I must comment of 100 Easy Lessons. I had to ditch the writing because DD is not there yet and the writing was killing it for us. I definitely saw her making progress, but she HATED it. The first few lessons were fine and she has retained that information (sounds for s, a, t, m) but beyond that she was having no part of it. I have tried just using BOB books and wooden letters and she is not feeling that much either. I have recently order the A,B and C books of ETC and hoping a slower start will help. I was pregnant and sick for most of last year as was DD so we didn't accomplish much of anything in terms of reading readiness.
We also met with failure using 100EZ Lessons, but had GREAT success using Teach Your Child to Read in 10 Minutes a Day, which is basically the same process, just presented differently. Also, my boys' fine motor skills are not advanced, so I don't even try to combine writing with reading. To spell words, we use letter blocks, letter magnets, foam letter cut outs...much less stress and much more focus on spelling and phonics and NOT on makign thos blasted little fingers obey.
Thanks to everyone. I love all of the different responses and appreciate everyone sharing their different experiences. We tried the literactive.com yesterday and she LOVES it.
Don Potter has a lot of free phonics stuff. All of it from another century but..... http://donpotter.net/ed.htm Has anyone ever used phonics tutor? It's pricey but....:?: http://www.phonicstutor.com/
One suggestion......................... What ever you decide to use, be sure to use the entire program because learning to read and being a good reader is like building a foundation to a house, you want it to be a solid foundation. I knew someone who used the Abeka program, was too cheap to buy the teacher part of the curr and couldnt not understand why their child could not remember all of the phonic cards the first day. IF that had purchased the teacher part of the curr. they would have known they only introduce a FEW phonics cards per day. She made the learning experience with regard to reading so traumatic that to this day, her ds states he hates to read. The Abeka program is VERY EASY to teach!
I have not read all the other posts, so sorry if I repeat anything. I bought the 100 ez lessons, my son doesn't care much for it. Now I just recently bought the Leap frog DVD's, they came highly recommended by so many people. They are a great price! Also there is the Jump start software, my step mom buys these for the kids, they love them!
