Explode the Code

[Bramble]

I've read that some here use ETC with or after The Reading Lesson. Which books are used with TRL? and which books after? Also, do you use the Teacher's Manual? A friend of mine told me she quit using ETC because she couldn't figure out what the pictures were depicted. Has anyone else run into this?

Has anyone used Plaid Phonics? I was looking at the one as well.

Thank you!

[countrymom]

We were using ETC until I found The Reading Lesson. I pretty much shelved ETC then. I brought it out once since I had an unused book and used it to supplement a chapter ds was struggling with. ETC is a lot of workbook type of work and not as much reading. Still, if a child needs a supplement I think it is good. For my second son I will just start right out with TRL and do not plan to use ETC.

[MamaPajama]

ETC can be fun. We have used the Primers and the first two books. The don't really go along with the Charlotte Mason method, and they don't go in the same order as TRL, so that's something to consider. We too have shelved them, but I don't hate them. We may consider them again down the line if I think one of the children can benefit from them.

[Bramble]

I wanted to add a few things....
I am familiar with ETC. I have used the primers with one of my children and I have 1-3 here at my house. I don't care that they don't line up with TRL or CM. I am just not sure which book to start with after TRL. I really want to use workbook phonics with my children after they learn to read for personal reasons. I have it narrowed down to ETC and Plaid. Any input you can give is appreciated.
Thanks.

[MamaPajama]

Guess I didn't read into the questions enough. I don't have enough experience to know where you would pick up after TRL. You can look up the scope and sequence of each book on various web pages and compare that to the end of TRL. Sorry I can't help more than that.

[Bramble]

no, no, Khara, it was me. Not you. I didn't provide enough info!

[my3sons]

I did ETC and Plaid with my first son (the guinea pig ). I preferred ETC for its open and go format, as well as its humor. I viewed it as a supplement - as you are saying here - but just to clarify for others. I'd start with either 1 or 2. You can find samples online to see which would be a better fit. Personally I'd probably choose 1 as it will be independent, and though easier at the start, will make the start easy and fun, but get harder throughout the book. I let my ds choose 1-4 pages to day and work at his own pace through it. An answer key isn't needed. Whenever you get through 3, I'd stop, as 4 is a leap. By the time dc can do 4, they should be doing harder reading, of living books, with more in-depth skills than ETC can provide. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

[psreit]

We are on lesson 5 in TRL. I also have ETC book 1. It basically covers one-vowel words. I am using it as a supplement along with TRL. It gives her extra practice in reading words and sentences, handwriting, and even spelling. She was used to workbooks in school, so she enjoys some work like that. Depending when you want to start it, I agree with Julie to start with book 1 or 2. I would say book 1 if doing along with TRL and book 2 if starting with late TRL or after TRL. You do not need a teacher manual. HTH

[eachlee]

I am using ETC to supplement, I have bought the teacher's guides along the way. Some of the pages just don't work without them... for the reasons you were saying about knowing what the picture pages were for. They weren't all that expensive and I like the extra ideas in them to give me other ways to approach things we're struggling with as well. I'm using Reading Made Easy so I can't answer the other part of your question.

Nancy

[twoxcell]

I used Horizons K phonics with my ds, and we both hated it. In first grade we switched to Phonics Pathways, about half way through the book we started ETC book 4. He enjoyed it and it was good practice. This year we are finishing book 5, and I have 6-8 also, but not sure that he really needs them as he already finished PP, and is doing the emergent readers. My dd did ETC primers last year, and enjoyed them. We tried to do book one, but so far she hates it. Her handwriting skills are slow in coming, so I put it away for awhile. I just ordered Reading Made easy for her as she hates PP also. It may be she is just not ready we shall see.