SIGNS FOR SOUNDS is a word-building apprenticeship for primary students. Sound-symbol relationships are their power tools.
They learn to master these tools a few at a time to build words which are increasingly complex.

By Lesson 24 (Level 1), they can use five different short vowels with ease and confidence. Also, they have control of 16 blends and can tell where to place them from the order of sounds in the dictated word. By Lesson 31, they have command of "silent e". They can tell when "silent e" must be added to indicate long vowel sounds and they know when to leave it out in spelling short vowel words. By Lesson 24 (Level 2+) they are versatile craftspeople, selecting their elements carefully (blends, vowel teams, suffixes) and arranging them in order with remarkable skill.