorite boom cards to work on the Initial J sounds: 

• I Spy My Speech Sound: J (Initial) | Boom Cards™ | Articulation by Shelby SLP is an interactive boom card set that prompts students to use a flash light and find the hidden object! This product targets initial J sounds and is from one of the top tpt sellers!
• Distance Learning Articulation Cards: “J” Boom Cards™ by Frugally Speaking SLP is a fun set of boom cards that target the ‘j’ sound! This is a great no prep activity. 
• CH & J Articulation Boom Cards™ – Chinese New Year by Michelle’s Communication Center is a fun set of boom cards that celebrate the Chinese New Year! This activity is a highly rated quick speech activity.

SEE ALSO: Free Articulation Games for Speech Therapy

Printable Sound Path Games

Incorporating games as a part of our therapy tools not only maintains their interest but also allows them to practice targeted sounds in a more relaxed and enjoyable environment. One effective approach we utilize in teaching initial J words is incorporating printable sound path games, complete with game pieces and a printable spinner.

• Free Beginning Letter Path KLJVYZ by Toad-ally Exceptional Learners is a highly rates game that targets initial j sounds through a fun game! This game has a clear instruction page and is great for special education and as an early intervention strategy as well!

Older Students

Often we have students in 1st grade all the way to middle school and high school on our caseload. Here are some initial J resources for our older students!

• HARRY POTTER ARTICULATION GAME FOR SPEECH THERAPY by Achieve Beyond is a great Harry Potter themed articulation game that is a comprehensive k-12 set, but especially great for older students. This targets multiple initial sounds, including /j/.
• Articulation J FREE ALL Positions! Dominos A Speech Therapy Game by Sparkllyspeechie is an interactive domino game that targets initial j. This is great for multiple years of age, but perfect for 4th-8th grade. Play this game in a variety of ways!
• Speech Articulation ~ J Compare/Contrast Cards ~ Freebie by SpeechRocks is an engaging activity that compares and contrasts /j/ sounds. 
• FREE Articulation Tic-Tac-Toe for Speech Therapy – J Sound by Kiwi Speech is a great print and go activity for older students to practice initial j sounds as they play tic tac toe! Use this one on one or as a group work.

Independent Word

Are you a speech therapist looking for Initial J word resources for your students to work on independently?

Here are a couple of fun worksheets and games that you can use in your therapy room to work on the Initial J sound.

• “J” Sound Puzzles for FUN Articulation Speech Therapy by Scanlon  Speech Therapy is a fun set of puzzles with target j words for students to put together independently.
• Initial Sound/Letter sheets J by The Note is a fun print and go worksheet with initial J words for students to color!
• Initial Letter Sound review worksheet by Wynter LaTorre is a fun worksheet that prompts students to circle that correct initial sound that the word starts with. These worksheets target initial S, K, T & J!

SEE ALSO: 279+ Free Speech Therapy Digital Materials

In conclusion: initial j words speech therapy.

We hope you have found this article helpful for working on your child or student’s Initial J sound. 

Be sure to grab your freebie of 20 words to start practicing 5 minutes a day!

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Frequently asked questions, what techniques are effective for teaching j sounds.

In speech therapy, several techniques effectively teach J sounds. One common approach is the use of minimal pairs, which are similar words that differ by only one sound. Minimal pairs help children recognize the differences and learn how to articulate the J sound more accurately. Additionally, we can use tactile cues, such as demonstrating tongue placement for the sound and encouraging the child to imitate. Voice and voiceless pair practice is another effective method, as it allows the child to understand the difference between voiced and unvoiced sounds.

Which beginner J words are appropriate for children in speech therapy?

Selecting age-appropriate initial J words is crucial in engaging and supporting children in speech therapy. Some examples of beginner J words include juice, jelly, jump, jar, jello, and jacket. It’s essential to choose words that are familiar and relevant to the child’s experiences, making it easier for them to associate the sound with the word.

How can I help my child practice initial J sounds at home?

Consistent practice and reinforcement at home are fundamental for mastering any speech sound. To engage your child, incorporate initial J sound practice into daily routines or playtime activities. For example, you can have your child say “jump” every time they leap during a game or repeat “jelly” while making a sandwich. Encourage your child to practice the J sound by reading books or playing games that feature words with that sound.

Are there any tools or games to support J sound development?

Many tools and games available can support your child’s speech development, targeting the J sound. Some examples include art and craft projects, board games, and interactive online games. It’s essential to keep practice sessions enjoyable and engaging, as children are more likely to retain and apply information when having fun.

What is the typical age for mastering the J sound?

Children typically master the J sound between ages 4 to 6, but individual development varies. It’s essential to monitor your child’s progress and adjust expectations based on their age and unique needs. If you have concerns about your child’s speech development, consult a speech-language pathologist for professional guidance.

How can I track progress in J sound speech therapy?

Tracking progress in speech therapy is crucial to ensure the child is steadily improving. The first step is to establish clear goals and objectives alongside your speech-language pathologist. Regularly scheduled progress checks can help measure improvement and identify areas that might need additional support or adjustments. Additionally, maintaining notes or a journal of your child’s progress during home practice sessions can provide valuable insights into their development and help guide therapy sessions.

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CDC speech therapy guidelines have changed, but early intervention is still the goal

When the CDC updated the developmental milestones for its “ Learn the Signs. Act Early ” initiative for the first time since 2004, a controversy erupted, confusing pediatricians, speech therapists and parents.

The initiative details when children from birth to 5 years should reach milestones on how they play, learn, speak, act and move. The updated developmental tracker, published in 2022, pushed some speech milestones previously set at 24 months back to 30 months.

In this article, we’ll talk about how developmental milestones are meant to be used, what the updates mean for parents and caregivers, and what you should do if you’re worried your child might have a speech delay.

Developmental milestones and early intervention

The CDC launched “Learn the Signs. Act Early” in 2004 because they recognized that people didn’t always have the information they needed to catch developmental delays – such as speech disorders or speech delays – at the earliest stages. The earlier you can identify a developmental problem and start treating it, the better the outcomes for patients.

“We always want to intervene as early as possible, whether it’s strategies to help with communication, or help with a delay or disorder,” says Alison Barclift , a speech-language pathologist at Sentara Therapy Center - Pediatrics Newtown . “The sooner we’re in there the better.”

In addition to assisting parents, the developmental milestones checklist in “Learn the Signs. Act Early” is primarily used by pediatricians to identify children who might have a developmental issue so they can be referred to a specialist for a more thorough screening.

“Pediatricians are generalists for ages 0-18; they know a little bit about a whole lot of things,” Barclift says. “This checklist helps guide them, to give them a basis for saying ‘you know what, let me refer them.’”

New guidelines stir up controversy

The CDC’s developmental milestones are one of the primary tools that providers and parents use to determine if a child might need help. So the changes in speech milestones from 24 months to 30 months perplexed parents and providers.

According to the CDC, the new guidelines shift the expectation to the age when most children reach a specific milestone rather than when the average child has reached a specific milestone. For instance, the previous guidelines said children should be able to say 50 words at 24 months. That was based on research that showed that about 50 percent of children could do that by age 2. The new guidelines have moved this milestone to 30 months. Experts have determined that’s when 75 percent, or the majority, of children can say 50 words.

While this shift does seem to have the potential to delay the start of treatment for children with speech disabilities, the CDC’s checklist is not the only tool that pediatricians use to make referrals. For example, the communication milestones checklist created by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) places children speaking at least 50 words in the 19-24 month range.

“I have not noticed a change in the referrals that we’re seeing, and I don’t think that I’m that surprised by that,” says Barclift.

Normal is a spectrum

Ultimately, the CDC’s checklist and similar tools are just the starting point. Once a child has been referred to a speech therapist, more in-depth testing is done to determine the exact nature of the delay, disability or needed support.

This data is then used to decide whether the child qualifies for services through state early intervention programs and/or in the outpatient setting. A simple checklist can only really serve as a starting point because ‘normal’ is a spectrum – all children develop differently.

“There’s a large range of normal,” says Barclift. “A 4-year-old who can speak in complete sentences and a 4-year-old who’s putting only three words together to make only simple sentences are both within that normal range.”

According to Barclift, the testing that professional speech therapists conduct is meant to get a more thorough picture of where the patient is having problems.

“For early intervention evaluations, we spend up to two hours with the child and most of the time in the home,” says Barclift. “That helps because the pediatrician's office is not always where your child is going to act the way they normally act. In the clinic setting, therapists may have less time to complete evaluations and take detailed histories from parents and caregivers to make sure they are capturing the whole child and any concerns.”

Parents know their children best

Parents know their children better than anyone and are well positioned to spot developmental issues before anyone else does. But that’s only if they know what to look for. Fortunately, the CDC has resources targeted specifically to parents that can help you screen your child while going about your daily lives.

“The CDC has children's books and parent resource guides that parents can get for free that help the checklist become more natural and understandable,” says Barclift. “These resources help parents bring this conversation into their daily lives, instead of making it this scary thing that only happens when they go to the pediatrician.”

If you think your child might have a speech delay or other developmental disability, speak to your child’s pediatrician as soon as possible. The earlier a problem is identified, the better, but even if a problem isn’t spotted until later, therapy can still help.

“There’s also no such thing as too late either,” says Barclift. “Any time a parent is concerned we want them to come in.”

Reach out to your pediatrician today to get your child screened for developmental delays.

By: Andrew Perkinson

Senator labels the government 'capaholics': Fatima Payman's Gen Alpha speech decoded

Fatima payman said she wanted to raise points in terms that younger generations would be familiar with..

Fatima Payman crossed the floor and left the Labor Party in June. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch

• Fatima Payman used slang terms in a speech addressing young Australians.
• The WA senator also referred to Twitch streamers in her speech.
• She added young people were engaged with politics.

What did Fatima Payman say?

So what's behind the speech.

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'Catching a dub': 29-year-old senator Fatima Payman chases Gen Z

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In Debate With Trump, Harris’s Expressions Were a Weapon

Tuesday’s debate was expected to center on defining Kamala Harris. Instead, with words and with body language, she turned it into a referendum on Donald Trump.

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By Lisa Lerer and Reid J. Epstein

Lisa Lerer reported from New York and Reid J. Epstein reported from the debate in Philadelphia.

Follow along with live updates and debate analysis on the Trump and Harris campaigns .

She turned to him with an arched brow. A quiet sigh. A hand on her chin. A laugh. A pitiful glance. A dismissive shake of her head.

From the opening moments of her first debate against Donald J. Trump, Kamala Harris craftily exploited her opponent’s biggest weakness.

Not his record. Not his divisive policies. Not his history of inflammatory statements.

Instead, she took aim at a far more primal part of him: his ego.

At his rallies, on his sycophantic social media network and surrounded by flatterers at Mar-a-Lago, Mr. Trump is unquestioned, unchallenged and never ever mocked.

That changed over the course of 90 minutes in Philadelphia on Tuesday, when the woman who had never before met him succeeded, bit by bit, in puncturing his comfortable cocoon and triggering his annoyance and anger.

Ms. Harris questioned the size and loyalty of the crowds at his rallies. She said world leaders call him a “disgrace.” And she claimed his fortune was built by his father, recasting a business mogul who proudly boasts of being a self-made man as just another nepotism baby.

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