I'm overwhelmed - please give me some advice on Phonics/reading

[jens2sons]

My ds is 7 and in between 1st and 2nd grade.  We used the Pathway Reader "first steps" with it's correlating workbook last year and he did well.  Now that I'm getting curriculum ready for this year, I'm getting overwhelmed at where to start him.  I'm trying to take a small (let me emphasize small) step back to fill in any phonics gaps he may have.  The teacher guides in PR suggest that one workbook goes hand-in-hand with another workbook, etc.  We did not start with the beginning workbooks last year (Learning through sounds, Before we read, etc).  I have all the workbooks and have looked through them trying to figure out where I should start him but it seems as if I skip forward to the place in the workbooks where "Days Go By" begin, then he may be missing something in another workbook that goes with the Days Go By workbook.  I have Climbing to Good English as well but again, it's an issue of where to start and again missing things in other books.  

I've been considering The Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading and First Language Lessons due to reading somewhere that it's not grade specific and it's an easy book to jump in to no matter what reading level the child is.  I dont want to rush him through, but I also read that it's a great book to get your kids reading fluently quickly.  Would this be a bad idea to change books?  My other question is in regards to readers, what does OPGTR/FLL use for reading?  Just the script or does it suggest books or readers?  I looked on the Cathy Duffy review website and she didnt seem to care much for WWE.  I dont know if I completely agree with everything she reviews though.  

 

[ElizabethB]

This is free and perfect for what you want to do, read and spell just a few words for areas that he knows well, read all words and spell 3 to 5 words for things that need a bit more work. Since it is mastery based and by word type and nicely laid out, you can quickly skip mastered areas and move on.

 

http://www.thephonicspage.org/On%20Reading/WellTaughtPhonicsStudent.html

[Ellie]

My ds is 7 and in between 1st and 2nd grade.  We used the Pathway Reader "first steps" with it's correlating workbook last year and he did well.  Now that I'm getting curriculum ready for this year, I'm getting overwhelmed at where to start him.  I'm trying to take a small (let me emphasize small) step back to fill in any phonics gaps he may have.  The teacher guides in PR suggest that one workbook goes hand-in-hand with another workbook, etc.  We did not start with the beginning workbooks last year (Learning through sounds, Before we read, etc).  I have all the workbooks and have looked through them trying to figure out where I should start him but it seems as if I skip forward to the place in the workbooks where "Days Go By" begin, then he may be missing something in another workbook that goes with the Days Go By workbook.  I have Climbing to Good English as well but again, it's an issue of where to start and again missing things in other books.  

I've been considering The Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading and First Language Lessons due to reading somewhere that it's not grade specific and it's an easy book to jump in to no matter what reading level the child is.  I dont want to rush him through, but I also read that it's a great book to get your kids reading fluently quickly.  Would this be a bad idea to change books?  My other question is in regards to readers, what does OPGTR/FLL use for reading?  Just the script or does it suggest books or readers?  I looked on the Cathy Duffy review website and she didnt seem to care much for WWE.  I dont know if I completely agree with everything she reviews though.  

 

The Pathway readers have a very decided sight-reading method. Although the readers themselves are sweet, I would not use First Steps to teach a child to read, or depend on the readers and their workbooks to continue. I want *phonics.*

 

If you think OPGTR would be good for you, then do that, and drop Pathway altogether for now. If you decide to let him read the stories, don't have him do the workbooks.

 

IMHO, it shouldn't be necessary to use vocabulary-controlled basal readers (e.g., Pathway). You should be able to go to the library and find beginning-level books for your dc to read.

 

I don't always agree with Cathy's reviews, either, but she makes some good points about WWE. :-)

[ChrissySC]

Just begin.  It does not matter.  We are 2nd grade and most of the phonics is learned through repetition anyway.  Reading is what cements this as well as working with a concept in the workbook.  I am also not completely finished with More Days Go By.  And ... I use Treasures too for language arts along with Write Away.  Just start anywhere.  It doesn't matter.  It all comes back around again.  The idea is to just keep going forward.  There are quite a few site words to learn.  Keep making cards and quizzing.  Dd still gets where and were and there and their all misplaced.  Yet, she can figure out delighted!  Go figure.  If  you find something is not even clicking at all, then grab the books/workbooks from previous levels and focus a day or so on the content and move forward again.  Evaluate as you go.  At this moment, I am having to review silent e again, LOL.  It just disappeared in 2 weeks with working on triple-lettered blends.  Little brains.

[KathyBC]

You could use OPGTR for phonics, use the Pathways readers to build fluency, and skip the Pathways workbooks. FLL is grammar, so up to you whether you want to do that or not.

[FriedClams]

I'd skip any and all workbooks. Read. Read a lot. Have them read to you, you to them, all together. Ask them about what they read. Ask them what might happen next. Then read more.

[jens2sons]

You could use OPGTR for phonics, use the Pathways readers to build fluency, and skip the Pathways workbooks. FLL is grammar, so up to you whether you want to do that or not.

 

This is what I'm thinking about doing.  What books do you suggest to teach reading other than Pathway readers?

[jens2sons]

Just begin.  It does not matter.  We are 2nd grade and most of the phonics is learned through repetition anyway.  Reading is what cements this as well as working with a concept in the workbook.  I am also not completely finished with More Days Go By.  And ... I use Treasures too for language arts along with Write Away.  Just start anywhere.  It doesn't matter.  It all comes back around again.  The idea is to just keep going forward.  There are quite a few site words to learn.  Keep making cards and quizzing.  Dd still gets where and were and there and their all misplaced.  Yet, she can figure out delighted!  Go figure.  If  you find something is not even clicking at all, then grab the books/workbooks from previous levels and focus a day or so on the content and move forward again.  Evaluate as you go.  At this moment, I am having to review silent e again, LOL.  It just disappeared in 2 weeks with working on triple-lettered blends.  Little brains.

 

I can't not have a program.  I'm the kind of person that gets stressed out when I dont have a teachers guide.  

[jens2sons]

The Pathway readers have a very decided sight-reading method. Although the readers themselves are sweet, I would not use First Steps to teach a child to read, or depend on the readers and their workbooks to continue. I want *phonics.*

 

If you think OPGTR would be good for you, then do that, and drop Pathway altogether for now. If you decide to let him read the stories, don't have him do the workbooks.

 

IMHO, it shouldn't be necessary to use vocabulary-controlled basal readers (e.g., Pathway). You should be able to go to the library and find beginning-level books for your dc to read.

 

I don't always agree with Cathy's reviews, either, but she makes some good points about WWE. :-)

 

The Pathway Readers are not a sight-reading method IF you use the 'Learning Through Sounds' workbooks (which it suggests to do).  It is very much a phonics program.  So much so, that it's hard to move forward faster than the student needs because of all the phonics work.  Especially if you use 'Climbing to Good English'.

[KathyBC]

This is what I'm thinking about doing.  What books do you suggest to teach reading other than Pathway readers?

So you're thinking you need some books beyond OPGTR? I've seen mention of people happy with I See Sam readers.

Here's a thread: http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/447443-recommendations-for-phonics-based-readers-books-and-kindle/

[jens2sons]

So you're thinking you need some books beyond OPGTR? I've seen mention of people happy with I See Sam readers.

Here's a thread: http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/447443-recommendations-for-phonics-based-readers-books-and-kindle/

 

That's what I'm trying to figure out.  Does the OPGTR give book suggestions or something?  The sample online doesnt give any of that kind of information.

[theYoungerMrsWarde]

This is what I'm thinking about doing.  What books do you suggest to teach reading other than Pathway readers?

 

 

That's what I'm trying to figure out.  Does the OPGTR give book suggestions or something?  The sample online doesnt give any of that kind of information.

No, it does not. There are no recommendations for supplementary reading.

 

When I was first teaching my first son to read, I also had bought Hooked on Phonics Deluxe at a garage sale; all of it for $25, most of the readers still in their original packages. If you ONLY want him reading books that have sounds/words that have been covered by OPGTR, then I have the synchronized list of the begining lessons and books here. It also has the Bob Books listed.

 

Progressive Phonics also has strict phonics readers that you can print out and practice with.

 

I spent a lot of time looking at the "early readers" in thrift stores and chucking all of them that had any sight words or non-phonetic words that my son hadn't learned yet. That did not leave me with many options left.

[desertflower]

I don't know anything about Pathway readers, so I don't know where your child is at in regards to reading. 

 

As for readers, I started this thread: http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/528095-i-can-read-now/?p=5920431 

 

I really like "I Can Read Now!" by David Fernstedt.  We just started Progressive Phonics and my son likes that too.  I ordered Reading Pathways and Animals Antics, so the jury is still out on those. 

 

We just started reading "You Can Read to Me and I'll Read to You" books.  He's enjoying those as well. 

 

I imagine these can go along with OPGTR.  My friend used OPGTR.  Her daughter was reading at an early  age.  4 1/2?   

 

hth!

[Ellie]

This is what I'm thinking about doing.  What books do you suggest to teach reading other than Pathway readers?

 

Logic of English, Spell to Write and Reading, Spalding (my favorite); or Victory Drillbook, or Alpha Phonics, or Phonics Pathways. These methods teach the children to read, and then you give the children real books to read, which are much more interesting and have a much larger vocabulary than vocabulary-controlled basal readers.

[Hunter]

I wish I could help more. I have bits and pieces of the early Amish curricula, but mostly only have the upper level books. What I do have leaves me to believe there is NO need for supplements.

 

If you are willing to pay the higher prices of milestonebooks, they might be willing to advice you as to what you need.

https://www.milestonebooks.com

[jens2sons]

I wish I could help more. I have bits and pieces of the early Amish curricula, but mostly only have the upper level books. What I do have leaves me to believe there is NO need for supplements.

 

If you are willing to pay the higher prices of milestonebooks, they might be willing to advice you as to what you need.

https://www.milestonebooks.com

 

I have been ordering from milestonebooks!  I think their prices are very reasonable.  

I really like the Amish style books because of the values/morals they teach.  It's hard for me to just toss them aside for Dr. Seuss or any other kind of silly reader (which I personally cant stand).  

[TheAttachedMama]

This is what I'm thinking about doing.  What books do you suggest to teach reading other than Pathway readers?

 

I would suggest your work through the "I See Sam" readers:  https://www.iseesam.com/teachers

They are FANTASTIC.   They spoon-feed children the alphabetic code in a very gentle way and then build in a ton of review. I haven't found another product that compares to them when it comes to early readers.  The kids learn to read by reading...not by doing workbook pages.   (Comprehension questions are built into the text.)   And phonics concepts are taught in the context of reading REAL stories.    There are tons and tons of little stories built in the books, so the kids get to practice reading something new each day.   (This helps prevent memorization of the text, and gives you plenty of tools to practice with.) 

 

Set 4 (aka as ARI set 1 on this website:  http://www.3rsplus.com/) is about the start of a second grade level of reading.   BUT you want to use the performance indicator test to figure out what set to start in.  (See this page:  http://www.3rsplus.com/reading_free_resources.htm)

 

After you get through set 6 (aka as ARI 3)--I would then start reading some other books.    I personally would choose one of these options:

1)  The HOD Emergent Reader List:  http://www.heartofdakota.com/emerging-reader.php

2)  The Sonlight/BookShart Reader List for whatever grade you test into:  http://www.sonlight.com/readers-2.html (I recommend JUST their readers.  Not their whole language arts package.  You can get JUST a reader schedule here:  https://www.sonlight.com/2RG.html)

----------

BTW---We typically love all of the peace hilll press products.  But I DID not like OPGTR.   I found it very, very dry and hard to get through.  My children needed a lot more practice than this book gave as well.  The I See Sam books were a much more natural and effective method to teaching reading for my kids at least. 

[BusyMom5]

Do you have a good library?  My kids really prefer to read 'real' books, and our library has a great variety of leveled readers.  It takes some time to comb thru them, but we are always able to find good books for them to read.  If they can't read a word, I just sound it out and keep going.  I have OPGTR, but my kids have never liked reading out of the book.  I just do the lesson, then read regular books.  I am using LoE Foundations to work on spelling (and reading) for 1st grade Phonics.  I sometimes use OPG to give me more words for a specific phonogram ;) 

[Soror]

I'm using LoE Foundations with my 7yo (she's finished C and reviewing while waiting for D to release). For fluency practice she is reading some of the I See Sam Readers, I used them with ds so I happen to have the sets up through AR2. I started her at an easy level for her and we've been doing one every day, so it is just incrementally increasing as any type of challenge or change scares her. I've tried reading regular books with her, which should work in theory but she is a perfectionist that frustrates easily, so readers are better for her. The first 2 sets of the I See Sam Readers are online for free and as mentioned you can find the McGuffey readers in the public domain. I hadn't planned on pulling out the I See Sam but seeing she needed some easy practice to build her confidence and skills they have worked by well. I've read good things about Nora Gaydos (sp?) readers as well but I've not purchased them.

[Tanikit]

I used OPGTR with my children at a very young age and then also included early readers. I did not care whether the phonics had been covered or not - if my child got stuck on a word then I just taught the phonics involved or got them to sound out the parts of the word they could and told them what the other sounds said - or I sounded out the entire word for them showing them which letter/s made which sound but in a way that was not teaching, but just showing them what they would do once they knew the sound. My eldest learnt a lot just by hearing me do it for her and the youngest is also picking up phonics more rapidly than we are going through OPGTR because of this. 

 

So therefore although OPGTR does not tell you which readers to read when (or even mention readers) it works just fine to use whatever you have - it would help if you had read through the whole of OPGTR before giving your child these books if you find phonics difficult so that you will be sounding out correctly when you do so for your child.