nena3927 Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 I can't figure out which phonics program I want to use with my soon to be 5 yr old. I used The Reading Lesson with my older two which worked great with my dd and left my ds struggling. Here are all the programs I already own. I will be adding a workbook component though to whatever we choose. Help me decide! The Reading Lesson along with Explode the Code Alpha Phonics along with ETC Phonics Pathways along with ETC or Abeka Letters & Sounds Abeka Letters & Sounds along with Handbook for Reading and readers ( I do not plan to order the Curriculum guide) Which would you choose? AAR is not in the running as of now unless I notice some severe problems. It was too intensive for me. I will have a 3rd grader, 2nd grader, Kindergartner, and infant come this fall so I need something that is easy to get done and complete to teach my Kindergartner to read. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 Phonics Pathways is what I used with all my boys. I also added in some ETC and Plaid Phonics with some of them. It worked great for our days because lessons could be as short as 5 minutes, or longer (depending on how the child was doing and what the others needed from me). As far as their reading skills, they could all decode any word I put in front of them before we finished the book, and they all read very well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WahM Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 (edited) I like OPGTR, but from what you have I'd say phonics pathways. I also do not think ETC would be nessesary to do along with it for learning to read. Edited January 12, 2016 by WahM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2bee Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 The Reading Lesson is always my preferred reading program. I love it! So, so, so good in my experience!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 I can't figure out which phonics program I want to use with my soon to be 5 yr old. I used The Reading Lesson with my older two which worked great with my dd and left my ds struggling. Here are all the programs I already own. I will be adding a workbook component though to whatever we choose. Help me decide! The Reading Lesson along with Explode the Code Alpha Phonics along with ETC Phonics Pathways along with ETC or Abeka Letters & Sounds Abeka Letters & Sounds along with Handbook for Reading and readers ( I do not plan to order the Curriculum guide) Which would you choose? AAR is not in the running as of now unless I notice some severe problems. It was too intensive for me. I will have a 3rd grader, 2nd grader, Kindergartner, and infant come this fall so I need something that is easy to get done and complete to teach my Kindergartner to read. Thanks! I would just pick one. Just one. Each method does things a little differently, and I think children need to be focused on one thing. Also, I think when we begin to try to use too many things, *we* lose focus. And we don't know which thing is helping or not helping. And you want something less intensive, so why would you try to mesh more than one method? So AlphaPhonics. Or ETC. Or Phonics Pathways. I would probably choose AlphaPhonics (if I were not doing Spalding, which I'm not recommending because you want something less time intensive). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2bee Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 (edited) The Reading Lesson is always my preferred reading program. I love it! So, so, so good in my experience!!! (sorry for the double post.) Edited January 12, 2016 by mom2bee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReadingMama1214 Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 We've loved Ordinary Parents Guide as well and I found it fairly cheap. But Phonic Pathways was also another one we had looked at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollyhock Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 When my son struggled with The Reading Lesson, I switched him to Progressive Phonics (free online). It was a great fit. I had him do ETC, too. I know it's not on your list but it's free so I thought it would be worth mentioning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nena3927 Posted January 15, 2016 Author Share Posted January 15, 2016 The Reading Lesson is always my preferred reading program. I love it! So, so, so good in my experience!!! (sorry for the double post.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nena3927 Posted January 15, 2016 Author Share Posted January 15, 2016 Did you not feel that there were gaps with The Reading Lesson? Out of the ones I have listed, it is definitely the one I'd rather use but I'm afraid to. My ds 7 still is not a fluent reader after finishing it almost 2 yrs ago. My dd is a different story and a natural reader. She did wonderful after finishing TRL and could read most early reader books at 4. I just wish it covered a few more sounds and had a workbook component! My dc retain the phonics information better when accompanied by written work. That's why I considered using ETC as well. I always thought it was supplementary and never thought of it as a complete program on its own though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strawberryjam Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 I have used both The Reading Lesson and Explode the Code and I don't think you need both. Explode the Code actually works perfectly well on it's own (just get the teachers guide which has some supplementary lessons and activities). Personally my perfect combo has been Explode the Code together with All About Reading. Both work really well on their own, but I just happen to like doing it this way. There are certain aspects I like about both programs and they combine very well together. My kids are all reading above average level for their age. I did not like The Reading Lesson. It helped initially, but then there was major regression soon afterwards. I don't like their approach with using non-real words, especially for really logical children. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaceful Isle Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 I used Abeka phonics with my older kids and it worked out great. I have also used Horizons phonics and reading k, which is nice set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethB Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 Phonics Pathways, no need to supplemnt with ETC or A Beka, it is complete and thorough and goes to a 4th grade level. It is the easiest to teach of your choices. You could supplement with my phonics concentration game for a fun change of pace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HS Mom in NC Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 Phonics Pathways and you can use the Reading Pathways book to go with it for extra practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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