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1) Wonder Books Phonics Series

These great books are based on current research which supports the idea that our brains are pattern detectors rather than rules appliers.  This means children learn to read easier when they are taught the familiar spelling patterns found in English.  As children encounter more complex words, they have greater success in figuring out these words by using the spelling patterns.   Dr. Peg Ballard (Minnesota State University, Mankato)

Click on the book and you will find availability at the Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park libraries.  If the status is "check shelf" you can request a hold on the book and pick it up at the library for FREE.  Clicking on "Ventura County" will give you the availability at libraries in Simi Valley, Moorpark and Camarillo.  Colorful and up to date (copy write is usually 2000) these books are interesting to young readers.  Interest level: Preschool - Grade 2.

Consonants

I Like Bugs : the sound of "B"  by Alice K. Flanagan.     Ventura County
The Cabin : the sound of "C"  by Cynthia Klingel and Robert B. Noyed.   Ventura County
Dogs : the sound of "D"  by Alice K. Flanagan.     Ventura County
Four Fish : the sound of "F"  by Alice K. Flanagan.     Ventura County
Gifts for Gus : the sound of "G"  by Peg Ballard.     Ventura County
Hats Can Help : the sound of "H"  by Alice K. Flanagan.     Ventura County
Jump! : the sound of "J"  by Cynthia Klingel and Robert B. Noyed.     Ventura County
Kids : the sound of "K"  by Alice K. Flanagan.     Ventura County
Left : the sound of "L"  by Alice K. Flanagan.     Ventura County
Malls : the sound of "M"  by Cynthia Klingel and Peg Ballard.      Ventura County
Naps : the sound of "N"  by Cynthia Klingel and Robert B. Noyed.     Ventura County
A Pet : the sound of "P"  by Alice K. Flanagan.     Ventura County
Quack! : the sound of "Q"  by Cynthia Klingel and Robert B. Noyed.     Ventura County
Rusty Red : the sound of "R"  by Cynthia Klingel and Robert B. Noyed.     Ventura County
Sam : the sound of "S"  by Alice K. Flanagan.     Ventura County
Task Time : the sound of "T"  by Cynthie Klingel and Peg Ballard.     Ventura County
Vets : the sound of "V"  by Peg Ballard.     Ventura County
Wish and Win : the sound of "W"  by Alice K. Flanagan.     Ventura County
A Fox : the sound of "X"  by Alice K. Flanagan.     Ventura County
Yum! : the sound of "Y"  by Alice K. Flanagan.     Ventura County
Zigzag : the sound of "Z"  by Alice K. Flanagan.     Ventura County

Vowels

Cats : the sound of "short A"  by Alice K. Flanagan.     Ventura County
Play Day : the sound of "long A"  by Alice K. Flanagan     Ventura County
Ben's Pens : the sound of "short E"  by Alice K. Flanagan.     Ventura County
What a Week : the sound of "long E"  by Cynthia Klingel and Robert B. Noyed     Ventura County
Little Bit : the sound of "short I"  by Peg Ballard and Cynthia Klingel.     Ventura County
Smiles : the sound of "long I"  by Robert B. Noyed and Cynthia Klingel     Ventura County
Hot Pot : the sound of "short O"  by Alice K. Flanagan.     Ventura County
On my boat : the sound of "long O"  by Robert B. Noyed and Cynthia Klingel     Ventura County
Fun! : the sound of "short U"  by Peg Ballard and Cynthia Klingel.     Ventura County
Cute! : the sound of "long U"  by Robert B. Noyed and Cynthia Klingel     Ventura County

Consonant Digraphs

Chad Checks : the sound of "CH"  by Peg Ballard.     Ventura County
Shoes : the sound of "SH"  by Peg Ballard.     Ventura County
This and That : the sound of "TH"  by Peg Ballard.     Ventura County
What and Where : the sound of "WH"  by Robert B. Noyed and Cynthia Klingel     Ventura County

L Blends

Blast Off!: the sound of BL by Alice K. Flanagan
Class Clown: the sound of CL by Alice K. Flanagan
I Am Glad: the sound of GL by Alice K. Flanagan
My Flower Garden: the sound of FL by Alice K. Flanagan
Say Please!: the sound of PL by Alice K. Flanagan
Slip and Slide: the sound of SL by Alice K. Flanagan    Sample Book

R Blends

Dreams: the sound of "DR" by Cynthia Klingel     Ventura County
In the Crib: the sound of "CR" by Cynthia Klingel     Ventura County
It Is Friday: the sound of "FR" by Cynthia Klingel     Ventura County
Let's Pretend: the sound of "PR" by Cynthia Klingel     Ventura County
Make Me Grin: the sound of "GR" by Cynthia Klingel     Ventura County
On My Trip: the sound of TR by Cynthia Klingel     Ventura County
What Do I Bring?: the sound of BR by Cynthia Klingel     Ventura County

2) Dolch Sights Words

The Dolch words are the 220 most frequently found words.  Students who learn these words have a good base for beginning reading.  Many of these words cannot be sounded out because they do not follow decoding rules.  Many of them can't be represented by pictures, for example: if, do, am, for, as, so, be.  They are service words which give meaning and direction, e.g. here, there, now, then, on, at, in, over, today.  These words must be learned as sight words. 

The lists represent frequency of use in books on different grade levels.  For example, if is on the third grade list.  This only means that Edward W. Dolch found this word frequently in third grade books.  He put words on the third grade list which did not appear often in pre-primer through second grade books.  Before children finish first grade, they should be able to read all of the Dolch sight words and the commonly used nouns.

We will often use these resources with lenses and prisms in order to build visual efficiency and stamina.

Dolch words are categorized by Pre-Primer (Pre-K: 40 words), Primer (K: 52 words), 1st (41 words), 2nd (46 words) and 3rd (41 words) Grades.  This first first resource has the words in list format, flashcards and 4 second flash and stories - these are all to be read out loud.  The 4 second flash format is especially good to develop rapid naming speed when using the computer - a very important skill for reading.  The flash cards can be used in the same way without the computer.

This second second resource adds a game format along with a voice over when the computer mouse is used.  The Animal Eyes games adds moving reading tests that are also good for rapid naming.

Word search puzzles can be an excellent way to develop sight word abilities. 

Pre-Primer (Pre-k) word searches:  #1,   #2,   #3,   #4
Primer (K) word searches:   #1,   #2,   #3,   #4,   #5
First Grade word searches:  #1,   #2,   #3,   #4
Second Grade word searches:   #1,  #2,  #3,  #4
Third Grade word searches:  #1,  #2,  #3

Dolch words can be put together into phrases - it is best to read these aloud..  This third resource has 48 phrases.  Click outline to have the entire screen for the phrase.  Click "next slide" at the bottom of the screen every 3 to 4 seconds while the phrase is read out loud.  The fourth resource has another 51 phrases.  The fifth resource has another 46 phrases.

Dolch also identified 95 nouns that occurred regularly in children's stories.  These are listed, along with sentences and stories, in order to complete the Dolch story.

3) Libraries in Thousand Oaks/Newbury Park, Simi Valley/Moorpark/Camarillo, Agoura Hills, Westlake Village or Oxnard.
  Others include:  California Lutheran Univ., Moorpark College, Oxnard College, Pepperdine Univ., Ventura College

100 North Rancho Road, Suite #1
Thousand Oaks, CA   91362
Telephone (805)495-3937   Fax (805)373-9843
E-Mail

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