Sounds Great: A Resource Book for Word Watchers

David Hornsby

Sydney: Martin Educational 1989
Revised 1995

This resource book was developed to help children become 'Word Watchers' and to help them make discoveries about letter-sound relationships. It fosters exploration of the print environment and a desire to identify sounds within words and to classify words according to their sounds. Then the words can be recorded in a systematic way so that it becomes a valuable reference book.

The teachers' notes include advice about:

• when the book should be introduced to children
• importance of literature and other authentic texts as sources of words
• how to 'watch words' in other curriculum areas
• using the book as a resource during writing sessions
• organization.

Sounds Great covers the major spelling patterns for the vowel sounds (including vowel blends or diphthongs) and for some consonant sounds which have several different spelling patterns. It follows on very well from a 'First Letter Dictionary'. A 'must' for teachers trying to develop independent learning strategies in children.