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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.
Handwriting Overview
Students learn to write letters by first tracing large letter patterns repeatedly on the chalkboard and on paper, and then tracing and copying letters on lined handwriting paper. When students use the large muscles in the arm to form the letters many times they build long lasting muscle memory, so that they will automatically remember how to write accurately using the correct letter strokes. While this takes considerable time during the initial handwriting instruction, much time is save afterwards because the students will be able to write neatly and efficiently without hesitation. The time saved in completing written work in a timely manner for the remainder of the school year far outweighs the initial time investment.
Handwriting instruction is multisensory in this program. Students say the sound for each lower case letter each time they write or trace it. This applies when students first learn to write a new letter, and each time afterward that they trace it or write it during the daily instruction, including the letters that they write when spelling words. This ongoing process prepares students to spell words with confidence.
Capital letters are handled in a slightly different way. For capital letters only, students say both the name of the letter and its sound as they trace: "Capital T, /t/." This procedure is followed when learning to write the letters and continues at higher levels when reviewing letters and phonics patterns during a daily dictation period.
Handwriting teaching and practice pages are included in the student books at level one and two. Separate handwriting books are available for both manuscript and cursive handwriting. These can be used with any level as desired.
- At Level 1, Learning The Alphabet, students trace inside large and small letter outlines on unlined pages. They are not expected to write the letters independently on separate paper.
- At Level 2, Exploring Sounds In Words, students trace and write large and small letters on lined pages in their workbooks. They also begin a daily dictation period, during which they write new and review letters on separate lined paper, when given the sounds by the teacher.
- The daily letter sound dictation continues at Level 3, Short Vowels. Separate handwriting books are available to teach/review manuscript handwriting as needed.
- At Level 4, Phonics Patterns, the daily sound dictation includes both individual letters and multi-letter phonics patterns. Cursive handwriting books are available which have large and small cursive letter patterns for student to trace and copy.
How To Get The Sound City Reading Materials
At one time I had an online store as part of this site. I have taken the retail pages offline. I'm no longer offering physical copies of the Sound City Reading materials to purchase. You will need to download PDF files for the materials you want to use and print them. There is no charge for the PDF files. You may print them for your own use at home, at school, or at a print shop. All materials are copyrighted by Kathryn J. Davis, however I give permission to teacher, tutors, parents, schools, and school systems to print and use the materials for their own students. The materials are not to be sold commercially.
