Letter Tiles: 176-Piece Learning Set

Sound Bytes Reading is a solid, phonetically compre­hensive program with reinforcing reading text incorporated directly in the book. It has some similarities to Alpha-Phonics and Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, but with improved teacher instruction, lesson imple­mentation, and textual presentation. As in those popular programs, your child will begin reading as soon as the first letter sounds are taught. And, in 90 lessons, your child will be reading at a beginning 3rd grade reading level. This program is also recommended for both remedial and ELL students.

Prior to beginning the lessons, your child should have letter name and recognition skills and some phonemic awareness (the author provides background and methods for teaching these). The author also pres­ents a great spelling methodology, complete with word lists, to integrate with lessons. The program teaches roughly 80 common sound/spelling patterns, based on the Orton- Gillingham phonograms as well as nearly all of the 100 most common sight words. Most lessons follow a similar format. Previously introduced sounds are reviewed, 1-2 new sounds are introduced, sight words (if any) are presented, new sounds are practiced in words, then sentences, and a story using only old and newly learned sounds and sight words is read. Lessons should take from 15-30 minutes per day. The author suggests follow­ing up her program by having your child read books from a carefully sequenced list included at the end of the book.