Reading Lesson questions...

LeAnna · Post by **LeAnna** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 9:43 am

I have been looking at Phonics programs and was wondering about Reading Lesson. How long is this suppose to take to get through the program? A year or 2? It looks like a great program, but my concern is that it doesn't have the language arts with it. My first choice was to use SL, because they not only go through the letters, but incorporate learning your address, phone number... a bit of Social Studies. However, it seems like it takes a few years before they are actually full fledge reading. Is Reading Lesson fast? What are your results with it, and does LHFHG incorporate some of those LA things that don't come with Reading Lesson?

LeAnna
Homeschool mommy to 2 daughters (5 and 4) and 1 son (2 1/2)
Just going to be starting LHFHG this fall

LeAnna · Post by **LeAnna** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 10:10 am

Another question about the Reading Lesson... I can't remember if I asked this before or not,

but do I need to get the cd too? Or can I just use the book with my two K's? Does the cd have the stories on it? I was a bit confused by the description.

Help!!!

LeAnna
Homeschooling mommy to 3 (2 daughters 5 and 4) and 1 son (2 1/2 years)

water2wine · Post by **water2wine** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 10:30 am

LeAnna,

I am the phonics queen have many programs books etc because I have a dd with special needs (and by queen meaning just that I have a bunch and have tried a bunch but not saying I am by any means an expert). Right now I am essentially doing phonics with three of my dc. The Reading Lesson is hands down the best thing I have used. Definitely get the CD, it cements it in and the kids love it. Carrie has the authors guidelines on how to use it for what age group here http://www.heartofdakota.com/phonics.php I will tell you that there is close to 400 pages so if you do the math for your child's age you will have a rough idea of how long you would use it.

I am using it with an almost 4 year old, a just turned 6 year old and a reading delayed 10 year old. That pretty much covers all applications there

It is working for everyone and I am seeing tremendous progress. This is my favorite program! It is effortless and very effective.

blessedmomof4 · Post by **blessedmomof4** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 1:36 pm

LeAnna wrote:I have been looking at Phonics programs and was wondering about Reading Lesson. How long is this suppose to take to get through the program? A year or 2? It looks like a great program, but my concern is that it doesn't have the language arts with it. My first choice was to use SL, because they not only go through the letters, but incorporate learning your address, phone number... a bit of Social Studies. However, it seems like it takes a few years before they are actually full fledge reading. Is Reading Lesson fast? What are your results with it, and does LHFHG incorporate some of those LA things that don't come with Reading Lesson?

LeAnna
Homeschool mommy to 2 daughters (5 and 4) and 1 son (2 1/2)
Just going to be starting LHFHG this fall

Hi Leanna-it's my understanding that with the language arts in the daily lessons in Little Hearts for His Glory plus a phonics program like The Reading Lesson, you WILL have a complete language arts course for your child. On a side note, none of my kids needed a "program" to learn their address and phone number when they were little-I just had them copy it and recite it several times over a period of time and that worked.
I know it seems to good to be true, but the HOD programs are so complete as written, but then wonderfully flexible enough if you want to add something to suit your family's needs

Melanie · Post by **Melanie** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 2:01 pm

All of those "extras" are covered in the R&S books that are used with Little Hearts (or the Thinking Skills book for 1st grade) so have no fear....it is covered!

I am just one of the many moms who found HOD *after* already buying other curriculum. I soooo wish I had found HOD FIRST!! Now, I am working on getting my kiddos all lined up with the LA/reading in Beyond so that we don't have to "rearrange" anything. Carrie's choices are right on and if I had to do it all over, and had found HOD first, I would go with The Reading Lesson or Reading Made Easy.

Just choose one and use the other Little Hearts choices and you will be set.

amysconfections · Post by **amysconfections** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 2:27 pm

My son likes the Cd-rom from the Reading Lesson. It basically introduces them to the next chapter in a fun game way. You can buy an extra story CD-Rom. The only thing I don't like about this program is that the phonic rules are not taught strongly. I will be looking for some way next year to teach phonics rules. Although I think it's common to continue working on rules into the second and third grade in PS around here. We are finishing in about a year with the book. That's taking many breaks to do flashcards and stuff. I found that at times I needed to help my child learn some of the words by sight to speed up his reading. I just used the words at the end of the chapters to make flashcards.

Melanie · Post by **Melanie** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 3:57 pm

amysconfections wrote:The only thing I don't like about this program is that the phonic rules are not taught strongly. I will be looking for some way next year to teach phonics rules. Although I think it's common to continue working on rules into the second and third grade in PS around here.

Amy, phonics just kind of "morphs" into spelling which continues in most schools up through junior high (I remember doing phonics in 5th grade back in the day). Actually most of the official "rules" are saved for learning spelling, so you'll get to it eventually. I'm using a program that does cover all the rules, but my kiddos just kinda glaze over if I get in too deep with the "whys and wherefores". It's ok for now to just learn "this is how you read it" and save the "this is how and why you spell it this way" for later. I gotta tell ya, I'm learning something new everyday about all those "rules", and I'm a prity gud spelr!

(Sorry, couldn't resist!)

LeAnna · Post by **LeAnna** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 4:41 pm

Okay, well that helps a little. I just didn't know if that one book covers it all.

I am used to having more books.

Do I need an extra book or do you all photo copy extra pages?
So, you think it takes about a year to get through the book? After that, my kids should be able to go onto the Emerging Readers????

Thanks,
LeAnna

Homeschooling mommy to three kids--- 5,4, and 2 1/2

Melanie · Post by **Melanie** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 4:56 pm

You will only need one of either The Reading Lesson or Reading Made Easy. You will need to buy another set of the R&S books (they are wonderful) if that's what you're using. I don't know about the Thinking Skills book.

Yes, you will be ready for the emerging readers in Beyond.

amysconfections · Post by **amysconfections** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 5:18 pm

Melanie wrote: Amy, phonics just kind of "morphs" into spelling which continues in most schools up through junior high (I remember doing phonics in 5th grade back in the day). Actually most of the official "rules" are saved for learning spelling, so you'll get to it eventually. I'm using a program that does cover all the rules, but my kiddos just kinda glaze over if I get in too deep with the "whys and wherefores". It's ok for now to just learn "this is how you read it" and save the "this is how and why you spell it this way" for later. I gotta tell ya, I'm learning something new everyday about all those "rules", and I'm a prity gud spelr! (Sorry, couldn't resist!)

Thanks! I'm still not familiar with all of this. That helps alot because I was wondering whether I needed to buy a special book to help teach this.

And for the question on buying another book. You just need one Reading Lesson book. We don't usually do the drawing pages but I have my son use his finger to pretend to draw lines to match the words and objects. There are very few pages like that in the book. It's mostly outloud reading.