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time4tea
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We are using Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons and my K-age dd is hating it. We are also doing a few pages each day in Explode the Code, which she really likes. I am using Teach Your Child.... because I am using the MODG K Syllabus and it is one of the books used in the syllabus, but do I really need to use it if we are using Explode the Code, too? Has anyone had this situation with Teach Your Child to Read? What did you end up doing?
Thanks in advance and God bless!
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Kristie 4
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I have used Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons with 3 children so far. The first one got it and didn't need the whole book. Second one blew through it but then we needed Alphaphonics for more blending and fluency and phonics. Next one used it a little. That said, with the first I sort of followed it to the letter. With the next we did just parts of each lesson, and the last only looked at the phonograms and stories.
I personally found it OK but it can be confusing for some kids, some of mine included, to go from there to regular books. Some need more phonics etc.
I have used ETC and found it very thourough (though I only used the first few with my third child who was into a workbook thing!!). If you pair them with some BOB books and some beginning reading types I think you would have a great program
100 Easy Lessons is a bit of a dull format too...
Don Potter
The above links have a bunch of great OLD free phonics programs- we have really enjoyed Word Mastery (great for older kids who need a phonics boost as it is not a dumbed down text (and has quite challenging words).
Sort of a round about answer.....
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time4tea
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Kristie,
Thanks so much for responding! My dd just finds the book boring and tedious, and it's like pulling teeth to get through each lesson. I do have some of the BOB books, though, so maybe that will be worth a try with her.
Thanks again!
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missionfamily
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I just started Let's Write Right from the AVKO company with my 6yo who was not liking Easy LEssons. It is better, but I am gonig very slow and not rushing him at all. It introduces letters and how it write them, then immediately puts the child to reading and writing words he can make with those letters. I like that sense for the child that he has learned something immediately useful. But like I said, we are taking it slow. The first lesson covers ABCD. We did it nearly two weeks ago. I have not moved on but continued to allow him to practice those letters in new ways every day, finger painting them, cutting them out of magazines, writing them in rice, etc....When I feel like he is really comfortable with that lesson, I'll move on to the next which adds is r,s, and t and really gets them reading quite a lot of words. I am too tired to look up the link, but just google AVKO.
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momwise
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We'll be using Reading Reflex this year. There is a hefty review here at the Well-Trained Mind along with some parent testimonials. I'm finding the chapters on reading theory helpful so far. This appears to be the official website.
I can't give any more info since I just started into the book a couple of days ago. It looks promising though. It's for a 7yo ds who doesn't want to spend time learning how to read, so it better be good 
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Margaret
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I blogged about what worked for us here.
Love,
Margaret
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cfa83
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I used 100 Easy Lessons with two sons. The first one had no problem reading. When we finished with the second one, he could not transfer to real books. I did the program again  What a mistake! I should have taken my marbles and played somewhere else. After completing it a second time I finally figured out he was memorizing the words! 
I am looking at Phonics Pathways and Ordinary People (WTM) to teach him yet again.
Don't apologize for jumping ship. That is what homeschooling is about, fitting the child not the child fitting in a box.
Susan W. Baur (sp?) reminded us, "Be prepared to change. If it doesn't work, use something else."
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JennGM
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I'm looking for a good phonics course that isn't 100 Easy Lessons. That's too much. Ds catches on quickly and is impatient to move on.
I heard recommendations for Phonics Pathways and I was also looking at Our Father's House Sound Beginnings.
But I didn't know if either would be appropriate to begin at age 4 level.
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amyable
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I used 100 EZ lessons for one child, who was quick to catch on and one for whom it didn't really work. BUT we never used it as scripted. We never did the writing, and basically if the child remembered the sound of the letters we just moved on reading each bold word in the book, nothing else. My dd was reading by 4 this way (her choice, she wanted to learn like her sister - who didn't really learn how to read well until last year at 8yo!  )
We also used Get Ready for the Code and Explode the Code with my oldest (we tried ev-er-y-thing ). I think they are fine stand alone program, but there is soon a lot of writing involved for a child on the young side or one who has poor fine motor skills. It also doesn't "zip along" for those that need that, it goes on and on reinforcing the same skills.
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Kristie 4
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Jenn, look at the Don Potter link. It has some great phonics programs, and hey they are free. Alot loss busyness than the Phonics Pathway one too.
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Kristie in Canada
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JennGM
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Kristie 4 wrote:
| Jenn, look at the Don Potter link. It has some great phonics programs, and hey they are free. Alot loss busyness than the Phonics Pathway one too. |
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Thanks, Kristie. Reposting the link Don Potter Education because the one above had an error. This site is full of goodies. I need a new printer, so I can't print everything out, but great goldmine.
Your post is on cue what I want. My son is figuring out so much for himself. I want a base in phonics, but not overkill or busywork.
I also had fun taking the practice test in phonics, link to the bottom of the page.
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teachingmyown
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I love Alpha-Phonics! We all hated 100 Easy Lessons. Alpha-phonics is a cuddle on the couch for 15 minutes or so a day type of program. It flows very logically and they catch on quickly.
That said, my last three readers have also loved Explode the Code.
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Barbara R.
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I've also used Alpha-Phonics, so far with five children. It's simple and logical, but also no frills. Some long pages we spent two or three sessions on, and eventually we supplemented with easy readers from the library. Most of the children grew resistant at one time or another, so that's when I would slow down. It was handy to sit together anywhere and feel our progress.
I think many children (and adults!) will resist some learning eventually, whether it is reading, music, tae kwon do, or whatever. We get to a point where the work is routine or our progress is slowing or the novelty has worn off, etc. As parents we're in the tricky spot of deciding whether the child needs to persevere (a good habit) or needs to be allowed to leave an activity/book/etc. that is not really suitable. Best wishes in your discernment process!
One more Alpha-Phonics tip: I had an old book (not spiral bound), so I three hole punched it and put it in a binder. When the pages with sentences came along, I started using two standard white envelopes to block the sentences above and below the one we were reading. This really helped with tracking. Eventually I got smart enough to make a pocket for the envelopes. I duct-taped a 5" x 8" index card on three sides along the inside cover of the binder, and used it to hold the envelopes. No more searching!
Barbara
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Erin
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Wow!! The Don Potter site is amazing. Just what I need to shore up my ds 8 who is still not reading independently. Thanks for fixing the link Jenn, I couldn't get the previous one to work and would have missed this treasure. Thanks for the heads up Kristie 
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Kristie 4
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I am happy to be of some help (I learn so much here!!)
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Kristie in Canada
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Erin
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Kristie
I can't decide what to use with my ds8 and dd5, there are too many choices The Word Mastery seems very thorough, both dc have been just sitting on my lap reading the words. It explains much, ds is guessing alot. I'm afraid his sister has mastered reading far easier.
The other programs look good too, maybe they will be good to teach spelling, but I think it is the layout of the Word Mastery that appeals. And it is very easy to progress. I like how once the child has mastered three letters they begin to read. Immediately giving them a feeling of success.
I've passed the link on to my hs group here and I'm already getting enthusiastic responses. 
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Lara Sauer
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I really like the program that I use. It is a secular program called "Teach Your Children to Read Well." They have a web page. (This will be my first attempt at entering a link, so bear with me if it didn't turn out. The email address to cut and paste is www.teachyourchildrenwell.com.)
http://www.teachyourchildrenwell.com
I love this program because I basically use it for my whole language arts curriculum. It has the same teaching style as 100 Easy Lessons, but it also has a reader that accompanies it so the kids get immediate practice in using their new words in a story format. They also have drills written into the book to practice sounds that initially the kids detest, but come to love as a challenge to beat the clock. The program also comes with a workbook component that allows the kids to practice writing their new words and their reading comprehension. The only thing that the program lacks is a grammar angle. I use the word lists as their spelling words as well. Some of them are quite challenging.
The best thing about this program is that the program goes all the way to an 8th grade level reading program, so you don't have to reinvent the wheel each year. It is initially very parent/child intensive, but once they learn to "read well" they can use the parent manual for independent work, since all the instructions are laid out in an easy to follow manner. Please contact me if you would like more information.
As an aside, they also have a math cd that helps the kids to learn the basics that I have used successfully! Good luck!
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Kristie 4
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Yes, I liked the Word Mastery too! I printed it out and put it in a binder (the thought of one more child through the same program was not my cup of tea!!)
I haven't looked through alot of the other programs, but have used the old Blue Backed Speller here and there in the past couple years!!
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Kristie in Canada
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cfa83
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Kristie,
How do you use the Blue Backed Speller?? Do you feel your kids spell better otherwise because of the syllabication?
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Erin
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Kristie
Could you use the word mastery for spelling instead of the blue backed speller? I'm looking for an online (read free ) speller that teaches the rules, ie when you have a short vowel followed by a single consonant you double the consonant when adding an ending beginning with a vowel. KWIM?
If there is something out there I'd love to know... 
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Erin
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4Real Forums : Language Arts Come Alive
Topic: Any other phonics programs out there?
