I saw HOP at a book store today and I have heard good things about other programs. I would like to start something next school year with DS he will be 4. Basically just wanting to know what your favorite phonics program is and why? Thanks bunches!
Abeka, because it rocks! Seriously, I feel Abeka is well thought out and really builds a concrete foundation for reading in a very easy to teach/learn manner. TWO Thumbs up for Abeka!
I like Abeka too. I havent tried anything else though lol. I know when my oldest went to school they used zoo phonics and he did very well with it. He left Kindy reading at a 2nd grade level.
I have tried Teach your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, Scaredy Cat Reading and Alpha/Omega's... Also... www.starfall.com I LOVE starfall...both my kids learned to read and read well above level.
We're using HOP (1998 ed that I already owned but had never used because my girls ended up going to ps and DH was in Iraq). Anyway, we're now HSing and I thought I wanted to use something else for DS5 (Ordinary Parent's Teacher Guide) but I soon realized that this was NOT going to be the best approach for him AND he looked at the HOP I had pulled out and got very interested and excited. Let's just say that God knew what DS needed because HOP is perfect for him. He is NOT a sight words/whole language type guy. He needs phonics with minimal sight words intro'd slowly (although he is getting better with them). My edition doesn't have grades but levels. He's completed level 1 (which is the new K I think). He's currently using level 2 (old level 2 & 3 are the new 1st grade I think). We also did Explode the Code Book 1 with HOP 1. ETC 2 doesn't go quite as well with HOP 2 but it will be an awesome review once we get further. We also have the first 2 level of Bob Books but we don't have to have them....HOP has plenty for him. I know that HOP isn't for every child (my girls hated it when I would bring it out to see if they were ready before they went to school). I wish I had done more phonics with them because they were taught more with sight words and still don't sound out some words and butcher pronunciations (although they both read above grade level). If I would not have owned HOP, I would have probably gone with Abeka or Horizons so that writing would have been more implemented with the reading lessons....depends on the child. Now that I have a better feel for him....Horizons would have probably gone too fast for him. Rhonda C.
My girls loved Starfall.....my son HATES it! Hoping that changes as he becomes a better reader....I still can't figure out what about it he doesn't like :cry: Rhonda C.
Thanks everyone. I did buy the 100 lessons book, I have not tried it with him. He seems to be a very visual/auditory learner and I think he would be bored with it. We are already doing Starfall and he loves it. He actually already knows all the capital letters and most of the lower case and all the sounds they make. I am just looking for something we can actually sit down and do together and would give me a better idea of exactly where he is. Abeka is the only one that comes around here and shows the curriculum. I am going to go to one and look at their stuff. Thanks again.
Dani - When I used Starfall with my oldest, I downloaded the worksheets that went with each level book of the Learning to Read section. On Monday, I would sit with her and we'd go over the book and the activites that went with that level (the games) and I'd print the sheets that they offer after the activites are done AND the sheets that were that section of the level one workbook. I would download the book in black and white too - and she would color the pages and glue them on construction paper and make her own "book". On Tuesday we'd review the word families (hat, pat, cat, pan, fan, etc). And do one or two of the worksheets. On Weds she'd play online with the books and stuff and do a worksheet or two (usually I was with her when she did). On Thursday, 2 or so worksheets. On Friday, she'd read the book to me. If she was doing well by Friday, I'd plan to move on the next week. If she was struggling, we'd go over it again. After we did the 15 leveled readers...I let her play and I downloaded the 2nd workbook and we did a page or two a day 2 or 3 times a week. She was reading by 5 1/2 (not bragging....just letting you know). She's now 8 1/2 and reads on a 6th or 7th grade level. She really does well sounding out words, but I'm also pleased with how well she spells, too. The other thing I loved about Starfall is that it was free, you didn't have to buy anything at all (you CAN if you want to...but you don't have to). My middle played on Starfall on his own...I was all set to officially start working with him when he came to me reading. Reading. He's 6 1/2 now. He's been reading about a year. Yesterday he picked up the Children's Classic version of Swiss Family Robinson and started reading it! LOL Silly boy! He's enjoying it a lot. And really understanding. Hoping you find what works for your son. It such a neat time when they learn to read and it clicks. You'll see that...the moment...the lightbulb...the "I get it" and then nothing will be impossible for them!
Wow Krista, I cant believe your ds basically taught himself to read by playing Starfall! Your one lucky momma. I need to get Caiden on there more, he's not interested in it right now. He did use Starfall for learning the abc's. I think he just got himself burnt out on it lol.
Yes...I would sure like to say I had ANYTHING to do with it, but I didn't! Okay, I said "yes" when he said he wanted to play on the computer. I have to get out of his way when it comes to learning. I guide him...there is no way to "teach" him. He retains so much more when I let him learn on his own...it's so odd! I just buy books, try to guide, do a project here and there, and he seems to just soak it all in. He's not fond of worksheets, but in the last month or so has really just seen them as something he has to do, so as long as the rest of the stuff is engaging...he'll do a few worksheets too (handwriting and math mostly). I'm scared for next year! I'm not sure where/what to do with him!
We first started with Wal-mart workbooks and reading books with ABC's like Chicka Chicka, etc. I also purchased HOP (preschool and kindergarten level) after seeing all the commercials and hearing how great it was. My DD was interested in it, at first, but then got really bored with it soon after she learned all her letters. Then when I started DS on it a year later, he was equally as bored even sooner than she was. It is definitely not for every child and wish that I had had a chance to try it out before buying. Both my DC have played on various websites, especially Starfall and I highly recommend that, if it works - as it is FREE. We also got some Reader Rabbit and other CD-ROM phonics programs and they really took to them as well. And some of the programs teach more than just phonics so they are getting even more out of them, and the kiddos are "entertained," at least in their minds, unlike the HOP did. We recently started ETC and everyone is loving it. Two thumbs up from me. I would recommend just using STARFALL at least at first, unless your little one really likes REPETITION and needs to hear things OVER and OVER to get it to sink in. My kids are NOT big fans of REPETITION, unless it is their favorites books. The computer is much more HANDS ON (and feels like being a big kid). I would first figure out how your cutie pie works and what keeps the attention going?
Yep, my girls disliked HOP....my son loves it!! Now, some days he's not in the mood for any "reading" activities but when he's having a really good day....HOP is it! I'm SO GLAD there are so many things to chose from....sometimes its frustrating with some many choices but so helpful at other times. Rhonda C.
We're using Horizons and love it- I like the way it's layed out, how the reader goes with each lesson and the stories in the reader aren't too long. But at that age, never would have bought a program. Loved www.letteroftheweek.com Used a lot from there and it was all free.
Vertas's Phonics Museum is my favorite. It is simple to follow, has everything in one box (workbook, teachers guide, games, pictures cards, CD with phonic songs) and uses readers that tell real stories. My daugther loved it, because it incorporated a lot of art -- coloring pages and tib-bits about famous artists and their works. It is challenging, so it is not for the struggling reader. My son did not do well on it, so I switched him to Explode the Code. It is easy to use, but not as exciting as Veritas, and I have to find my own readers.
Well. Um. We have tried ETC (he hated it). We have tried HOP (he hated it). We have tried 100 Easy Lessons (he hated it). We have tried Starfall (likes it... but it doesn't seem to actually do much for him). We are not reading. We have given up Phonics for a while... we are taking a good long break. Fresh air and fresh time can do wonders for bogged down schooling.
I think starfall is just great - my son absolutely loves that site. He'll be 4 in April. I got him Primary Phonics from EPS Books (same company who puts out ETC). I went with Primary Phonics because it said it was geared towards pre-k and ETC looked too challenging for him right now. He begs me to do worksheets so I have to keep on top of the game and make sure I always have something printed out for him lol So far he can recognize/sound out most of his color words (red, blue, yellow, green, purple, orange, brown & black) as well as a few other simple words like cat/sat/hat/etc. I honestly don't think the workbooks I got him would have done much though, without him playing on Starfall the past 6 months or so Soon I'm going to get started on Progressive Phonics - I really think he'll love this too.
