sagira Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 My dds4 is going to join us in her K year this Fall. She's turning 5 in late July, and although she recognizes some three-letter words, I wouldn't say she's reading yet (although her Pre-K teacher seems to think so - she goes to VPK three hours a day at a Montessori). This child enjoys writing, and I was wondering which program would be better for her- Phonics Pathways or Explode the Code. I read some reviews, but I'm sto undecided. Can anyone help me? I'm not looking for a barrel of fun. All I want is a solid, proven phonics system that will help her with her reading and spelling and take her to the next level. A plus would be that she doesn't mind doing it. I think both programs are reasonable, and a plus for PP is that I can use it as a refresher for ds8 as an aid to his spelling, but I imagine I can do the same with ETC. Help, please :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wy_kid_wrangler04 Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 We use both! They work so well together it almost like they were made for each other! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momma aimee Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 we actually do both. I feel PP is more of "taking it in" and ETC is more of an "output". there is a lot of writing in ETC and my son, 6 last Nov, gets frustrated. I see ETC as a big repeatitve, BUT since he has not commented on that i feel he must need the reps -- yk? so I guess i am not much help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyjoh62080 Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 We use both! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littleWMN Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 We use both as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5LittleMonkeys Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 We love using both here too. However, if cost were an issue I would choose Phonics Pathways first. That book is so versatile. There are recommendations for games, copywork, and for learning the spelling rules. For the last two dc I've used it with, we have come up with atleast a dozen different ways to implement the lessons using our own ideas. BUT, if you could get both I would! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewel7123 Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Both here as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloggermom Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 I was in the same dilemma a few days ago. I decided to go with Memoria Press Kindergarten curriculum which has a great phonics program built into it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbpaulie Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 We do both around here. ETC 1-8 (leaving 4 for last - taking about 3 years to do all the books) along w/ PP. We don't coordiante the PP & ETC, just 1-3 ETC pages/ day and 1-2 PP pages/day (no writing, just reading). I think the PP can go at a slightly quicker pace, letting you read bigger words at a quicker pace than if you were doing just ETC. While I think the ETC reinforces and helps build in the writing and starting w/ some spelling. My kids love the silliness of the ETC books and I like the ease of both the PP & ETC. Both of my boys are good to excellent readers. HTH. (I have PP for sale here if you're interested - :001_smile: - http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=320281&highlight=pathways ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagira Posted January 27, 2012 Author Share Posted January 27, 2012 (edited) Thanks, everyone! Dd is only going to be 5, and although she likes writing I don't want to tire or frustrate her. She'll be doing writing in penmanship and math daily already. The first 21 lessons we'll be doing Tanglewood Phonics, which is a free phonics program that was a hit with ds a few years back when he started to read. It's on tanglewoodeducation.com. However, back then we did Spectrum Phonics and I wasn't impressed. It would be very beneficial for ds to review his spelling as well. Edited January 28, 2012 by sagira Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stellalarella Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 We use Phonics Pathways. So simple--just open and go. If you decide to get it, you may want to get the 9th edition, instead of the newer 10th edition. I think the 10th edition is missing some of the "copy and cut out" games that we use in the 9th. The sentences in PP do well for copywork an dictation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChandlerMom Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 You might want to download Funnix while it's free (first 2 weeks in Feb). I taught reading with 100EL when my dd's were 5yo. That was pretty much all my eldest needed (now a great speller at 8), but my now 6yo needed more. I got ETC, PP and RP, and MCP Plaid. If I had to choose, I would go for MCP Plaid and Reading Pathways first, PP and RP second, and ETC 3rd, just because MCP and PP are more variety of activities/worksheets and more colorful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misslissa Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 We love ETC but it doesn't do encoding (spelling) very well. we use it with AAS/HTTS/SWR rule centered spelling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sewingmama Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 We use both - my DD hates both LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lulubelle Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 We do both as well. They are very different. ETC is mostly just a reinforcer of words/spelling/reading comprehension. Phonics Pathways teaches reading words with no written reinforcement (you could add this). Phonics Pathways is much more essential. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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