Cart
Signs for Sounds How-To Information
Signs for Sounds is a research-based spelling program that provides systematic, explicit instruction in regular spelling patterns by teaching a fundamental principle of the English language—that letters are signs that stand for sounds.
There are several key tasks that teachers need to perform in order to ensure that the Signs for Sounds program is implemented successfully:
Planning and Setting Up
This task includes preparing a schedule, choosing a setting, and gathering and preparing materials.
Planning and Setting Up a Signs for Sounds Program
Assessing and Placing Students
The Signs for Sounds assessments evaluate a students' ability to spell words with regular spelling patterns. Use the assessments as pretests to determine if students can benefit from Signs for Sounds and to place students in the program. You can also use the assessments for progress monitoring and as posttests to document student growth.
Assessing and Placing Students in a Signs for Sounds Level
Implementing the Steps
The steps in the Signs for Sounds program are divided into a teaching phase (for teaching a phonics element or syllable pattern, sound-out words, and spell-out words), a testing phase (for testing sound-out and spell-out words), and a dictation phase (for dictating spell-out words and sentences).
Steps of the Signs for Sounds Program
Monitoring Student Progress
As students work through the program, monitor their progress on both sound-out words and spell-out words. If students are having difficulty moving through the program or are ready to move at a faster pace, you can adapt the instruction for sound-out words, spell-out words, or dictation sentences.
Monitoring Student Progress
Adapting the Program
If students are having difficulty moving successfully through the program or if they are ready to move at a faster pace, you can adapt the instruction for sound-out words, spell-out words, or dictation sentences.
Adapting the Signs for Sounds Program
Communicating With Students and Parents/Guardians
Communicating with students and parents/guardians is an important teacher responsibility. In addition to promoting parental support and addressing questions and concerns, communication fosters a sense of teamwork.
Communicating With Students and Parent/Guardians
Note: For complete how-to information for Signs for Sounds, see the Signs for Sounds Teacher's Manual.