Mandylubug Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 My girls are 7.5 and are reading words such as grip, slip, cram, etc... Still at the basics of reading. We are SLOWLY going through ETC (book 2) and using Phonics Pathways but I will be honest and say that I am not always on top of everything. They do not know sight words other than the words the, and, etc. I do like the teaching style of R&S math and we complete it daily. I like that the lesson plan is laid out and what I need for the board work, etc. is provided. The lecture part works great with teaching two students at the same level, etc... My issue I have found with ETC/PP is the sibling listening into me helping the other with their workbook and since they are on the same page, they just write down the answer. PP seems to be working just fine but is boring for all involved and SLOOOOOOWWWWWWW. I feel we are behind for their age and the girls are on a more 1st grade level in studies but with their birthdate they should be more of a second grade level. I feel like I need to either find something to help them quickly pick up speed or just decide that its ok and I will consider them 1st grade... My oldest was held back in PS due to immaturity/ADHD issues and it was best for him. I keep thinking we will just keep trudging forward with what we are doing but what if trudging along is too slow. Anyway, if a curriculum seemed to be working but just really, really slow and boring would you stick with it? I have considered adding in a spelling curriculum such as R&S Spelling to help push our progress forward. I have also considered AAS and AAR but I want a curriculum that I just open the book and go. I don't want a ton of set up per lesson. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 You might want to look at Saxon Phonics. I did part of Intervention with 4 of my boys at once, and it worked well--though they were already reading. It was nice for a group setting. PAL reading/writing is another that works well for a group. If you want to add spelling, I love R&S Spelling. I use Phonics Pathways as our core phonics program. I've found it speeds up once they can blend without thought. We often skip a lot at that point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandylubug Posted December 7, 2012 Author Share Posted December 7, 2012 You might want to look at Saxon Phonics. I did part of Intervention with 4 of my boys at once, and it worked well--though they were already reading. It was nice for a group setting. PAL reading/writing is another that works well for a group. If you want to add spelling, I love R&S Spelling. I use Phonics Pathways as our core phonics program. I've found it speeds up once they can blend without thought. We often skip a lot at that point. Well, they are starting to blend the words... maybe I should just be patient and have them write more of the words, etc.. I wish PP was divided into lesson plans telling me what extra activities to do with the pages of reading, etc.. instead of me having to think of what extra to do with it.. It typically ends up me having them read a page. Maybe have them write down some words. I asked them to read and write 12 words from the whiteboard the other day and it took them a good 30 minutes to do so... Its just slow but we have made progress with it. I just wish that the light bulb would go off and they would just be reading fluently by now LOL I know that sounds lazy of me but I am just tired. We still have letter confusion between b, d, p and number 9. They do read the first set of Bob Books and want to read other books Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 Well, they are starting to blend the words... maybe I should just be patient and have them write more of the words, etc.. I wish PP was divided into lesson plans telling me what extra activities to do with the pages of reading, etc.. instead of me having to think of what extra to do with it.. It typically ends up me having them read a page. Maybe have them write down some words. I asked them to read and write 12 words from the whiteboard the other day and it took them a good 30 minutes to do so... Its just slow but we have made progress with it. I just wish that the light bulb would go off and they would just be reading fluently by now LOL I know that sounds lazy of me but I am just tired. We still have letter confusion between b, d, p and number 9. They do read the first set of Bob Books and want to read other books My 7 year old is still using the book. I usually just have him read until he loses interest (usually a page, though early on it was 1/2 a page or even just a column). I've used Plaid Phonics and Explode the Code as supplements. Just keep practicing and it will come. I've never had any of my boys write from PP. I've used lots of other things when looking at PP makes me want to claw my eyes out (I've been teaching someone to read for about 8 years now). But PP is what always ends up getting the job done. I've always found teaching my boys to read to be very painful. To me it's so obvious--why isn't it to them :lol:? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandylubug Posted December 7, 2012 Author Share Posted December 7, 2012 My 7 year old is still using the book. I usually just have him read until he loses interest (usually a page, though early on it was 1/2 a page or even just a column). I've used Plaid Phonics and Explode the Code as supplements. Just keep practicing and it will come. I've never had any of my boys write from PP. I've used lots of other things when looking at PP makes me want to claw my eyes out (I've been teaching someone to read for about 8 years now). But PP is what always ends up getting the job done. I've always found teaching my boys to read to be very painful. To me it's so obvious--why isn't it to them :lol:? Are you using R&S spelling with your 7 year old as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 Are you using R&S spelling with your 7 year old as well? Not yet. I might start it after Christmas when I re-evaluate our schedule. I'm using it on grade level with my 3rd & 5th graders, and using the 6 book with my 7th & 8th graders (they both needed reinforcement of spelling rules). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daybreaking Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 If you really like R&S math, have you considered R&S phonics and reading? I like and use R&S spelling. It not only teaches spelling, but is also great for reinforcing phoincs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandylubug Posted December 7, 2012 Author Share Posted December 7, 2012 If you really like R&S math, have you considered R&S phonics and reading? I like and use R&S spelling. It not only teaches spelling, but is also great for reinforcing phoincs. I really have considered their reading and spelling :) My oldest boys that are in 4th grade level are going to start their spelling. I honestly don't know where the girls would begin with since they are half way through PP and if I should just continue to use PP and add R&S spelling in addition, etc.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daybreaking Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 I really have considered their reading and spelling :) My oldest boys that are in 4th grade level are going to start their spelling. I honestly don't know where the girls would begin with since they are half way through PP and if I should just continue to use PP and add R&S spelling in addition, etc.... I guess it depends on how well you feel PP is working for you. If it's getting the job done and your girls are progressing, then I'd say stick with it. If you aren't happy with the progress they're making, perhaps you could look at the table of contents of the R&S books and see what would be a good place to start them. I know that each child is different and that different approaches work for different children, but our ds went from just beginning to sound out CVC words when we started R&S, to reading at a fourth grade level when we finished their 1st grade books. By the end of their 2nd grade books, he tested at 10th grade level for overall reading and post high school level for reading comprehension. (I guess you could say I'm highly impressed with their program. :) ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandylubug Posted December 8, 2012 Author Share Posted December 8, 2012 I guess it depends on how well you feel PP is working for you. If it's getting the job done and your girls are progressing, then I'd say stick with it. If you aren't happy with the progress they're making, perhaps you could look at the table of contents of the R&S books and see what would be a good place to start them. I know that each child is different and that different approaches work for different children, but our ds went from just beginning to sound out CVC words when we started R&S, to reading at a fourth grade level when we finished their 1st grade books. By the end of their 2nd grade books, he tested at 10th grade level for overall reading and post high school level for reading comprehension. (I guess you could say I'm highly impressed with their program. :) ) Very interesting. How did you use the program? Did you use the reading, phonics, readers and workbooks all together like planned? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daybreaking Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 Very interesting. How did you use the program? Did you use the reading, phonics, readers and workbooks all together like planned? For the most part I used the program as planned, including the worksheets from grade 1, as they added a fun touch to the program. I skipped the "Printing Practice" workbooks and some of the spelling activities that are in the phonics TM. I did find doing a whole lesson in the phonics and a whole lesson in the reading a bit much for my ds, mainly because of all the writing, so for grade 1, we ended up alternating phonics one day and reading the next. It obviously took us longer to complete the workbooks, but it was just the right pace for my ds. When we got to the grade 2 workbooks, I realized the phonics is not so closely intertwined with the reading, so each day I had him do a complete phonics lesson and half a reading lesson. There is no phonics workbook after grade 2, as at that point, phonics are reviewed in the reading workbook, as well as in the spelling workbook, but we have still continued with half a reading lesson a day and are now are finishing up the 3rd grade reading workbook, even though my ds is in 4th grade. To be honest, once we finished the phonics workbooks, we didn't really think much about the grade level on the reading workbooks, because by then my ds was reading well and we considered R&S reading to be his Bible study. I hope this helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandylubug Posted December 8, 2012 Author Share Posted December 8, 2012 For the most part I used the program as planned, including the worksheets from grade 1, as they added a fun touch to the program. I skipped the "Printing Practice" workbooks and some of the spelling activities that are in the phonics TM. I did find doing a whole lesson in the phonics and a whole lesson in the reading a bit much for my ds, mainly because of all the writing, so for grade 1, we ended up alternating phonics one day and reading the next. It obviously took us longer to complete the workbooks, but it was just the right pace for my ds. When we got to the grade 2 workbooks, I realized the phonics is not so closely intertwined with the reading, so each day I had him do a complete phonics lesson and half a reading lesson. There is no phonics workbook after grade 2, as at that point, phonics are reviewed in the reading workbook, as well as in the spelling workbook, but we have still continued with half a reading lesson a day and are now are finishing up the 3rd grade reading workbook, even though my ds is in 4th grade. To be honest, once we finished the phonics workbooks, we didn't really think much about the grade level on the reading workbooks, because by then my ds was reading well and we considered R&S reading to be his Bible study. I hope this helps! that does help. Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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