Please scroll down to see books, workbooks, booklets, large picture-word pages, flashcards, and games that are used at Level 3.
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PDF Files - Level 3 - Short Vowels 

This is where the fun begins!  Students begin reading real words!  They will also learn a few sight words: a, was, as, has, is, his, I.  This will allow them to begin reading simple short vowel sentences.  ​This is the most important level in the Sound City Reading program.  The skills students learn at this level will prepare them to make rapid progress at levels four and five.
There are a several different books at this level to teach students to read short vowel words.  This allows the teacher to select the books that are best for their students' grade level and prior experience.  Choose the book and matching workbook that best meets the needs of your students.  Scroll down to see all of the available books. 
Click on any of the green bars to download the regular PDF files.
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Short Vowel Words And Sentences Books - Three Different Versions
The Short Vowel Words And Sentences books are printed with extra large print.  The vowels are printed in specific colors: a/bright red, e/light green, i/light violet, o/light orange, u/light blue. These colors show the short vowel sounds.  The colors are used to make the vowels stand out in the words.  It is not necessary to focus on the vowel colors after an initial simple explanation.  Students will notice right away that words with the same color vowel are pronounced with the same vowel sound.  
Students study ten new words in each lesson.  The words and pictures are set up on facing pages in the books.  This makes it possible for the teacher and the students to play a "robot game" while they are learning to read the words.  The game incorporates oral blending exercises using the pictures and the words.  Playing the robot game makes it much easier for students to learn new words.  ​
A matching workbook is available for each of these short vowel books.  
Rhyming Short Vowel Words And Sentences - This book is best for student who are learning to read for the first time.  It provides a through introduction to short vowel words.  It will work well for kindergarten students.  It would also work well with first graders if they are studying short vowel words for the first time.
Mixed Short Vowel Words And Sentences - This book is designed for first grade students who have previously studied short vowel words in kindergarten.  The word lists are integrated with first grade handwriting instruction.  As students learn to write new letters, they will study related groups of short vowel words.  There are two versions of the workbook available.  They teach the same word lists in the same order.  The first workbook includes supplementary short vowel discrimination worksheets at the end of the book.  The second workbook does not include the discrimination worksheets, but it includes handwriting pages to introduce/review letter formation for the letters of the alphabet.  The handwriting pages are like the handwriting pages used at level two.  If you use this workbook you won't need a separate handwriting book.  ​
Two-Page Short Vowel Words And Sentences - This book is shorter than either of the two books listed above.  There are only two pages of words for each short vowel.  This book will be useful for a quick review of short vowel words with students who have studied them before.
New PDF File - Make sets of small letter cards to use for spelling the words on each Rhyming Short Vowel word list.  Click below.
More Short Vowel Books
Color-Coded Short Vowel Lists - In this book, short vowel letters are printed in specific colors, as described above. Students can see immediately which letters are consonants and which letters are vowels.  Like the Basic Short Vowels book, the words are printed in both rhyming and body-coda lists.   It is especially useful for students who have studied short vowel words but continue to say the individual sounds separately, without sliding them together smoothly.   It is easier for beginning readers to read rhyming lists and body-coda lists because they only need to change the ending sound or the beginning sound when they go from one word to the next.  By reading both types of lists, students learn to connect each possible beginning consonant sound to the vowel and also each possible ending consonant sound.  This helps them read short vowel words fluently, without stopping to say each individual sound.  
Basic Short Vowels - This book is printed in all black print.  It follows the same sequence as the Rhyming Short Vowel Words And Sentences book, but in a different format.  The words and matching pictures are on the same page.  The words are arranged in both rhyming and body-coda lists.  Body-coda lists start with the same sound.  Reading both types of lists helps students learn to pronounce all types of letter combinations smoothly.  This book also has illustrated short vowel sentences. 
​NOTE: The Rhyming Short Vowel Workbook can be used with this book.    
Short Vowel Booklets
These small booklets are one fourth the size of a regular sheet of paper.  Students read four or five rhyming words on each page, then turn the page and reread the same words paired with pictures.  They also read a few sentences in each book. 
These booklets are ideal for students who are just beginning to read short vowel words.  They also work well as a quick review for students who need to review short vowel words at the beginning of first grade.  Print the file on letter sized paper.  After printing, you will cut the stack of pages in half crosswise, creating two identical booklets.  The booklets are stapled with a long necked stapler and folded.  
This file will print the covers for all of the short vowel booklets.  Use pastel blue cardstock.
More Information About The Short Vowel Booklets
​I posted several versions of these small booklets on the old web site.  This is the most recent version.  The ten booklets are one fourth the size of a regular page.  The booklets are set up so that students read five or six new words, turn the page, and see a group of small pictures paired with the same words.  The student read the words again while looking at the pictures.  The pictures reinforce the meanings of the words.  After several lists have been introduced, students read one or more short sentences, which are also illustrated.  The words in these booklets are set up in rhyming lists.  
The first booklet, Run, is numbered zero.  It is an optional introductory booklet that can be used while students are learning the alphabet.  Students who already know all the letters and their sounds can start with booklet one, A Cat.  As they work through the booklets, students learn these sight words: as, has, a, A, was, is, his, and I.  This enables them to begin reading meaningful sentences.  They also learn that the suffix _s is used at the end of a word to show more than one.  ​
The pages for each booklet are printed on both sides in portrait mode.  Then the cover is placed on top, and the whole stack is cut in half horizontally.  This creates two identical booklets from each file.  The booklets are then stapled and folded.  I use a long reach stapler sold by PaperPro.  It is spring loaded so that you don't have to apply a lot of pressure with your hand.  I had to try several different brands of staples to find some that are sturdy enough to go through the pages without crumpling.  I've found that Swingline Optima Jam Free Staples work very well.
I print the covers on pastel blue 67 lb. "vellum bristol" which is similar to cardstock.  I've provided a separate cover file for each booklet and also another file with all of the covers.  It's easier to print all the covers at once, since you only have to adjust the settings to print the thicker cover pages from the bypass tray one time. ​
Large Picture-Word Pages To Use With Rhyming Short Vowel Words And Sentences
Background:  When the Rhyming Short Vowel Words And Sentences book is open, you see picture pages on the left and word pages on the right.  Generally, there are ten new words and ten new pictures on each set of pages.  The pictures and words are arranged in a different order.  This allows the students to work with the teacher to play the "robot" game.  The teacher says the individual sounds for one picture at a time, going in random order, and calls on students to find the matching picture.  Then the teacher says the sounds for each word, in random order, and calls on students to find the correct word.  To find the picture or word, students have to put the sounds together mentally to figure out the answer.  This process is called oral blending.  It is a phonemic awareness exercise and helps students become aware of the individual sounds in words and how the sounds fit together to form each word.  Traditional phonemic awareness exercises are not associated with pictures or written letters or words.  In the Sound City Reading program, oral blending is combined with both pictures and words.  In the first part of the activity, students listen to individual sounds and find the matching pictures.  The pictures reinforce the oral blending process and also help students understand the meaning of each spoken word.  In the second part of the activity, students listen to individual sounds and find the matching words. This helps students connect the oral sequence of individual sounds to the left to right sequence of letters in words.  I have found that this two-step process makes it  much easier for students to learn how to read new words.  It works well for all students but is particularly helpful for students who are finding it a challenge to develop reading skills.  The "robot" game provides the oral blending practice that is needed so that they can easily read each new set of words phonetically.    
 
Application:  These charts match the picture/word pages in the Rhyming Short Vowel Words And Sentences book, and can be used in the same way.  Instructions are included in the PDF file.  The charts are printed on white 11 x 17 inch ledger paper.  They can be displayed on an easel or on the chalkboard.  Using the charts, the teacher can play the robot game with the students as a group.  It works best to have students sit on a rug or mats near the pages so that they can see them easily.  After doing this exercise, students will be ready to do the matching workbook pages.      ​

Note:  The Basic Short Vowels book follows the same sequence as the Rhyming Short Vowel Words And Sentences book, so these charts can be used with either book.     

Click on the first two green bars below to download PDF files for the short vowel picture/word pages and short vowel instructions.  They will be printed on white 11 x 17 inch ledger paper.  Click on the third green bar to download the answer key, to be printed on 8 1/2 by 11 letter sized paper.  The answer key includes pages for both the short vowel level and the phonics patterns level.  Sample pages are shown below.
Sample Large Short Vowel Picture-Word Pages
Flashcards To Use At Level Three
Alphabet Cards - Capital And Lower Case Letters - From Part One Of The Sound Story
Continue to use these cards from levels one and two to review the letters of the alphabet.  Students say the sound for each letter.  Students do not say the letter names.  Print on pastel blue card stock.  ​
There are two sets of capital and lower case cards.  They are printed in two different fonts.  It is a good idea to alternate the card packs so that students practice with both sets of cards.   This will allow them to recognize the letters from both of the fonts easily.​
Beyond The Alphabet Cards - From Part Two Of The Sound Story (Optional At Level 3)
The sounds for the letters of the alphabet that are introduced in part one of the sound story are not sufficient to spell every word in the English language.  Part two of the story introduces the "beyond the alphabet" sounds, including the remaining long vowel sounds ā, ē, ō, and ū, the "dotted" vowel sounds ö/to, ä/all, and ü/push, the oi/oy and ou/ow vowel diphthong sounds, and the consonant digraphs sh, th, ch, and ng.  ​
Use these flashcards to introduce the "beyond the alphabet" sounds to students after they have studied short vowel words.  Use these cards with the beyond the alphabet picture cards, shown below.    
  • In kindergarten, introduce the part-two sound cards after completing the Rhyming Short Vowel Words And Sentences book. 
  • In first grade, after students have completed the Mixed Short Vowel Words And Sentences book, introduce the beyond the alphabet sounds when students begin level four, book one.  The sequence chart in book one shows when to introduce each pattern.   ​
Students will learn the new patterns one at a time just as they initially learned the alphabet, by hearing a new section of the sound story read aloud.  As before, each new sound picture is shown with the related letter or letter pattern that represents the same sound in words.  At level three, instruction for the patterns in part two of the sound story is provided as an introduction only.  Students will receive thorough instruction for the same patterns at level four. ​ ​
Click on the green bar to open this file.  Print the cards on light blue cardstock.  
Cards With Sound Pictures -  From  Part One  And  Part Two  Of The Sound Story 
The PDF files shown below can be used to make flashcards to help students remember the sounds for the alphabet and beyond the alphabet letters and letter patterns.
  • Some sets of cards show just the sound pictures.  They can be paired with the related letters and letter patterns from parts one and two of the sound story.  
  • Some sets of cards show both the sound pictures and related letters or letter patterns on the same card.  
  • Print these sets of cards on white card stock, then cut into separate flashcards.  Have students say the sound for each picture and letter pattern.  Students should not say the letter names.  
  • You can place six or eight picture cards in a pocket chart or on a table along with the letter cards that represent the same sounds.  Have students match the pictures with the associated letters and letter patterns.
  • Some of the card sets have both the letters or letter patterns and the sound pictures.  These are useful when students are learning new  "beyond the alphabet" letters and letter patterns.  Hold up the card.  Students should say the sound while copying the letter or letter pattern onto their papers.
  • The part two cards are optional at level three.     
Click on the green bar to download this PDF file.  This file makes four sets of pictures.  It includes pictures from both part one and part two of the sound story.
Part two of the sound story can be introduced after students have completed level three.
Print these cards on white legal sized cardstock.  The cards will need to be cut in half vertically with the page in landscape position.
Print these cards on legal sized white cardstock.  The pages will need to be cut in half vertically with the page in landscape position.  Part two of the sound story is optional at level three. 
Print these cards on white, letter sized cardstock.  The cards will need to be cut in half horizontally with the page in portrait position.  
 Print these cards on white letter sized cardstock.  The pages will need to be cut in half horizontally with the page in landscape position.  Part two of the sound story is optional at level three. 

Sound City Reading
All Materials Copyright 2023 or earlier by Kathryn J. Davis, All Rights Reserved
My goal is for as many people as possible to use this reading program to teach students how to read.  All of the materials you need are available on this site as free PDF files.  The materials are copyrighted, but I give permission to all teachers, parents, tutors, and school systems to download and print any of the PDF files for use with the students they teach.    However, they are not to make a profit from distributing the materials.  If you don't have a printer, using a print shop is allowed.  If preferred, you may work with the PDF files directly from a computer screen, without printing them.  This makes it possible for tutors to teach the program online.  Audio and video files are free to watch and to listen to, and they may be downloaded if desired for use with your  students.  In special cases I may grant written permission to individuals to use the materials in other ways.  You can contact me at [email protected].