What reading program does my DD need?

[ChristusG]

We have been doing Explode the Code for a while. We started last year when she was 4 and went through the prequel books for that which is books A, B, and C. This year, we are doing kindergarten and she has completed Book 1 and we are going through Book 2 now. We are stuck on the consonant blends. She has a speech issue and is in therapy for that. For example, one of the words used in the book is grass. When she pronounces grass it sounds like gas. And this is how it is for all consanant blends. We are really stuck on book #2. She does fine with CVC words for the most part. I mean, she does still have to sound them out but she can sound them out well. She knows all letter sounds. It's just these blends. Plus the reading comprehension. Since she has to sound out every word in a sentence, she has no idea what that sentence said by the time she gets to the end of it.

 

Is there a program that may be better suited for her?

[Amber in AUS]

Personally i love the way 100EZ teaches blends. I think from what you have described it would let your DD hear the extra sound that she is missing because they have you say the word slowly and then fast so that each sound is identified and blended together.

[ElizabethB]

I would add in more spelling to build fluency--you can do spelling orally or with magnetic letters.

 

Also, try Webster's Speller, she should be able to read "easy" words of 2 syllables easier than blends once she learns the syllables, here are a few:

 

bā-ker, la-dy, tī-dy, hō-ly, li-my, sli-my, bo-ny, po-ny

 

You can also teach things like oa, oi, ai, and ay before blends, they are actually easier to learn as well. I would pick and choose some good words from the Webster tables that don't include blends and work on blends again in a few months.

 

You can also play my game to build up fluency, and I like Read, Write, Type and Wordy Querty, although they are expensive. My daughter loved Read, Write, Type!

Edited May 15, 2010 by ElizabethB

[Lovedtodeath]

Here is a suggestion:

 

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1685278&postcount=10

[Ottakee]

Check out the I See Sam books. http://www.teacherweb.com/CA/PomeloDriveElementary/Mrssakamoto/printap2.stm has the first 2 sets that you can print out for free. http://www.3rsplus.com and http://www.iseesam.com are the 2 main websites for the books.

 

They are a wonderful, phonetic based program that moves slower and gives kids LOTS of practice. Check over on the learning challenges board for lots more information on these books.