As students master short vowel words, they must also begin to learn the "beyond the alphabet" sounds. This includes sounds such as sh/ship and th/this. It also includes the various long vowel patterns (ee/feet and ai/rain) and special vowel patterns (oo/moon and aw/saw). Part 2 of the Sound Story is used to teach the phonogram patterns. It introduces sound pictures for the long vowel, special vowel, and consonant digraph sounds.
I've created a series of phonogram booklets to teach these patterns. Arrows separate the phonetic elements in the word lists, to help students track the words from left to right. New patterns are taught in a logical sequence. The sentences and stories that students read contain only words that have already been taught. This reduces the temptation to guess at words. Sight words are taught as exceptions to rules that are being taught. This makes more sense for the student and avoids confusion.
Many of the same strategies for teaching short vowel words can be used when teaching the phonogram patterns, including decoding and spelling words from the chalkboard and the robot game using picture/word cards.
Some students struggle to remember sight words. These booklets provide a structured phonetic approach to help students learn basic sight words.
You can use the picture/word cards from the Reading Street section with the phonogram booklets. Select the set of cards that matches the phonogram pattern you are ready to teach.
Use the flashcards to review the phonogram sounds as you work through the booklets. Print on cardstock and cut. Have students say the sound or sounds for each pattern.
The Vowel Patterns Big Book and Consonant Patterns Big Book contain word lists and sentences to practice all of the common phonics patterns and ending syllables. These books have smaller print and no arrows.
Level 4 - Phonogram Patterns
Sound City Reading
