My dd is in 1st but reading on a k5 level. She can read the little phonics books (bob like books) very good, and she is on level 1-9 on ETC online version. It is progress since she couldn't do them at the begining of the year. We started out the year with BJU K5 and I really didn't like it for her. We tried up until about Nov. to make it work, then I gave up and made up my own stuff. Right now she is doing alot of reading outloud to me. If she misses a word I write it on a word wall and we review them everyday. I know it is not alot, but her attention span is very short. That was alot of our problem with BJU, it was just too long. Especially when I have other subjects to get to that day. My question is do any of you have any suggestions on a reading program for her for next year. I am assuming I should go with a 1st grade level rather than 2nd. There are so many to chose from and I am overwhelmed. I didn't know if there are some that are better for struggling readers, and ones to stay away from. Thanks
We like 100 EZ lessons and use it along with explode the code. You could use some of it as review and then move on since she already knows her letter sounds. We did this with my 6 year old and she is doing well with her reading. Progressing quicker than I expected. At first we HATED it, but the more I used it with my daughter the more progress we both saw and we now look forward to using it everyday. She is almost half way through the book now. I can't believe how much she has learned this year. It's amazing to watch her read things that only a few months ago she couldn't. We LOVE it.. You can probably check it out at your library or through interlibrary loan like we did to see if you like it before purchasing it.
Hang in there! You could've described my daughter at the beginning of this year. All of a sudden the light bulb came on a couple months ago and she is reading like crazy now. She started out the year reading at a maybe a mid K level and now she's at grade level, grade 2. We did a phonics program that is short sweet and simple--Steck Vaughn Phonics, available at Rainbow Resources. I think really most of what she needed was maturity. She just wasn't ready to read as early as my other daughter. We also did the spectrum reading program. She read a page a day and answered ?'s about the story. I don't like BJU K or 1st language arts, but starting in grade 2 their stuff gets better.
I tried 100 EZ Lessons and The Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading, but ultimately we found success using Phonics Pathways. That text along with ETC and BOB Books completes our reading/phonics curriculum.
