phonices? are the programs really any differnt?

[Momma Aimee]

Ok i am just starting to look at a real phonics program (quote) for this fall for DS1 -- he'll be 5 in Nov.

there are so many.

but uhhh phonics is phonics ... right?

hooked on phonics, alaph-phonics, pathway phonics ....i am sure the list goes on ....

but the rules of phonce are the same -- so how differnt are the programs really?

[kittie313]

Yes, they really are different, even though phonics rules are all the same. The difference is in how the material is taught and the order. I've done Hooked On Phonics, Teach Your Child To Read In 100 Easy Lessons, Sonlight lang. arts, Explode The Code, and now do k12 PhonicsWorks. LOL I've done a variety of programs. Anyway, the thing I've learned about phonic and reading programs in general is that the child is what makes it work best. For my oldest dd, none of the above programs really worked except for the k12 one, which is what we do now. For my second dd, ETC wouldn't work because it has way too much written work. For dd1, it is a VERY complicated story on how we finally figured out what WORKS with her. Any of the programs that I mentioned above will do the job, and do it well, however my oldest would not learn with just one program by itself. She needs a multi-sensory approach to learn.

So its more about what kind of approach your child needs more than one being better than the other. All really are solid programs for teaching phonics and reading. You just have to wade through it all and find the one that best fits your child's learning style and your budget (like for us, a combination of k12 PhonicsWorks and Explode The Code works best for dd1 and the only way we can afford it is because we're in a k12 school that provides it)

[Momma Aimee]

thanks.

ANyone know of a good book -- for ME -- of just plain "phonic rules" the basics ??

now to just take a stab at what works for DS1 ..uhhhhhhhhhhhh

[dotnetdiva]

Some would strongly disagree that all phonics are the same. Some teach phonics, some rely heavily on sight words. The lady here is a huge advocate for phonics, she teaches remedial phonics to kids who failed to learn with other methods.
http://www.thephonicspage.org/On%20R...ightwords.html

I don't like her number one recommendation, but she also lists her top favorites. They are Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading (OPG) and Phonics Pathways (PP). We have both but ended up using OPG, although both are great. We just took off better with OPG and it teaches up to a 4th grade reading level.

[WednesdayO]

Well, I got a copy of Teaching Kids to Read for Dummies at the local library and so far it's got some really good info in it.

There's also a book called Let the Phonics Rules Speak. I know absolutely nothing about this book other than it has the rules in it.

Good luck!

[emilys_mom1]

This is the best program that I have found so far:
Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading (OPG)
Explode the Code

They are very simple and easy for the kids.

[kittie313]

Explode the Code is great if your child can handle the writing in it. I have one in 1st grade that can do ETC 3 but can't handle the writing (I use ETC with my oldest alongside k12 phonics) so it would be a really bad choice for her. For her, a program like Hooked on Phonics would be a good option.

[Rivka5]

I really like Progressive Phonics (www.progressivephonics.com), which is free and has all we've really needed.

[domesticidyll]

I liked ETC a lot, but we didn't do much of the writing. Well, DS went through a month or so where it lived on the kitchen counter and we would take turns writing while I made dinner, but mostly I used it for the order of introducing phonics, for the example words (which we would then use to make little word villages and books), and for a few of the exercises (pages where you draw an open mouth for an open vowel and a closed mouth for a closed vowel). It's pricy to be used that way, but I guess now most of the pages are still empty for DD

ETC does CVC words in a very systematic way, then initial blends, then final blends, then long vowels, etc.

For adults, I liked _Speech to Print_, by Louisa Moats, which a reading specialist friend recommended.

Heather

[dotnetdiva]

We're currently on an ETC kick. We just started 3.

In the past we've tried it, but maybe I thought the writing or reading was too excessive. Now, we love it once again. Great practice in so many things!

[christine0423]

RE: Explode the code

Have you tried Etc,(sorry, I'm too lazy to type in the full name), online. It was great with my kids. You can license it cheap. I forget exactly how much but very reasonable. The reason why I say this is we found it great for my youngest son when he couldn't write yet. It has kind of arcane graphics but I heard they are working on updating them. You can check it out and actually do a free visit or something to look at it. the website is curricula.com or curriculaworks.com. Sorry, but I'm not sure which one.

[Momma Aimee]

thanks everyone.

for people who used ETC -- did you start with the 3 books before it -- or just book 1

[kristin0713]

for people who used ETC -- did you start with the 3 books before it -- or just book 1

The Explode the Code Primer (Get Ready, Get Set, and Go for the Code) is initial consonant sounds. Book 1 is short vowels, book 2 begins blending consonants.

I love Explode the Code. I used it with students in the past. I was going to start my DD out with the primer this year but I don't think she needs that much repetition and drill right now at the level she is at. But if she gets stuck somewhere along the way (we have decided to go with A Beka) I will pull out an ETC book that matches with wherever she is at and do some of that. The drills are really, really good. I did recently hear about the online program and I think that would be great for kids who are more resistant to writing but would respond well to the computer.

[kittie313]

I tried to do the primers with my two oldest but we gave up each time before we got even halfway through the first of the three. Instead, I used the leap frog Letter Factory DVD to teach them letter sounds and names. The oldest two watched it so many times that I was hearing it in my dreams after a week.......... lol I need to buy a new one for dd3 and dd4 here this weekend I think, ours got broken by dd1's bff and her mom said she'd replace it but never did.

[meetoo]

We used the primers With my son, he already knew his letter/sounds but he still liked the first book. After that he started reading and lost interest. I'll save the other books for when my youngest wants "school". I think for the price you can't go wrong, just start with book A and see how it goes.

My oldest is using ETC for "summer school". It is simple to use, covers phonics/reading, some spelling, and some handwriting all in the same book. Can't really beat that.

[CherryBomb]

Originally Posted by dotnetdiva

Some would strongly disagree that all phonics are the same. Some teach phonics, some rely heavily on sight words. The lady here is a huge advocate for phonics, she teaches remedial phonics to kids who failed to learn with other methods.
http://www.thephonicspage.org/On%20R...ightwords.html

"Sight words" drive me crazy!

Memoria press has a new phonics program out, I think I'll be trying that for dd3 in a couple years.

[Momma Aimee]

Originally Posted by kittie313

I tried to do the primers with my two oldest but we gave up each time before we got even halfway through the first of the three. Instead, I used the leap frog Letter Factory DVD to teach them letter sounds and names. The oldest two watched it so many times that I was hearing it in my dreams after a week.......... lol I need to buy a new one for dd3 and dd4 here this weekend I think, ours got broken by dd1's bff and her mom said she'd replace it but never did.

we have like 3 leapfrog toys that do letters (the letter things, the fridge radio and the wordwacker) i do not hink DS1 "hears" them -- he show no sign that they are anything other than noise. oh make that 4 we have teh phonics radio too. he messes with them, but it is jsut song to him or noise, no recogination of the "meaning"

Memoria press has a new phonics program out

can you tell me more??

[cappuccinosmom]

We found phonics to be a really organic part of language learning. The kids saw bits and pieces from different "methods" and on TV. We had letter puzzles and always discussed letter sounds along with the letter "names". Played endless rounds of "What does 'A' say?". It was easy to shift from that into letter pairs and blends.

The kids have done several different programs, as well as just learning by chatting with me. It might just be their learning style but they've all been able to pull that information together and aced early phonics.

[seren]

Originally Posted by christine0423

Have you tried Etc,(sorry, I'm too lazy to type in the full name), online. It was great with my kids. You can license it cheap. I forget exactly how much but very reasonable. The reason why I say this is we found it great for my youngest son when he couldn't write yet. It has kind of arcane graphics but I heard they are working on updating them. You can check it out and actually do a free visit or something to look at it. the website is curricula.com or curriculaworks.com. Sorry, but I'm not sure which one.

We love it! I got a subscription for my son after he complained about the writing in the ETC books. He still didn't like ETC online. So we didn't use it for a few months. Then I found out I could mark him as an inactive user and use it for my daughter. She can't get enough. She would spend hours a day if I would let her.

[Momma Aimee]

ordering the Letter factory DVD today and hoping it "clicks" more than all the toys.

Going to look at ETC on-line. I am doubful. 1. DS1 is a SN boy and a bit behind in fine motor. 2. we allowe TV but no computer and no viedo games at this point adn 3. MOST IMPORTANT 2 yo little brother HAS to do what big brother does -- and i do not want fighting about the computer. ie DS1 trying to do his ETC time and little trying to get on the computer too, or the tears and wails when little doesn't get to do something. Big Bother is not big enough to do it alone (like in his room alone) and i would not trust him on the computer without direct supervision, .....so i am not sure how to make it work, but i will look at it.

I also have Phonics Pathways.