Signs for Sounds
A Systematic Spelling Program
Read Naturally is pleased to announce that it has acquired the Signs for Sounds™ program from Bechthold Publications. This research-based spelling program provides systematic, explicit instruction in regular spelling patterns by teaching a fundamental principle of our language — that letters are signs that stand for sounds.
Read Naturally has updated and expanded the content of each Signs for Sounds lesson. Both regular and irregular high-frequency words are systematically included in the lessons, and dictation sentences provide further practice.
Signs for Sounds can be implemented as a beginning spelling program in primary grades. It is also an excellent intervention for older students who need to master phonics elements and syllable patterns for reading and spelling.
How It Works
Teachers can present instruction to a whole class, small groups of students with similar needs, or an individual student. Signs for Sounds teaches students how to take words with regular spelling patterns apart, sound by sound, and how to write them down on paper, letter by letter. High-frequency words with regular spelling patterns are emphasized within the lessons, and high-frequency words with irregular spellings are taught using a different strategy.
Signs for Sounds Lesson Steps
- Teach the Element
- Teach Sound-Out Words
- Teach Spell-Out Word(s)
- Practice Spell-Out Word(s)
- Test Sound-Out Words
- Test Spell-Out Word(s)
- Correct the Words
- Review/Test Spell-Out Words
- Dictate Sentences
- Correct the Sentences
Features and Benefits
Assessment: The assessment for each level can be used to diagnose students' weaknesses, to identify a level and a starting point, or to prescribe selected lessons within a level. When administered again, the assessment confirms growth or identifies skills that need more review.
Defined Letter Choices: During spelling dictation, students use printed lesson forms on which they circle the correct letters for the sounds they hear. This increases the probability of success, compared to "pulling letters out of the air."
Progressive Phonetic Sequence: Each lesson reviews or builds on skills taught in previous lessons, adding just a few elements at a time. Before continuing with the next step, students are tested to make sure they have learned the new skills.
Success-Controlled Pacing: Using alternate dictation lists, lessons are repeated as often as needed to ensure mastery of target skills.
Read Naturally has expanded the original program with these added features:
High-Frequency Words: High-frequency words with regular spelling patterns are included in the lessons that correspond to their phonetic elements. Level 1 includes the first 50 high-frequency words. Level 2 includes the first 100 high-frequency words. High-frequency words with irregular spelling patterns are introduced systematically throughout the program.
Dictation Sentences: Each lesson has dictation sentences that include regular and irregular high-frequency words and words with the phonetic element or syllable pattern featured in the lesson. Teachers can choose sets of shorter or longer sentences.
Teacher Management Tools: Teacher management tools are provided for teachers to record assessment results and plan for instruction, record lesson scores, and monitor student progress.
Levels Available
Each level includes a teacher's manual, lesson guide, and blackline masters.
- Level 1 teaches phonics elements typically taught to students working at first-grade level. Content includes consonant review, short vowels, long vowel/silent e pattern, consonant blends and digraphs (sh, th), vowel sounds ay, oy, e (me), o (so), and y (my). Level 1 includes the first 50 high-frequency words.
- Level 2 reviews first-grade phonics elements taught in Level 1 and then moves on to teach phonics elements and syllable patterns typically taught to students working at second- or third-grade level. Content includes additional long-vowel digraphs (e.g., ea, ai, oa, etc.), qu, soft c and g, vowel diphthongs (e.g., oo, ow, ou, etc.), r-controlled vowels, silent consonants kn and wr, two-syllable word patterns, doubling the final consonant, dropping silent e, two-syllable words with open and closed syllables, changing y to i, prefix un-, and suffix -tion. Level 2 includes the first 100 high-frequency words.
Order Signs for Sounds — Now Available!
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- If you have questions, call Customer Service at 1.800.788.4085.
