Short Vowel Phonics

Kirkus Discoveries -- July 28,2008

" A sound tool for teaching phonetic reading to beginners.
Family-practice physician Norton carefully designed this phonics reader to avoid many of the pitfalls that she observed while her child was learning to read and in tutoring other beginning readers. Children like repetition, and new readers in particular may have a rewarding learning experience with the author's approach, which requires only letter-sound association and four sight words (a, is, the, has) to begin reading.
Each short vowel sound stars in two independent chapters, which, at an average of six sentences each, are approachable for the earliest readers in a single sitting. As may be expected, such short chapters do not allow for an extensive plot, and the chapters are self-contained and only interrelated for the same letter. The sans-serif font, with unambiguous letter representation in a Zaner-Bloser-like style, is large and easy to read; vowel sounds are consistent and no long vowels appear; and the simple sentences employ one-syllable words. Each consonant appears within the set of stories, allowing readers to practice all sounds, including one consonant blend. Using her tutoring background, Norton knows the information the instructor will need to present before the reading starts, and this is organized in the beginning of the book: a sight-word list and new vocabulary for each chapter, new sounds and recommended method for approaching the stories. While not all words and sentences mimic daily speech or written language, the unusual words (for example, "rig" for truck, "sib" for sibling) can easily be explained and allow for the diversity of sounds contained within the book. The organization and thorough, beginner-oriented approach set the book apart from many mass-market phonics readers. Each story is accompanied by simple black-and-white line drawings on large pages.
A well thought-out, noteworthy addition to early phonics instruction."

" By using these book series, we have encouraged students to love to read by helping them learn the basic phonetic patterns well, by allowing them to actually read books early in their introduction to phonics, and by having them interact with the books by answering the questions and coloring the pictures. We love how these books inspire the students to get excited about reading. "

Esther Vandiver
Grace Classical Academy
Springfield, Missouri

" I am so thankful to find these sets of short vowel phonics books! They not only tell interesting stories with engaging pencil drawings but are phonetically simple enough for my beginning reader. What a joy to finally have books that reinforce short vowel words with very few sight words to complicate them. Both Set 1 and Set 2 have strengthened my daughter's early reading skills. Over the summer they have provided the remediation necessary to ground her firmly in the basics. Now she can move on to long vowel words with more confidence when school starts. I will recommend them to both my Kindergarten and First Grade teachers for use in the classroom. "

Cynthia B.
Parent
Oklahoma