I use the word lists at the end of "Why Johnny can't read". I also print the books from progressive phonics (free). We use flashcards, and lately we started on word families (free worksheets I print from online sites). My dd is terrified of 'real' books, though, so my program is completely tailored for reading opportunities that get her reading without triggering her fear.
Letter sounds were learned mostly through exposure to educational toys and online sites like Starfall. I did use ETC for both of my boys. I think the most effective method for them was practicing reading. We started off reading Sonlight's Kindergarten readers and then jumped into meaningful books like Dr. Seuss. I never did an actual reading program. I am still using phonics with my younger son even though he is reading well now. I am adapting Rod and Staff phonics slightly to fit him better. In short, I don't know if I would recommend ETC or Rod and Staff phonics. I never found anything I really liked. I tried Plaid Phonics too. It was okay. I used AAS as a way to approach phonics too. While the concept of the program was great it didn't fit us too well. I do like Rod and Staff's spelling which is phonics based. It really teaches kids to look for patterns and different ways sounds are spelled in words.
Embassy, I think that's my problem. I haven't found something that I love. We have used The ordinary parents guide (which we never finished) and MCP. And I do like MCP, But I'm starting to think that just sitting down with my ds6 and teaching him the phonics sounds and blends and having him read poems and early readers is working. But I just don't want to miss something. Also, my dd8 got through a little more than half of The ordinary parents guide, then moved to MCP, and I feel like she missed some phonics along the way. When I listen to her sound out her words, it's clear to me, that she didn't pick up on some of the phonics rules that she should have. So, I am halfway through Ordinary parents with my ds6, now over it (both of us). And now I don't know what to switch to. I just don't want there to be any gaps.
My ds learned with sight words in ps. I'm using Spelling Power for his spelling PRECISELY because the word lists are phonics-based. He certainly needs phonics help, so I'll even bring him in on dd's lessons if it's something I think he's missing.
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. We're about halfway through the book and he is reading the sentences well. So, hopefully it will be successful!
I have been looking at "all about spelling" for my DS who is just beginning to read. I'm hoping that understanding why things are spelled the way they are will help. He's a very logical thinker/learner. Really though, I can't wait for the next homeschool curriculum fair! I need to flip through the books and find out what looks like it will work!
www.starfall.com - all three kids learned to read using this. All three kids read above grade level by at least 2 grades. I love, love, love Starfall. My youngest still likes to play on it. Free. Can't beat it!
I've no idea how I taught my kids to read, but I did. I didn't use any program, just did what seemed natural and it worked very well.
I use/used Headsprout for 2 of my kids and Sing, Spell, Read and Write for my oldest. www.headsprout.com
This area is my dilema for next year too! I seriously need to sit down with a bunch of books and look through them!
I used a $5 phonics workbook and just read to them like crazy. we also made up games using, say, a picture of a dog and 3 cards with the letters D, O, & G and let him put them together to match the picture. Ds is very hands-on, so the more he could physically participate, the better. DD is 4th grade and reads on about 5-6 th grade level, Ds is 3rd, reads on a 1-2 grade level. Obviously some gaps, but constant exposure and confidence-building are helping him.( If big sister would stop "helping" him, and make him do more stuff himself, he would improve tremendously.) sorry, little vent there!
I used "Teach your child to Read in 100 easy lessons." DS was always in the 90th percentile in reading/writing, so I suppose it worked well enough. When my kids were really young they enjoyed reading the Bob books, and they loved spending hours reading Dr. Seuss.
I use Explode the Code books, ClickNKids and CLE Reading. ClickNKids is something my daughter uses maybe twice a week, the other two we use daily. I bought All About Spelling, but she wasn't ready for it this year. I plan on using it for next year along with the Explode the Code books and CLE Reading. I am very happy with her reading progress and her ability to decode words.
We're making it up as we go along. I'm teaching her the 100 commonest words (in the written english langage) as sight words. She picks a book to read together and reads the words she knows and I read the rest. Later I'll teach her phonics as well. GTG
We just went to the library and got lots of books to read together and eventually they just took off on their own. I didn't have a set program but they seem to have picked it up anyway. But we are pretty relaxed homeschoolers.
I prefer the whole language approach although my 3 oldest were taught Abeka Phonics in a class before we started homeschooling.... LLATL Blue worked great for our later reader and she loved the literature and enrichment that is part of the program. Scaredy Cat Reading Systems has been the best because it has games to support the video and worksheets. ETC is a great follow up for phonics/spelling, critical thinking and vocabulary.
With my two older children we just read a lot of great literature when they were younger. I never had to teach them to read, they picked up on it very early. My youngest is a different kid! After trying almost everything out there--ETC, Hooked on Phonics, Starfall, flashcards, The Writing Road to Reading, the Phonics Game, etc. . .--we got our hands on Rocket Phonics. We're finally having some success with this program, although he still tends to want to guess at a word instead of reading it. He's 8 and reading at about a first-grade level. I am hoping that by the end of this summer he'll be at least at a beginning second-grade level.
