The Reading Lesson...reviews?

[Sue G in PA]

I'm looking into this for my ds6 to use with LHFHG. Well,I'm looking at this even if I decided NOT to use LHFHG! Can somebody tell at what grade level a typical child will be reading on when finished with this book? I've looked at so many phonics/reading programs and this one looks the best so far. Any reviews would be very helpful! Thanks.

[jewel7123]

Since you don't have any replies yet I will just tell you I researched both The Reading Lesson and Reading Made Easy and decided to go with Phonics Pathways instead. Hopefully someone here who has used The Reading Lesson will chime in for you...

[Sue G in PA]

What made you decide on PP if you don't mind me asking? I've looked at that, 100 EZ lessons, I have OPG (don't like it), etc.

[water2wine]

We love the Reading Lesson. It has hands down been the easiest and best phonics program we have used and I have tried quite a few. You will end up perfect for starting the emerging readers when you are done. I am not sure of the exact level that you end on but my dd is picking up the first grade Mc Guffy reader and having no issue with it and I think it is a little advanced for first grade. She is also able to work her way through some of the I can Read books level 2. She is a couple pages shy of finishing The Reading Lesson. My other child is about 3/4 of the way through and reading the I can Read books level 1 with no issue. Anyway hands down the easiest program to use. For us it has been absolutely painless. I recommend getting the CD too. It helps. We use it as a reward for doing the lesson. Since it is the only computer game my kids get really works like a charm. It does really help to reinforce the lesson as well.

[jewel7123]

It's been awhile since I've researched it, so my memory is a little rusty as to why I chose it exactly. I read lots and lots of review before choosing. I actually just started using Phonics Pathways, as my daughter just turned 4 and she is interested in reading now and even reading small words if I help her sound them out. We are loving Phonics Pathways....I love the little games that are included within the book and so does my daughter! You might want to read this thread I started back in December when I was researching phonics programs, although it may just confuse you even more, as there are good reviews for The Reading Lesson AND Phonics Pathways and maybe a couple others, lol!

Good luck!

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[jewel7123]

Just wanted to add that if you don't have Leapfrog's Letter Factory DVD I would HIGHLY recommend it, along with the others in the series. (Math Circus, Talking Words, etc.) The Letter Factory especially has been wonderful for helping my daughters learn their letter sounds.

[Mom4Him]

We are really enjoying The Reading Lesson at our house!! We are almost finished with Lesson 6, & my girls ask to do it almost every day.
What I like about it- is that it is very open and go- anyone can teach it- & you don't have to add anything to it.
I really like how there are stories right within the book- this gets my girls very excited to learn the words- so that they are able to read the stories. And they get to read a story very early on!
I also really appreciate the layout of the book- it is very clutter-free & easy for both child & mom to see what is being read... & the set up of how they teach reading is excellent. It focuses on learning the sounds of letters & blending them together & leads them to learning sight words- it doesn't get stuck on a lot of rules, nor does it just teach them to look at only the first letter in the words if all the words rhyme.
We have been very pleased by the educational quality as well as the fun of the program.
Jessica

[Kathleen]

We've also been happily using The Reading Lesson. It's working great for us!!

I tried 100 EZ Lessons when my oldest was young. (We didn't finish it though, and I really didn't like it that well.) He then went to a small Christian school and used Saxon Phonics for K and 1st. At home in 2nd grade we finished Saxon Phonics 2. For us, Saxon Phonics is a little too thorough and VERY time-consuming! Thankfully my oldest really loves to learn and read. Looking at some of the things I've done with him, I think I've seriously tried to squelch that.

The Reading Lesson is very straightforward, and super easy to use! You can pick up the book and go with your reading lesson. I really like the uncluttered pages and not having a scripted lesson to read as the teacher. Allison is loving learning to read and is super excited to get back into using it this week!

Kathleen

[brenm37]

I am currently using the Reading Lesson with my 5 and 1/2 year old daughter. It is easy to use and simple and straightforward. I have the CD also, but my daughter, who enjoys computer time, is not interested in using it. She is enjoying her lessons and they can be fairly quick, I follow her lead as to how much to do in one day.

I also used Phonics Pathways with my middle daughter and it was perfect for her. I really, really liked how it taught reading. I am planning to use PP with my above daughter when we finish RL. I think it is much more in depth and "complete" as far as a phonics program, but RL is great for a child who just wants to learn to read (and is maybe on the younger side).

Brenda

[sarathan]

I *think* I read somewhere that kids are reading at about a mid-2nd grade level when they finish The Reading Lesson book, but I could be wrong. Ugh, now where did I read that??

ETA: Ah, found it. Their website (www.readinglesson.com) says it "It takes a child with no reading skills to about second grade level in reading."

[SoaringEagle]

We are using The Reading Lesson and are enjoying it. Open and go.

[krismoose]

We're in lesson 6 with my almost 5 yo ds, and it's been great. He really wanted to learn to read, and it is very simple to use, and the pages are fairly clutter-free for him to read. You can do as many pages as your dc's attention can hang on for...we backed off to one page a day for now, and we add in a phonics reader from the BOB books or MCP here and there for variety, which he likes. We don't have the CD, but I may get it for the next child who uses it...we just don't have a computer the kids are allowed to touch yet