i am looking for a program to help teach my dd to read. i've heard of "100 easy lessons", but i haven't heard of anything else. i thought about just using a regular curriculum that incorporates it (sonlight, mfw or abeka), but i wasn't going to start kindergarten with her until the fall, but would like to go ahead and start teaching her to read. she knows all of her letters and how they sound, but does not know the blends like sh, ch, th, etc. does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? i thought about going ahead and starting sonlight or whatever right now, and just taking it slow, but we might be moving. i assume during a move is not a good time to begin homeschooling for the first time. LOL
We're using Hooked on Phonics because my dad purchased it years ago for my girls (but they didn't use it) and my son likes it. We add Explode the Code for the writing element. We're adding some Bob Books too. I also have the Ordinary Parents' Guide to Teaching Reading (from the author of the Well-trained mind). That was my original plan until my son wanted HOP and it was a better fit for him. OPGTR seems similar to 100 EZ Lessons. A friend is using Horizons Phonics and likes it alot. You might go to your local library. Many of them carry either 100 EZ Lessons or OPGTR or HOP so you see some of these in person. Bookstores carry them also. Ebay has a lot of them too. I got some replacement HOP things off ebay. You can HS during a move (done it twice recently...gotta love the Army) but if they are young, I'd just let them play and talk to them about their interests, etc. I wouldn't stress over schooling at the same time. Rhonda C.
I really liked A Beka. Ems was reading before this but once we started using it, she became proficient. I no longer use their readers becasue she is older. Patty
www.starfall.com They have a prereading - goes over letters, sounds, etc. Learning to Read and I'm REading sections The learning to read section is 15 leveled readers teaching short vowel, long vowel, silent E, Y as a vowel, etc. I used this with BOTH my kids and they both learned to read at age 5. computer based, printable worksheets, completely FREE.
Starfall.com they also have books you can print or buy for $1-$2 type thing. Ordinary Parents Guide to teaching reading is simple for little ones. Think rhyming type games, too. HTH
We are using Starfall primarily. We also use Ordinary Parent's Guide. I picked it up for next to nothing at a HS used curriculum sale.
I have only heard good things about starfall. I didn't know about it when my two older kids were learning how to read. I used A Beka. I think my dd would still be in picture books if not for A Beka! LOL.
Well here's what I did to teach dd to read. When she was 3 my best friend sent her the Leapfrog videos "Letter Factory" and "Word Factory". Before that I'd taught her the ABC's but she learned her letter sounds WELL from those videos. From there we played games with letter sounds and alphabet magnets. I found different things online, but workbooks for fun, ect. Didn't push it at all. By the time she was 4 she was sounding out short vowel words. When we pulled her from K last year I started using this and I wish I'd found it sooner because it was SO much fun and it's free! http://www.letteroftheweek.com/site_map.html I just went with what she was will to do and we read to her A LOT- from the time she was born. When I read to her I'd take her finger and have her follow along with me once she started sounding words out. I use Horizons Phonics right now- for 1st grade. She doesn't really need a phonics program, but I thought it was important for her to learn the rules, not just sounding words out and it has helped immensely. So that's what's worked for us. I'm gathering your dd is in K or close to it so the Bright Beaming website would be a lot of fun and you can even get the little ones involved if you have them.
I like www.literactive.com It is free too, my ds likes it much better than starfall. Starfall was ok. For an actual cirriculum we use Scaredy Cat reading system. I do like it, and my kids LOVE it, but I am a first time schooler and it took me a bit to figure out how to use it. Jill
I use Phonics Pathways with my dd. We were in the same situation, she's starting kindergarten next year (she's 4 now) and she knew her letters and their sounds. Phonics Pathways makes it so easy for them to pick up. We do 10 minutes a day or 1-2 pages. In three months she's reading completely on her own and we're only half-way through the book! I'd highly recommend it. Amy
