The Sound City Reading materials are in the form of PDF files that can be printed as practice books, workbooks, flashcards, and games. There is no charge for using the files. You will need to download the file you want to use. This is necessary so the the pages will line up correctly when you open the file. Let me explain. To view a file for a book correctly on the computer, it must be opened in Two Page View, with Show Cover Page In Two Page View checked. This will show the front and back covers as single pages and the remainder of the file in two-page view, allowing all of the pages to line up correctly. See copyright information here: Copyright Information.
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Are You Having Trouble Downloading PDF Files?
Many computers have the software to download and view PDF files built in. If your computer will not download the PDF files from this website, you may click on this link Adobe Acrobat Reader DC to download a program that will enable you to work with PDF files. Be sure to designate that you want to download the free version. If you don't want them, you should unclick the additional options related to McAfee and Chrome. Then click "Download Acrobat Reader." Once the software has downloaded and has been installed, you should be able to download the PDF files from this site easily. Some of the PDF files are quite large because they have many pictures, so please allow a few minutes for them to load. The Adobe Acrobat Reader DC program will also be used to open and view the PDF files. If you prefer, you can get any other reputable program that will manage PDF files.
The written Sound City Reading materials are in the form of PDF files that can be printed as practice books, workbooks, flashcards, and games. There is no charge for using the files. You may download the files to your computer or use them directly from the web site. It will take a few minutes to load each file, depending on how large it is. You'll need the Adobe Acrobat Reader DC program or a similar program on your computer to download the PDF files. The program will also be used to open and view the PDF files. How To Work With PDF Files
The links to the pages that have PDF files are shown below. On any page, click on the green bar with the name of the PDF file that you want to open. The file will open and you will be able to look at all of the pages. In order for the pages to line up correctly, you will need to look at the file in two-page view. Click on View, then click on Page Display, then click Two Page View. You will also need to check Show Cover Page In Two Page View. This will show the front cover as a single page and the back cover as a single page. The rest of the pages will be displayed two at a time, side by side.
After the files open, you may print them from this website or you can download them and save them on your computer. To make it easier to look through the pages of each PDF file after you have downloaded it, use the menu to show two pages side by side, adjusted so that you can see a full view of both pages. To do this, first click on the More Tools icon at the top of the page and choose Fit One Full Page. Next click View at the top of the page, and then click Page Display. On the sub-menu, click Two Page View. For the pages to display correctly, make sure the cover is shown as a single page.
Note: PDF files for Reading Street basal reading materials are located under the Reading Street menu heading.
For all Sound City Reading materials look at the menu subheadings under PDF FILES. Choose the page with the books you want to download. Click on any of the GREEN bars on the page to download the desired files. You'll see the name of the book on the green bar.
If there are any black bars, I have not yet uploaded those files. I'm still in the process of editing and completing those materials.
A brief summary of the item can be found adjacent to each green download bar. A more thorough description of the available books and other materials can be found under the Overview Of Materials menu heading.
All of the PDF files may be downloaded without charge. These materials are copyrighted, but I give permission for teachers, tutors, and parents to download, save, and print any file to use with their own students or children. All other uses are prohibited.
If there are any black bars, I have not yet uploaded those files. I'm still in the process of editing and completing those materials.
A brief summary of the item can be found adjacent to each green download bar. A more thorough description of the available books and other materials can be found under the Overview Of Materials menu heading.
All of the PDF files may be downloaded without charge. These materials are copyrighted, but I give permission for teachers, tutors, and parents to download, save, and print any file to use with their own students or children. All other uses are prohibited.
If you are having trouble downloading the PDF files read this information.
Many computers have the software to download PDF files built in. If your computer will not download the PDF files on this page, you may click on the green link below. The link will take you to a page where you can download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader DC software that you need to download PDF files.
Once the software has been downloaded and installed, you should be able to download any of the PDF files from the Sound City Reading site to your computer. Many of the files are quite large, due to the number of pages and large number of illustrations, so please allow a few minutes for each file to download.
How To Get The Pages Of The Files To Line Up Correctly
When You Are Working Directly From The Computer Screen
When You Are Working Directly From The Computer Screen
Follow these instructions for the following books:
Rhyming Short Vowel Words And Sentences
Mixed Short Vowel Words And Sentences
Two-Page Short Vowel Words And Sentences
Phonetic Words And Stories, Books 1-8
Rhyming Short Vowel Words And Sentences
Mixed Short Vowel Words And Sentences
Two-Page Short Vowel Words And Sentences
Phonetic Words And Stories, Books 1-8
Some of the Sound City Reading books have two-page formats with pictures on the left hand page and words on the right hand page. Both pages are used at the same time to teach the lessons. In order for the pages of the PDF file to show correctly on the computer screen, you will need to follow these steps. This process will set up the pages so that they look like an open book, with the correct pages side by side.
- To start the PDF download, click on the green bar for the book you want.
- Wait for a few minutes for the download to finish. When it's finished you'll see the PDF file appear on the screen.
- Now you need to SAVE the file to your computer. The exact steps to take will depend on the type of computer and operating system you are using. You can decide where to put the file. It may be easiest to put it on the desktop, so that you can be sure to find it. Later on, you can put it into a folder wherever you want to keep it.
- Close the initial download, then double click the file that you put on your desktop to open it. Look for the View heading on the menu bar at the top of the page. Click it and choose two page view. Now scroll up to the first page of the PDF file, the cover page with the name of the book. Make sure it appears as a single page. Scroll down to see the other pages. The rest of the pages should be shown two at a time, side by side, except the very last page, which should be a single page. The pages that are side by side will now be lined up correctly.
- If the Cover of the book does not appear as a single page, play with the settings until it is. If the cover is showing with another page beside it, the rest of the pages in the book will not line up correctly.
You Can Use The PDF Files To Teach Directly From The Computer Screen
This set-up allows a student to study the pages directly from a computer screen. For a whole class, teachers can connect a laptop computer to a projector and display the pages on a large screen. The work can be done with the whole class, using a long pointer to point to the words and pictures. PDF files can also be loaded and used with a smart board.
You Can Print The PDF Files To Use With Students
If you have a printer you can print the books and materials as needed to use with your students. You can print the entire book at one time and bind it so that each student has a book.
An easy way to put together books for students if you don't have a binding machine is to use a heavy duty three-hole punch to punch the pages. Then place them in a three-ring binder. This keeps the pages in order, but also allows pages to be removed as needed. This is particularly helpful with workbooks. Students can remove the pages to write on them, and then either turn them in or put them back into their notebooks.
If you prefer not to create bound books, you can print just a single day's work for the whole class and pass out the pages to the students. This makes it easy for students to take the pages home for extra study.
An easy way to put together books for students if you don't have a binding machine is to use a heavy duty three-hole punch to punch the pages. Then place them in a three-ring binder. This keeps the pages in order, but also allows pages to be removed as needed. This is particularly helpful with workbooks. Students can remove the pages to write on them, and then either turn them in or put them back into their notebooks.
If you prefer not to create bound books, you can print just a single day's work for the whole class and pass out the pages to the students. This makes it easy for students to take the pages home for extra study.
A Note About Printers And Printing
I use a Ricoh color laser printer that will print on both sides of the paper. The print quality is excellent. The toner cartridges are expensive but they last a long time. If you are using books that are printed in color the toner costs will be higher. It will be less expensive if you use books that are printed in all black ink, except for the covers. I've used both types of books and they have worked well. If you have students who are just starting to read or who need extra practice to master the material, the colored print in some of the books will be helpful.
I've found that different brands of color printers don't print the exact same colors. Some of the books in this program use color-coded vowels. The vowel color indicates the sound of the vowel. My own Ricoh printer prints the colors accurately, so that you can distinguish between the various colors. Even two different models of the same brand of printer may print slightly different colors.
I use heavy weight laser paper that is more opaque than usual. This prevents the print on the back side of the page from showing through. I think that this is important so that students are not distracted and can focus on the text on the front of the page.
Many of the Sound City Reading books have extra large print. I have found this to be very helpful for many students. They are not overwhelmed with too many words on a page. The letters and letter patterns are large enough to stand out and be noticed. Some students have vision problems that do not allow them to see the letters on the page clearly. Fitting students with glasses is ideal, but unfortunately not always possible.
Although the large print is beneficial, it also takes more pages to print the material, making them more expensive to print. I've provided several different formats for the books, with some having larger, color-coded print and others having smaller, all black print, so that teachers and parents can choose the design that best meets their budgets and their students' needs.
I've found that different brands of color printers don't print the exact same colors. Some of the books in this program use color-coded vowels. The vowel color indicates the sound of the vowel. My own Ricoh printer prints the colors accurately, so that you can distinguish between the various colors. Even two different models of the same brand of printer may print slightly different colors.
I use heavy weight laser paper that is more opaque than usual. This prevents the print on the back side of the page from showing through. I think that this is important so that students are not distracted and can focus on the text on the front of the page.
Many of the Sound City Reading books have extra large print. I have found this to be very helpful for many students. They are not overwhelmed with too many words on a page. The letters and letter patterns are large enough to stand out and be noticed. Some students have vision problems that do not allow them to see the letters on the page clearly. Fitting students with glasses is ideal, but unfortunately not always possible.
Although the large print is beneficial, it also takes more pages to print the material, making them more expensive to print. I've provided several different formats for the books, with some having larger, color-coded print and others having smaller, all black print, so that teachers and parents can choose the design that best meets their budgets and their students' needs.
