miracleone Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 I have Phonics Pathways and Alphaphonics, but my eyes are roving to AAR1. What did you use to teach your child to read? Why do you like it? Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbgrace Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 I did enjoy what we used. I had a more average paced learner in reading and one who struggled more than average probably. Both are great readers now. I like my approach because:1. It worked for two very different kids2. It was completely enjoyable for all of us3. It was uber-cheap, but I felt it was as high quality as anything I could have purchasedI did the first two sets of I See Sam first (free ones to print/use). We loved those books and got a great start. The "Getting Started" link from this page has "how to" information, including talking about a notched card to use initially. There is lots of good information on that site.Then I taught the phonograms in a multisensory way using this free program to do it well--it includes K-2nd reading and spelling (orton-gillingham style, so like AAS). I used it to teach the phonograms up front though--concentrating on reading first and then going back for spelling after we were reading well.Along with the phonogram introduction using those techniques, we used Progressive Phonics (free too) so that we could actually read using the phonogram we were learning. I had to switch the order of presentation of the phonograms a little to make it fit Progressive Phonics order.Basically we would learn the phonogram using their multi-sensory techniques, and then use progressive phonics as fun and decodable reading practice using the learned phonograms. It was so effective. I guess we didn't have to do I See Sam first, but we really loved those books and I felt it was a great way to start.Both Progressive Phonics and I See Sam are phonics based and 100% decodable (in the case of progressive phonics the student read parts are 100% and for I See Sam the entire thing is 100%). So they are strong phonics based readers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 So far we are using a combination of the I See Sam readers and Elizabeth's lessons. Neither would work well for my kiddo alone, but together, she's coming along nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arboreal TJ Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 We started with Bob Books then 100 EZ Lessons. Funnix followed :-/ AAR finally saved our homeschool! I have 2 struggling readers, AAR is perfect for them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boscopup Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 I used a mish mash of things, but finally started getting results (from TWO kids) when I went to Phonics Pathways. I love the way they teach blending, and it's very simple and easy to get done. We just do 10 minutes a day, every school day, and progress is made. No pieces. No worrying about whether they can write or not. Just read from the book. Last year, I used it with a 3 year old and a K'er. This year I'm still using it with 4 year old and 1st grader. :) You have two very good programs in hand (I've heard great things about Alpha Phonics, though haven't used it myself). No need to look at AAR quite yet. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erin Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 I'm not a big believer in using a book/workbook/curriculum for early reading. We would talk about letter sounds in regular life, look at how letter sounds go together to make words, read books together, watch Sesame Street, study environmental print to see that patterns mean something, etc. Reading/pre-reading should constantly be going on in early childhood. When they were really ticking along with pre-reading stuff, I'd introduce early readers like Dick and Jane type stuff. We'd take words apart, put them together, and look for sight-words we know. It just pretty much flows... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 Oh, we've tried so many things with my oldest, struggling reader. We finally went through AAR1 and now we're using Dancing Bears A. But we've had moments where we liked other programs: R&S Phonics (briefly) and ETC each played a part in getting DD started. My youngest DD just started AAR1 but I think we're going to switch to OPGTR. She is picking up on sounds/blending much more quickly than older DD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petepie2 Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 I have used OPGTR for all of mine. I'm on kid #3 with it now! It's cheap and complete. In the beginning we make use of a white board and magnadoodle. I also throw in Bob Books here and there and start Sonlight's grade 1 readers once they learn how to read VCE words. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenneinCA Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 For kid 1, I used 100EZ lessons, but we only got to lesson twenty something before she told me that she figured it out and didn't need the book anymore. She really learned to read sometime I wasn't watching. I don't know how. For kid 2, I tried everything. I think Bob books and time are what finally worked. For kid 3, I used Dancing Bears and All About Spelling. The combination worked very very well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pitterpatter Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 Hooked on Phonics. DD really liked it. I liked it until the readers that came with it got overly long and convoluted about halfway through Grade 1. We ended up kicking the books out (found different ones at the library) and just used the phonics instruction part for Grade 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 Reading Reflex, then Bob Books and early readers from the library. Worked great for all 3 kids. Best $16 I ever spent in my homeschooling years. Never spent any other money on reading instruction. For pre-reading, we just had a language-rich environment. My kids could all recognize their letters by 2yo. They're just shapes. I sometimes read them alphabet books, and pointed out letters there as well as in real life. When they started asking to write their names or other words (both before starting reading instruction and after), I'd have them identify the sound in the word, then tell them what letter or letter combination they should use to represent it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 Spalding. It's everything in one fell swoop to teach literacy: reading, spelling, penmanship, capitalization and punctuation, simple writing. It's simple to do (once you learn how to teach it), and it's inexpensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcnlvr Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 We used k12 PhonicsWorks. I was a newb at teaching lower grades with ds-then6 and my head was spinning. A friend gave me PW to use and ds took off. If I had more kids to teach reading to, I would use it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walking-Iris Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 With my oldest I used the lessons in Why Johnny Can't Read and some ETC. I also used online resources and a K Reading workbook from McGraw-Hill. For my current beginning reader I've been using the Johnny lessons and ETC and OPGTR. I've been reading WRTR, and I'm hoping to be able to digest it and use it with him soon. I also add a ton of various phonics games and hands on activities. I can't remember what forum member said to "throw everything at the wall until it sticks", but that's essentially how I teach reading. I try to work on it in various ways and across various subjects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdownie Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 1st Child : K12 Phonicsworks and OPGTR 2nd Child: AAR Pre and 1 (still in one) I plan on using AAR with children 3 and 4 when they are ready. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajfries Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 We're using The Reading Lesson (but we're only on lesson 2) and Bob Books. I'm not really sold on either, but I am liking the Reading Lesson more as time goes on. My DS depends on the pictures in the Bob Books too much and tends to just memorize the books after a couple readings. I'd like to get AAR PreLevel for my 3 year old but the cost is holding me back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ByGrace3 Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 I used Abeka phonics with my dd (wouldn't use it as a compete program again willingly);) I am currently using AAR with my ds and younger dd. ds has been through AAR pre level, level one, and is now working through level two. Younger dd is on AAR pre level. We love AAR and definitely think it was worth the investment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ammv15 Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 I used Mcruffy and progressive phonics was also a big help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 LeapFrog videos. HOP K, just the CD-ROM of games. BOB books. Done. I really didn't do much of anything myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom2TheTeam Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 I used MFW K and 1st for my oldest. For my current K'ers, they are using MFW K, but one of them is supplementing with ETC because she is moving faster than the MFW K and begs for more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mary.margaret Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 With my eldest 2, I used Ordinary Parent's Guide by Peace Hill Press and both of them are avid readers. I supplemented with Explode the Code books and then Rod & Staff Phonics 2. Now I am using Logic of English Foundations and really, really like it. It's fun, interactive, and comprehensive. It teaches handwriting, phonics, phonemic awareness and introduces grammar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenNC Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 Explode the Code, Dick and Jane, leveled readers from the library, Dolch sight word cards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamaraby Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 I'm on my second child. With my first it was ETC Onlne, BOB books, and Leapfrog videos. With my second it's OPGTR and Leapfrog videos. Wish I could find the BOB books from the first time around as she's looking for some books she can read on her own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladydusk Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 All three of mine successfully learned to read very well with OPG. I cant sing its praises enough :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShellLou Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 We have used Phonics Pathways & a large range of readers - we are in Australia & we have used some Australian published readers (Fitzroy Phonics), US published readers (MCP, A Beka & Bob Books to start with) & some from both UK (Jelly & Bean) & NZ (some very old readers from when I was in primary!). I found Bob Books okay at the beginning, but we soon outgrew them & didn't complete the series. We use ETC. So I think, whilst the combo we used won't suit everyone, I think combo is the key. Over here, we are lucky, our public libraries hold a lot of phonics readers & beginner readers, which helped keep down costs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 Bits of OPGTR (that did not last long), all of MP First Start reading with Kinder plans, All About Reading. Really, the boys all pretty much taught themselves. DD has been begging hence the AAR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violet Crown Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 Reader Rabbit 1 http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XKO86AUwsWw&feature=relmfu Reader Rabbit's Interactive Reading Journey http://archive.org/details/reader_rabbits (Wee Girl accidentally learned to read while we were working with her in overcoming her apraxia, but also enjoyed Reader Rabbit.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shinyhappypeople Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 I have Phonics Pathways and Alphaphonics, but my eyes are roving to AAR1. What did you use to teach your child to read? Why do you like it? Thank you! We used Leapfrog videos, Starfall and BOB books, mostly. We've also used Happy Phonics (sporadically) which is a really good program (fun, painless and effective). For older DD (9 yo) she also needed the gift of TIME. Both girls (8 and 9 yo) are now reading 4th/5th grade level. They've asked to finish Happy Phonics, so we'll do that this school year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rasa Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 Homeschooled child #1 --OPGTR. He knew the letter sounds already (from preschool) when we started. Homeschooled child #2 (work in progress; on a roll) -- ETC Primers for letter-sound correspondence, followed by Phonics Pathways and Bob's Books / Nora Gaydos readers for practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 Bits and pieces of Funnix, AAR pre-level, Starfall, Jolly Phonics, and PP. After that, she could blend CVC words. From there, she taught herself to read chapter books. Which really makes me look back and question all the other stuff we used. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freckles Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 With my first, Dh and I read books together and we would sound out words. The early leapfrog books. Then she went to K at a DOD school. With my second, We read together and sounded out words. She went to K in a public school and was starting out strong. 1st grade at a private school that used Abeka, and she took off. Both of my girls are excellent readers. DD that had Abeka instruction from a younger age is a better speller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 We took the Cartoon Road to Reading. We watched those (worth their weight in gold) LeapFrog videos (Talking Letter Factory and Talking Words Factory I & II). We used Explode the Code (doing the 3 Primers and the first 3 ETC books with finger tracing and/or orally, as the reading skills were ahead of the writing skills). The humor of ETC was greatly appreciated in what might have been a pretty "dry" subject, and it was effective. And we read every single Bob Book in every set published. There was also a little Starfall thrown in. I'm no great expert on the subject, but this approach was painless for us, and had my son reading confidently on a basic level prior to Kindergarten, and he's blossomed into a strong reader since. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jengjohnson Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 100 EZ and on to Pathway readers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mountainmama Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 I think my favorites were (had a lot of kids) Teach your child to read in 100 lessons and Phonics Tutor. In third place, Phonics Museum used with easy readers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beaners Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 We've used Funnix for formal instruction for my first two, combined with McGuffey and a lot of reading together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMRB Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 For DS, we started at age 4 and did Starfall, then I See Sam (the free sets - he didn't like the next level), and then AAR1. That worked great for him, especially for developing fluency. For DD, she is begging to read early, so we are starting with AAR Pre-1 and Starfall and will follow the same path into I See Sam and AAR1. We have been very happy with the AAR program. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2bee Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 My favorite to teach from is The Reading Lesson. Currently I am using Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons and I don't like it, but we are making progress. After ward we're going to go through my late 80's version of HOP and SRA Reading Power. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrissiK Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 A Beka phonics. Will be using it again this coming school year for #4. Love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susie in MS Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 Phonics Pathways: Large print for young eyes Inexpensive Easy to use Works beautifully 1 book covers it all Child moves at her speed Leap Frog and Starfall on the side. An abundance of different readers for practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Strawberry Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 Explode the Code, Dick and Jane, leveled readers from the library, Dolch sight word cards. This plus Bob Books and other phonics readers.Really the only thing I've been consistent with is ETC. 2 readers and one coming up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrs.m Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 For my youngest, OPGTR. But then I switched to CLE Learning to Read and that finally got him going. I felt like it made it easy to teach him to read. The instruction was clear and well laid out. He was bored to tears with OPG. For my DS who is now 10, I used 100 EZ and whatever readers I could find. I didn't really like it so I didn't use it one my youngest. He also did some ETC and then we moved into CLE200. I didn't know about CLE before that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MistyMountain Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 I am another who used the throw everything at them until something sticks approach. Some things were only tried briefly and I saw they were not working and other things I tried longer. For older dd I tried 100 EZ, Funnix, AAS, Reading Bear and Don Potter Blend Phonics readers. Her school used the Spalding Method. The Spalding Method and Reading Bear were the most helpful. She is now decoding at a 5th grade level heading into 1st grade but she struggled to learn for a while until it clicked and she took off. For DS I tried 100EZ, Funnix, AAR, Reading Bear and Phonics Pathways. He seems to be making the most progress with Phonics Pathways and by spelling some of the words from PP with letter tiles. He isn't reading yet but can sound out words. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 My boys used the Leap Frog ancient LeapPad Learning System (http://www.amazon.com/LeapFrog-Original-LeapPad-Learning-System/dp/B00003GPTI) and just taught themselves. Both read before kindergarten. It was easy for me except for looking out for sales to buy the books and cartridges. Still cheaper than paying for a mother's helper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanikit Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 I pretty much did my own thing, but used OPGTR as a basis for phonics teaching. It worked very well but I did not use it as scripted and in fact my DD has never seen the book itself. We threw in some starfall in the very early stages as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MotherOfBoys Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 We used Saxon Phonics K and 1, 2 is a repeat of 1 just with different words so we are stopping here. My son can spell amazingly well but has no drive to read on his own yet. Lazy with a hint of insecurity. It was too complete of a program and the readers were horrible because they didn't flow. We are going to move on to spelling workout this year to build confidence and pray that the reading comes on it's own. I will do Saxon Phonics with my next son just because we have it already but I'll modify. I window shop 100 easy lessons though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MinivanMom Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 Reading Reflex . . . it's cheap, straightforward, includes thorough phonics, and incorporates plenty of phonemic awareness instruction . .. yet there is absolutely no busywork or fluff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StartingOver Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 OPGTR and ETC ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sobeknofret Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 Hooked on Phonics. DD really liked it. I liked it until the readers that came with it got overly long and convoluted about halfway through Grade 1. We ended up kicking the books out (found different ones at the library) and just used the phonics instruction part for Grade 2. We used hooked on phonics as well. It worked pretty well for us, surprisingly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stellalarella Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 Phonics Pathways and then later on AAS. Phonics Pathways is really great, IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IHaveNoIdeawhatIAmDoing Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 I'm kind of in love with OPGTR. I appreciate how thorough it is and how it progresses. The only other thing we've tried was Hooked on Phonics and that gets a big :thumbdown: from me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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