This page has a short overview of all of the books used in the Sound City Reading program.
To see more information about any of the books, including sample pages, click on MATERIALS on the main menu .
To download free PDF files for any of the books, click on PDF FILES on the main menu and click on the desired subheading.
Scroll down to see the books for each level with a short summary of each one.
Books To Use At Any Level
This book introduces sound pictures within the framework of a story. Each picture represents a speech sound in our language. Students learn the sound for each picture along with the related letters and letter patterns that represent those sounds.
The sound pictures are used on the sound charts found at the beginning of many of the phonics books. These 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. The version shown above has a full page for each section of the story, with a large sound picture with the related letters on the facing page. This 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. A small version of the sound story is included in most of the phonics books. |
This book teaches beginning phonemic awareness skills, including oral blending, rhyming, identification of beginning and ending sounds, and syllable awareness. A knowledge of the alphabet is not required to do the exercises.
Many of the same exercises are included in the Learning The Alphabet books and the Exploring Sounds In Words book. However, some students who have already learned the alphabet and are in the process of learning to read may not have had a chance to develop these phonemic awareness skills, or they may need extra practice. This book is designed to serve that purpose. |
Picture
Dictionary A-Z 
This book is used to familiarize students with the concept of beginning and ending letter sounds at the Exploring Sounds In Words level.
It contains one or two illustrated word lists for each letter of the alphabet. The first list has words that all begin with the same sound. The second list has words that end with the same sound. Lists are included for both the short and long vowel sounds. For older students, the book can be used as a picture dictionary to help students spell words while they are doing creative writing. There is a second list in a different format showing the most common three hundred words. This list does not have pictures. The words can be studied to develop instant word recognition. The list can also be used as a spelling reference. |
Level 1 - Learning The Alphabet
Learning The Alphabet, Books 1 And 2
This is the starting point for beginning students. It is a readiness level. Students complete book one first, and then book 2. 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.
- Oral Blending/Segmenting Pages
- Sound Story Pages
- Handwriting Readiness Picture Pages
- Handwriting Letter Tracing Pages
- Letter Discrimination Pages
- Rhyming Pages
- Print Awareness Lessons
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Level 2 - Exploring Sounds In Words
This is the next step for students who have completed Level 1. These books are at the advanced readiness level. Students are again introduced to the alphabet letters and their sounds. However at this level, they must be able to master the material in each lesson.
Note: With students who have completed both of the Learning The Alphabet books, the Picture Dictionary is optional.
Exploring Sounds In Words
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Exploring Sounds In Words
Manuscript Handwriting |
Picture Dictionary A-Z
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This book can be used at Level 2 with students who have not completed the Level 1 books. If the Level 1 books have been completed, this book is optional.
It can also be used as a spelling reference with students at Level 3.
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Level 3 - Short Vowels
Short Vowel Words And Sentences -
Choose ONE of these color-coded books to teach short vowel words,
or if you prefer all black print, choose the Basic Short Vowels book shown below.
Choose ONE of these color-coded books to teach short vowel words,
or if you prefer all black print, choose the Basic Short Vowels book shown below.
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There are three different books with color-coded vowels that teach short vowel words. Each vowel is printed in a different color. This makes the vowels stand out in the words.
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Rhyming Short Vowel
Words And Sentences 
Each word list is made up of rhyming words. Students study short vowel words in this order: short a, short o, short i, short u, and short e. Students learn all of the short a words, then all of the short o words, and so on. There are several picture/word pages and sentence pages for each short vowel. Students must be able to write all the letters of the alphabet before beginning short a words.
An optional set of introductory pages, which begin with short u words, may be used if desired while students are still learning to write the letters of the alphabet. In this case, the instruction can be coordinated with the Exploring Sounds In Words books. This book has 5 introductory word lists, 30 regular word lists, and 18 sentence pages. |
Mixed Short Vowel
Words And Sentences 
The order in which words are taught in this book is related to the handwriting sequence. After students learn to write the first eight letters, t i h l n w u b, they will be ready to study the first short u word list. The words on this list contain only the letters that have been taught so far in handwriting. As more letters are taught in handwriting, students learn new sets of words that contain those letters. Because of this, the words for each short vowel are not all taught at the same time. The word lists are mixed, changing from one short vowel to another as needed, based on the letters students have learned in handwriting. Within each list, rhyming words are grouped together as far as possible.
This book has 24 word lists and 10 sentence pages. |
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. To begin this book, students should be able to write all of the alphabet letters.
This book has 10 word lists and 12 sentence pages. |
More Short Vowel Books
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The following books also teach short vowel words.
They can be used for supplementary instruction when using any of the books listed above. They can also be used by themselves for instruction and review with students who are a little older. |
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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 begin to "sound out" words smoothly, without a break between the sounds in the words. 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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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 also 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. |
Know The Phonetic Code, Vol. 1
In this book students study short vowels and also words with phonetic patterns, for example, ai/rain, sh/ship, and ow/cow.
The text in this book is smaller, and the words are not illustrated. Students practice reading both rhyming and body-coda (same beginning sound) short vowel lists. This helps students to become more fluent when they read short vowel words.
Students learn a few sight words so that they are able to begin reading simple short vowel sentences. The sentences are illustrated. Students are also introduced to short vowel words with the suffix _s after nouns and verbs. |
Short Vowel Booklets
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Short Vowel Booklets
These small booklets are 5 1/2 by 4 1/4 inches. Students read short vowel words in short 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.
Level 4 - 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.
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 learn to read word phonetically, using a process called decoding. They also learn to spell new words. Students study one new phonics pattern at a time. Sight words are taught as rule breakers that cannot be decoded as expected. Developing these skills helps students begin to read more confidently and with greater fluency. 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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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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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 a sound are printed in dark red, and patterns with the long e 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.
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 smoothly, without a break between the sounds. |
Level 5 - 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 more consonant 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. Trade books must be purchased separately or checked out of the library.
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Handwriting Instruction
Easy Handwriting |
Manuscript Handwriting |
Cursive Handwriting |
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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 Students Trace And Copy Large Letters
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Cursive Handwriting
On Ledger Paper Students Trace And Copy Large Letters
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