So, I've been using Explode the Code with my DS in K. The early books are too easy, but we've used them to get printing practice. Rather than buy more books, I moved on to the online version, but it was a huge jump in skill level. They say it's rated for K use, but to me it seems like they have to be reading already. So we're frustrated that we spent the money on that. Any suggestions on a new curriculum for an almost reading kid? He's starting to sound out words, and starting to recognize some site words, but not ready to read sentances.
I love the phonics program in the back of 'why Johnny Can't Read'. Even if you don't agree with the book itself (which is about why sight words don't work), the phonics program is very step-by-step. It isn't a frills program- just gives you the skill to teach, and then provides words for the child to practice with. One of the things I love about it are the word lists for each skill. My dd is very reading phobic because of ps (she can't do sight words), and won't sit and read a book with me without getting pretty upset. However, she loves to read words from the lists! I've even pulled words out and written them on flashcards, and she loves those as well. I love the fact that I don't have to try to think up short 'i' words, or short 'e' words for her to practice I haven't used Explode the Code at all, so I can't compare the two. I can only compare it to how she was learning with sight words- which was awful, with so much guessing and confusion that she felt lost and stupid. With this method, she has lots of time to really practice each phonics skill to mastery before moving on, and she 'invents' her own sight words based on practicing the same word a few times. If she didn't need time to build up self-confidence, she'd be flying through. (one other thing is that the phonics program we are using is teaching ME phonics rules I wasn't even aware of. For instance, you teach 'ch' and 'tch' at the same time, since words usually begin with ch, but end with tch. Hadn't realized that!)
We're using Abeka and Clicknkids.com My son is first grade, but not not on a 1st grade level. he has phonics down but can't read well at all, though I think a lot of that is a tracking issue...but he's showing interest in reading now and these 2 things along with starfall.com are working great. I have a few more free phonics sites listed on my free website (link in my siggy-look under the language arts tab) maybe you could use the free online sites to bridge the gap until he reaches the level to do the online version you paid for???
Ultimate Phonics is having a free 10-day trial of their complete program. My computer is on the fritz so I'm going to have to use someone elses computer to do the trial but I'll grab it tomorrow.
Look at www.headsprout.com My middle child used this a few years ago and now my 6 year old is, too. We tried HOP, Starfall, and something else online I can't think of. She was either frustrated or it was too easy. With Headsprout she seems to be challenged enough, it keeps her interest and its affordable (with monthly payments).
www.progressivephonics.com is free also. I like it and starfall. I don't know how the online ETC differs from the book version, but we loved the books. I'll be using them again with my younger son.
You should check out Usborne's Very First Reading. It is an awesome phonics program that uses real books to take your child from basic alphabet sounds to a second grade reading level. The readers are full page picture spreads with fun story lines. My son loves it! And it is so much easier to get him interested in reading now that we have started using this box set.
Another fan of click-n-kids here. My dd did not even recognize her letters at the beginning of the year and now can read very basic readers. The program lets you repeat lessons if needed which works so much better than me trying to repeat lessons and getting frustrated after telling her what a letter sounds like 15 times!
Alpha-Phonics and Victory Drill Book are very much like the program outlined by Flesch in "Why Johnny Can't Read". First teach the letter sounds. Then read lists of word families (like -an: ban, can, Dan, fan, man, pan, ran, tan, van) until you've internalized it. At first they'll sound out everything, but after that you go for speed. Then you start on the blends and digraphs (like in the -an family, bran and than).
I have heard from many people that the online ETC is horrible compared to the ETC books. So many people have really been disappointed with it. Now if you like ETC I would get the books and continue with it. They are fairly cheap at Rainbow resource.
We're all over the place when it comes to phonics, to be honest. With oldest ds, he learned to read in just a couple of months using the Leapfrog Phonics (now discontinued, used with the old LeapPad system) exclusively. But he's always been really advanced when it comes to reading. Middle ds (5yo, just working on learning to read now) isn't quite as enthusiastic, and/or it doesn't come as naturally to him. We're using a combination of Hooked on Phonics, Jolly Phonics, Leapfrog Phonics and Starfall. Mixing up the methods keeps it interesting for him.
We have been using the Explode the Code books and love them. They do seem very easy to start but I kept with it and my daughter is on book 2 and doing really well. We also use click n kids, she does that last because to her its her "reward". She is 5.6 yrs and can read simple sentences and easy reader books with help.
I love Horizons Phonics. It is a little advanced but very well done. We did not do the readers with it. I just had some readers I got at Ollie's and then we used Sonlight's readers.
You can also jump ahead to the next ETC book. My K'r is working on book two. I ditched the last half of book one becuase it got too easy and she had already started working on blends and silent e. Book two is a better fit.
We used Starfall and Click N Kids and they loved it. My 7yo reads at a 2/3rd grade level (he hates to read) and my 6yo reads at a 3/4th grade level (he loves reading).
So, I've looked at a dozen different things. Now I'm confused! My DS has spent many many hours on Starfall. I think he's covered most of what's in his skill level. we've completely given up on Explode the Code online. Thinking of buying the next book and hope it's better than the online version. (We liked the get set for the code series but they moved very slowly and he's beyond them now, and only half done the 2nd book of 3.) So right now I'm just doing phonics by the seat of my pants! We have been doing work with word families using flip books and slide cards. I added a list of sight words. He seems happy so I think we'll camp out here for now. I'm hoping to get a Saturday free to drive to a couple of Homeschool stores where I can look through some books for myself. That my help me get a better sense for where we need to go next. Thanks for your help!
Now I was hitting phonics really hard and stressing that it "had" to be done every day. I just had a fear my son would not read without it. Well I have started to figure out I was wrong. So, I have really backed off of the phonics for a while. I am letting him use the skills he has now and ask questions when he gets stuck. I feel as if he is making more progress now than he was before. I do throw in a few site word flash cards. My son loves flashcards! Not really a suggestion just something to think about. Sometimes we can stress to much on one thing and hinder the overall goal.
My dd hated ETC online, but doesn't mind the workbooks. She would get bored I think online and make silly mistakes, which would drop her back to the begining of the lesson and make her do everything all over again. I made her use online for a few months just because I paid so much for it. Then I came to the reality that the fighting wasn't worth it :roll: I think a good combo would be Hooked on Phonics and ETC workbooks. That is what I have been doing with my dd. You can get HOP really cheap used on ebay. It is nice because HOP takes care of the reading books and ETC takes care of the written practice. Both on their own I think lack in those areas.
You know what is really cool? We have just done the same 3 short sight word lists - just when DS wants to - and today he's started reading single words a little bit. Very cool! All on his own he's sounding out words from his work books, as he's doing math or something else. Maybe keeping it low key is what he needs right now!
