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A Sequential Phonics Program - Materials - PDF Files - Pictures - Audio - Video - Reading Street - Blog.
A Sequential Phonics Program - Materials - PDF Files - Pictures - Audio - Video - Reading Street - Blog.
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Summary Of The Phonics Books Used At Each LevelThis page shows the books used in levels one through five. Scroll down to see information about the books at each level. Handwriting books for all levels are shown at the bottom of this page.
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Books That Can Be Used At More Than One Level
This book introduces sound pictures within the framework of a story. Each picture represents a speech sound in the English language. Students learn the sound for each picture along with the related letter or letter pattern that represents that sound.
The sound pictures are used on the sound charts found in most of the phonics books. The charts provide a quick daily review of the patterns already learned. Even at the advanced level, the sound pictures are useful when teaching less common patterns and when teaching ending syllables such as tion/addition and ture/nature. A small version of the sound story is included in many of the student books. The larger version shown below has two full pages for each section of the story, with the text of the story on one page and a large sound picture with the related letter symbols on the facing page. The format works well when reading the story aloud to a group. Charts showing the phonics patterns that represent each sound are included at the end of the book. If desired, the charts can be removed from the book and posted on a wall, easel, or bulletin board. These charts are not as large as the regular wall charts. |
This book teaches phonemic awareness skills along with several phonological awareness skills, including oral blending, segmenting, rhyming, identification of beginning and ending sounds, and syllable awareness. A knowledge of the alphabet is not required to do the exercises.
These exercises are also included in the Learning The Alphabet books and the Exploring Sounds In Words books. However, some students who are learning to read may not have had a chance to work with those books. Or they may need extra practice. This book is designed to serve that purpose. |
Picture
Dictionary A-Z 
Use With Level 2
This book is used to familiarize students with the concept of beginning and ending letter sounds at the Exploring Sounds In Words level. With students who have completed both of the Learning The Alphabet books, the Picture Dictionary is optional.
The book contains one or two illustrated word lists for each letter of the alphabet. The first list has words that begin with the same sound. The second list has words that end with the same sound. Beginning sound lists are included for both the short and long vowel sounds. Use With Levels 4 And 5
For older students, the book can be used as a picture dictionary to help students spell words while they are doing creative writing. There are no written definitions - a picture provides the meaning for each word. Students can also practice reading the words with the teacher as a mixed decoding review.
The book includes a second list showing the most common three hundred words. This list does not have pictures. Students can practice spelling and reading the words to develop instant word recognition. |
Level One - Learning The Alphabet
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This is the starting point for beginning students. There are two readiness level workbooks. Students complete book one first, and then book two. The letters that are the easiest to write are taught first, with letters that are more difficult to write taught later. The books are recommended for the kindergarten level, but older students who do not have a good mastery of the alphabet, handwriting skills, and phonemic awareness skills can start here as well. I think that these books would be a good starting point for adults who are learning the English alphabet for the first time. Students do not have to master each new lesson as they work through the book. Continuing review and support from the teacher allow students to learn gradually, without pressure. Each book contains the following elements. There are several learning games available to use at this level.
Level Two - Exploring Sounds In Words
Exploring Sounds In Words, Book 1
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Exploring Sounds In Words, Book 2
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Exploring Sounds In Words
Manuscript Handwriting |
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The Exploring Sounds In Words books are for students who have completed Level 1. These books are at the advanced readiness level. They can be used in the second half of the kindergarten year or at the beginning of the first grade year if needed. At this level, students must be able to master the material in each lesson before going on to the next lesson. Students are again introduced to the alphabet letters and their sounds. Handwriting pages are included in the books. Students do more advanced oral blending and segmenting exercises, and continue doing rhyming exercises. Students learn to write each letter on lined paper, write letters to show beginning and ending sounds in words, and spell short vowel words with plastic letters. They also learn to pronounce two-letter combinations, such as ab, ac, ad, af, ag, and ba, ca, da, fa, ga.
If desired, instruction in the Exploring Sound In Words books can be integrated with the instruction for the Rhyming Short Vowel Words And Sentences book. See more information in the short vowel section below.
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This pages in the Exploring Sounds In Words Manuscript Handwriting book, shown above, are included in the two Exploring Sounds In Words books shown above. However another version of Exploring Sounds In Words does not have handwriting pages. Use this handwriting book when needed at level two or with students working at a higher level who need easy handwriting instruction.
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Level Three - Short Vowel Words And Sentences
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There are three different books with color-coded vowels that teach short vowel words. Each short vowel is printed in a specific color. This makes the vowels stand out in the words. Each short vowel book is used with a separate workbook that has exactly the same word lists and sentences. Note: Basic Short Vowels, a book with all black print is also available. It is described below.
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Rhyming Short Vowel
Words And Sentences 
This book is designed to teach students who are studying short vowel words for the first time. Typically, it will be used in kindergarten. Students practice reading short vowel words with a variety of beginning and ending consonants. This helps them learn to pronounce all possible consonant-vowel and vowel-consonant combinations in short vowel words.
The word lists are made up of rhyming words. Students study short vowel words in this order: short u, short a, short o, short i, and short e. This order has been chosen because it is harder for beginning students to distinguish the short i and short e sounds. Short u words are taught first because it is easier to write the letter u compared to the letter a. Students learn all of the short u words, then all of the short a words, and so on. Students study ten new words in each lesson. Beginning with the short a word lists, several sentence pages are included for each short vowel.
This book has 29 word lists and 15 sentence pages.
There are two ways to study the Rhyming Short Vowel Words And Sentences book.
Option 1
Study the short u word lists while working through the Exploring Sounds In Words books.
Teach t, i, h, l, n, w, u, b, m, r → Do u word list # 1. Teach f, x, e, s → Do u word list # 2. Teach j, o, c, d → Do u word list # 3. Teach a, v, g → Do u word list # 4. Teach p, k, y → Do u word list # 5. Teach qu, z → Do a word list # 1. Continue with the remaining short vowel lessons. Option 2
Students complete the Exploring Sounds In Words books first and then begin the Rhyming Short Vowels book.
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Mixed Short Vowel
Words And Sentences 
This book is recommended for use at the beginning of first grade. The order in which words are taught in this book is directly related to the handwriting sequence. After students receive handwriting instruction for the first eight letters, t i h l n w u b, they study the first short u word list. After more letters are studied during handwriting lessons, students learn new sets of words that contain those letters. The words taught in each new list contain only the letters that have been studied during the handwriting lessons.
Integrating the word lists with handwriting instruction means that the words for each short vowel are not all taught at the same time. Students may study a short u list followed by a short e list followed by a short o list. This causes the word lists to be mixed. In some cases, words with two different short vowels appear on the same list. This arrangement allows students to study short vowel words successfully at the beginning of first grade within a very efficient time frame.
This book has 18 word lists and 10 sentence pages.
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Two-Page Short Vowel
Words And Sentences 
This book has the same format as the other books but teaches only two sets of words for each short vowel. Within each list, words have been selected that begin and end with as many different letters as possible. This book can be used to review short vowel words quickly at the beginning of second grade, or to study/review short vowel words with older students.
Before beginning this book, students should be able to write all of the alphabet letters.
The first set of words for each vowel begins with continuous consonants. These are consonants that can be held for a length of time while pronouncing them, making it easier to connect them with the following vowel sound. The second set of words for each vowel begins with stop consonants. These consonants cannot be held. The sound disappears immediately after the letter is pronounced. This makes it more difficult to attach a beginning stop consonant sound to the vowel sound that follows it.
This book has 10 word lists and 12 sentence pages.
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More Short Vowel Books
The following books also teach short vowel words. The Basic Short Vowels book can be used in place of any of the color-coded short vowel books shown above. It could also be used for extra practice when using any of those books. The word lists in Basic Short Vowels are in the same order as the word lists in Rhyming Short Vowel Words And Sentences. You can use the Rhyming Short Vowel Workbook with either one of those books.
The second book, Color-Coded Short Vowel Lists, can be used for extra decoding practice with any of the short vowel books. It is a perfect supplement to help students learn to put the letter sounds together smoothly and automatically when reading short vowel words.
The third book can be used to review short vowel words and words with phonics patterns with older students.
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Basic Short Vowels
This book has many words to read for each short vowel. They are arranged in both rhyming and body-coda (same beginning sound) lists. Reading both types of lists helps students become more fluent when reading short vowel words. They learn to pay attention to both the beginning and the ending consonants in words. And they learn to slide the sounds together smoothly as they read. Each word is illustrated. Students learn a few sight words and begin reading simple short vowel sentences. Students are also introduced to the use of the suffix _s after nouns and verbs and the use of _'s to show ownership.
This book teaches short vowel words in the same order as the Rhyming Short Vowel book. You can use the Rhyming Short Vowel Workbook with either one of the books.
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Color-Coded Short Vowel Lists
Students read rhyming and body-coda (same beginning sound) word lists to develop their decoding skills. This book helps students learn to "sound out" words smoothly, without a break between the sounds in the words. It works very well with students who are still trying to read short vowel words one sound at a time. With rhyming lists, students just need to change the beginning letter sounds as they read. With body-coda lists, they just need to change the ending sounds. By changing just one sound at a time, students are able to read more fluently as they pronounce each word. With practice, they learn to slide the sounds together automatically. Because they learn to change both beginning and ending sounds as they read the two types of lists, they learn to pay attention to both the beginning and ending sound when they read.
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Know The Phonetic Code, Vol. 1
This book has all black print and the words are not illustrated. It is recommended for older students who need to review/improve their word recognition and decoding skills.
At the beginning of this book students study short vowel words and short vowel sentences. Students practice reading both rhyming and body-coda (same beginning sound) short vowel lists. This helps students become more fluent when they read short vowel words.
After studying short vowel words, students study words with the phonetic patterns taught in books one and two of level four, for example, sh/ship, or/horse, and ai/rain. The illustrated decodable practice stories from level four are also included.
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Short Vowel Booklets
These small booklets are 5 1/2 by 4 1/4 inches when assembled. They are printed on letter sized paper. The pages are cut in half horizontally to make two sets of books, which are stapled and folded. Students read short vowel words from brief rhyming lists, turn the page, and then read the same words paired with pictures. After learning a few sight words (a, A, was, as, has, is, his, I) students read simple short vowel sentences, which are also illustrated.
These were the first phonics materials that I created. They were greatly loved by my students at that time.
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Level Four - Phonics Patterns
After students learn to read short vowel words, they will be ready to begin reading words with various phonics patterns, such as sh/ship, ee/feet, ow/cow, and ar/car.
In this program there are three different sets of books to teach the phonics patterns needed for students to begin reading real books and stories. Each set of books teaches the same phonics patterns in the same order, however each set is printed in a completely different format. This allows teachers and parents to choose the format best suited for their students. It also provides additional materials to use as extra practice, either at school or at home.
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Phonetic Words And Stories
Books 1-8
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The Phonetic Words And Stories books are ideal for students who are just learning to read. They also work well with older students who would benefit from extra practice with phonemic awareness, decoding, and word recognition skills. Students study one new phonics pattern at a time. They study ten new words for each phonetic pattern. First students spell the words during a daily dictation period. Then students do a phonemic awareness exercise with the new pictures and words. Next they practice reading the same words phonetically, using a process called decoding. Developing these skills helps students begin to read more confidently and with greater fluency.
Sight words are taught as rule breakers that cannot be decoded as expected. Sight words are only taught after students have learned to read phonetically regular words with the same pattern. For example, the sight word said is taught after students have already learned to read words with the long ā pattern ai : rain, wait, hair.
After students have studied several new patterns, they read a short practice story that contains words with the new patterns and any previous patterns that have been studied. As students work through the books in this series, they also learn to read and write words that are contractions, words with common suffixes, and words with more than one syllable.
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Basic Phonics Patterns
Books 1, 2, 3, 4, 5-6, 7-8
Students read illustrated lists of words for each new phonetic pattern. The patterns are taught in the same sequence in which they appear in the Phonetic Words And Stories books. Unlike the Phonetic Words And Stories, Books 1-8, these lists have more than ten words, with the number of words depending on the pattern being studied. Students then read a few illustrated sentences to practice reading some of the same words in context. Lessons that teach contractions, suffixes, and syllable patterns are included. After students have studied several new phonetic patterns, they read a short practice story that contains words with the new patterns and any previous patterns that have been studied. These are the same practice stories found in Phonetic Words And Stories, Books 1-8, presented in a smaller format.
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If you don't use the Phonetic Words And Stories books to teach level four, you will use these books.
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Know The Phonetic Code
Volumes 1-3
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Students read word lists for each new pattern. Both one and two-syllable words are included for each phonetic pattern. After learning several new patterns, students read an easy practice story with words that contain those patterns.
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Know The Phonetic Code - No Stories
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Color-Coded Phonetic Lists
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Students read lists of words for each phonetic pattern taught in Phonetic Words And Stories, Book 1-8.
The words have color-coded vowels. Each vowel sound is printed in a designated color. For example, patterns with the long ā sound are printed in dark red, and patterns with the long ē sound are printed in dark green. The colors do not have to be taught. Students automatically internalize the colors as they practice the vowel charts each day.
There are three reasons for the colors.
Students can see the vowel pattern clearly, since it stands out in the word.
Whenever possible, the words are presented in both rhyming and body-coda (same beginning sound) lists. When students practice reading both types of lists, it helps them learn to decode words more automatically, without a break between the sounds.
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Level Five - Advanced Phonics Patterns
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Advanced Phonics Patterns From Children's Books
Use this book after students have studied all the patterns in Phonetic Words And Stories, Books 1-8. Students learn less common phonetic patterns, more suffix patterns, new prefix patterns, and new advanced ending syllable patterns. As students work though the book, they will be able to read eighty one children's trade books, from the first grade to the fourth grade reading level. The trade books must be purchased separately or checked out of the library.
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Handwriting Instruction
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Manuscript Handwriting
Tracing Pages
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Manuscript Handwriting
On Letter Sized Paper Students Trace And Copy Large And Small Letters
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Cursive Handwriting
On Letter Sized Paper Students Trace And Copy Large And Small Letters
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Exploring Sounds In Words
Manuscript Handwriting
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Manuscript Handwriting
On Legal Paper Students Trace And Copy Large And Small Letters
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Cursive Handwriting
On Legal Paper Students Trace And Copy Large And Small Letters
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Manuscript Handwriting
On Ledger Paper |
Cursive Handwriting
On Ledger Paper |
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Students Trace And Copy Large Letters
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Students Trace And Copy Large Letters
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To see more detailed information about any of these books, click on the desired level under Program Overview .
To download free PDF files for any of the books, click on PDF Files on the main menu and then click on the desired subheading.
