Thanks everyone for the ideas! Did I read somewhere that ETC was bad for kids with guessing tendencies? It's been forever since I researched it, I could be wrong. I'll have to take another look. :) Alison, My DS made it through the end of ARI set 1 in the I See Sam books. I suspected that he was guessing and memorizing words so I put ARI set 2 on hold and am working on Blend Phonics, word lists, and nonsense words with him. He will be done with Blend Phonics in a couple of weeks and I plan on starting him back in the Sam books when he is done because they work so well for fluency. However, I've learned my lesson and will have him continue phonics instruction/review while we work through the rest of the books. ;) After Blend Phonics, I might use Phonics Pathways (to get him reading on a 4th grade level) followed by either AAR or ElizabethB's lessons (to get him up to a 12th grade level). I'm hoping that increasing his writing will help to solidify his reading... Thus, my search for a workbook because I'm tired of pulling everything together myself. ;) I'm off to Google BJU, Plaid Phonics, EPS, School Phonics and CLP. :) Thank you all again for the suggestions!

My DS is probably what you would call a struggling reader, although he has made great strides this year. He was also struggling with number reversals so I bought an EASY math workbook with tons and tons of writing and repetition (Conventional Arithmetic with Spunky the Donkey). I bought the first grade book although he is currently in RS C. It was a struggle for him at first but now the worksheets are easy for him to fill out....which is just I wanted to happen. I think it's good for him to over-learn concepts and I think adding an easy and repetitive writing component to his phonics lessons would be helpful. Any ideas? Thanks!

The Core Knowledge books....promise :) Start with Kindergarten and read them in order.

http://www.hairyphonics.com/ :) I saw this the other day....I haven't used it but it looks super fun. It says that it is O-G based in the description.

Read through the music sections in the What Your --- Grader Needs to Know books. :)

This was the exact experience that we had with AAR. I woefully regret flashing the green word cards and trying to have them "mastered".

Conventional Arithmetic with Spunky the Donkey followed by Study Time Arithmetic.

:) There you go.

Thank you so much for your time and advice. This is so helpful. Can you tell me if the "Lessons for the Well Taught Phonics Student" line up with your Online Phonics Lessons? I was planning on having him go through the videos once he has completed Blend Phonics. I also wanted to let you know that I scoured you old posts and have gleaned so much information from them. My son is almost half way through Blend Phonics and is doing amazingly well. Pulling him off sentences and working with nonsense words have made a marked difference. Your advice on "over-learning" has really hit home with me as well. I can see such a difference in his reading since I have changed my approach to teaching. I am so thankful for the advice and wisdom that you have shared in your posts. Did I say "thank you"....because I *really* mean it, LOL.

I own all 8 sets (plus the boosters) and plan on having him read through all of them. He has finished through set 4. My DS has such a guessing and memorizing problem that even though he could read a set 4 story with near accuracy, it seemed like he could *only* read the I See Sam books. After we finished set 4, I suspected that he was memorizing and gave him a "test" of simple words that he should have been able to sound out easily and he did terribly. He asked me if the word "on" was "one" (among a bunch of other simple errors). I could tell that he was trying to read by sight. In hindsight, I wish I would have been more explicit with teaching the words and sounds as they were introduced in the I See Sam books. For example, a story had the words "girl, bird, and first" teaching the "ir" phonogram. Even though I showed him the "ir" sound in the words and helped him sound it out when they came up in the books, I don't think it sunk in. When reading through the books I suspect that he was just memorizing those words because he could not read other "ir" words, especially out of context. If I had made him keep up with word lists that introduce the sounds as well as that provided mixed word practice, I think he would be a lot farther along than he currently is in the reading process. He would have had some words to practice his phonics skills on rather then his guessing and memorizing skills, lol. After set 4, I put the I See Sam books on hold for a bit and I'm having him read through the Blend Phonics Reader (free) word lists for now. When he is done with Blend Phonics in a few weeks, I will have him resume Set 5 of the ISS books, in addition to some daily type of mixed word practice of some sort. He is doing really well With Blend Phonics and is re-learning in a sense to read through the words rather than just memorize and guess. I'm anxious to get him back into set 5. I'm tired of the word lists, lol.

sunlover.... How well does your DD do with blending? Is it choppy? This was helpful to me:http://righttrackreading.com/blending.html Also.... Yes! The I See Sam books have been amazing for us. However, in retrospect, I wish I hadn't quit phonics instruction when I found them. I think we would be a lot farther along if I had done some of both. I'd choose something like Dancing Bears, Alpha Phonics, Blend Phonics or Phonics Pathways to use alongside the I See Sam books. Blend Phonics and Alpha Phonics have a lower reading level upon completion, so you could always have your DD go through one of those and then follow up with AAR 2, 3 and 4 when she is ready. I think I read Blend Phonics and Alpha Phonics will get your child reading on a 1-2ND grade level, Phonics Pathways 4th grade and AAR 12th grade. My 8 year old still reverses letters when writing and reading. ...it's frustrating. Hang in there, I think some kids just need more time. P.s....He used to randomly add sounds to words as well. He has grown out of that for the most part. Good luck!

Thanks, this is good information. Thanks for the link as well. :)

I am so completely our of the loop about Common Core. Honestly, I've read very little. (I know, I know...) A friend forwarded me this blog post about the Student Success Act.... https://whatiscommoncore.wordpress.com/2015/02/21/student-success-act-to-crush-religious-freedom-private-school-autonomy-parental-rights-no-on-hr5/ "If H.R. 5 passes this week, in exchange for billions in federal funding, we will be crushed in the following ways. The federal Department of Education aims to take over: 1. STATE AUTHORITIES AND RIGHTS 2. PARENTAL RIGHTS TO DIRECT EDUCATION OF A CHILD 3. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM – NO MORE RELIGIOUS COUNSELING, MENTORING OR TECHNOLOGIES ALLOWED IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS 4. PRIVATE SCHOOL AUTONOMY: GOVERNMENT-APPOINTED OMBUDSMEN WILL MONITOR COMPLIANCE 5. PRIVATE SCHOOL FUNDING – PRIVATE SCHOOLS MUST CONSULT WITH PUBLIC DISTRICTS WHICH ENFORCE EQUALITY" This seems a little extreme, but apparently the lady read the 600 page bill....oh boy. Dedication. Any thoughts on this? I usually don't get too alarmed over stuff like this....but all those capital letters have my undies in a bunch a little. I need to go do school with my kiddies, I'll be back to discuss in a bit! :)

There is a thread here somewhere where someone shows pics of the tiles on these boards: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000QE00M8/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?qid=1424464631&sr=8-7&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&keywords=learning+resources+magnetic+boards&dpPl=1&dpID=41FUIvK9VCL&ref=plSrch We switched to these for toddler reasons...they are awesome.

I wonder if you had him read through Websters Speller if it would help? I read here somewhere that ElizabethB said that some kids can pick up the pattern of reading multisyllabic words through reading Webster's if the rules of dividing the syllables don't come naturally. I also remember her saying that kids can gain reading levels through going through her phonics lessons more than once. I wonder if some kids just need more repetition and if different things stick at different times. Honestly, I thought that once my DS had been through a phonics program that he would be "done" learning how to read. I no longer think that is the case ;). It will not surprise me if I have to finish Blend Phonics, then go through AAR, followed by ElizabethB's lessons rounded out by Websters Speller and then do Fast Track, lol. Oh boy. I wish I had better advice...hang in there! We had a rough day too....My DS decided to sound out several short-a words with the short e sound. Seriously? I think I'm developing an eye-twitch. Lol. Laughing Cat....thanks a million for your posts :) ....good stuff!

I'm curious if your DD is still having problems? If not, what do you think helped? :) ETA: Also, thanks for your post and links...very helpful...:)

I See Sam (all 8 sets) is amazing for fluency

I forgot to add.... I had a hard time with the cursor as well. How does he do with following the pencil tip? Any better? P.s.s. He can orally break words into syllables, right?

I think it takes longer for hard core guessers to break the habit (according to what I read from ElizabethB,lol). Have you tried having him read through words that are already divided into syllables....like the word lists in Webster's Speller? I'd be interested to know how he does with them.....my hunch is that he'd do well.

I was reading something on Don Potters website and realized that he has his students spell the Blend Phonics words using letter names. I don't know why this surprised me a bit? .....especially since I think this is how I learned. Although, in my head I think I do a little of both when I am spelling. We have used All About Spelling and now use Apples and Pears (both use sounds instead of letters). DS is an okay speller and does a good job of segmenting the sounds out although he often misspells "why and my" with an "i"....even though I've told him the rule. He also struggled with "try" and could say the letters out loud (this was his own strategy to try and remember that particular word)....but when he tried to spell it it was "t" "ar" "y" ...lol. I don't know what I'm rambling about, lol....I just wonder if one way or another works better for some kids and why?

I don't know of a curriculum....but here are a couple of things that keep my 2yo busy for a bit: * I run the watercolor paints under the faucet so they are ready to go and she doesn't have to have a cup of spill-able water. * Play foam * play doh * A table set up just for her with activities on it (I bought a lifetime brand fold in half table with adjustable leg height at Costco) * Wee Sing DVDs (sometimes) * She likes to stand on a chair at the kitchen sink with measuring spoons and cups with a tiny drizzle of water running. * She will spin in circles and dance around forever if I let her hold my phone and listen to kids music from the Amazon prime music app. *Plastic connecting cuisenaire rods *Geoboards (I had to help her at first) Good luck!!! :)

If you see this here.....just wanted to let you know that you are being stalked on the K-8 Board :) http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/540664-yoo-hoo-elizabeth-ba-question-about-my-guesser/?do=findComment&comment=6160084

Not online, but Phonics Pathways is amazing at teaching blending. :)

Friendly bump :)..... With another question. :) I saw this about B and D confusion on The Phonics Page...http://www.thephonicspage.org/On%20Reading/dbdb.html I'm wondering if I could try it and sub out words that DS wouldn't be able to read yet? Also, is it okay to be reading other word lists that would have Bs and Ds in them while going through these exercises? Or would it be better to just work on this alone? Sometimes DS says the wrong sound for capital B and/or D.....sigh.

P.s.s.... I'm 100% banking all of my current efforts on this 1 post by ElizabethB "My how to tutor materials teach all the phonics you need to sound out anything up to a 12th grade level, you can go through it in 2 hours or a month depending on the pace of the student, a student taught with traditional phonics and no sight words can learn it all in a few hours. It is designed for someone making the exact errors your daughter is making, I have worked with hundreds of remedial students over the last 21 years. A few of my students have underlying speech or vision problems as well, but most don't. An older student will take much longer to remediate because the guessing habits have been ingrained for years. Older students take months of stopping reading and may take a year or more to fully remediate, and most still have a degree of guessing habits. A younger student can be completely retrained when you stop outside reading and use nonsense words and syllables to force them to sound out every sound from L to R."