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This year we are doing LHFHG with my 6 year old for kindergarten (August birthday) I am doing another reading program than what was suggested in the guide this year. I used it last year for my older son, and loved it. We are doing very well with it, but it technically is a first grade program. We are doing it half speed, but will finish it this year. My question is- looking towards next year- When we purchase Beyond, I am not sure he will be ready for the emerging reader set. So should I purchase one of phonics programs suggested? Or do you think it would be too remedial? I have not used them, so I am not sure what they are like.
Thanks,
Mandy

If the reading program you are using is supposed to be a 1st grade level program, and if your child will have the basics of phonics and be able to read easy reader books by the end of it, then I don't see why he wouldn't be ready for Emerging Readers starting next fall. You'd be surprised, I suppose some children are not, but my DD progressed quickly from her first "learn to read" into being able to read longer things, at some point it just really starts to click.

I can't speak to what either of the phonics programs suggested by HOD are like, I also used a different one, which was supposed to end up on a 2nd grade reading level but there were some phonics rules left out. After finishing that, since we weren't quite done with LHFHG, we checked out easy readers from the library and worked on those. We did that all throughout the summer, and by the time we started Beyond the easier of the two Bibles in Emerging Readers was really too easy for my DD, I should have done the harder one. Now that we are in week 14, it has gotten quite a bit harder and she is being challenged by the reading.

So I guess I am saying, go through what you have, and if by the time you are preparing to start Beyond you don't think he's quite ready for that maybe you can find something else to fill the gap, or something. But its pretty amazing, my DD really progressed quickly I suppose because she was ready. There were bumps and frustrations for sure, but for the most part it has been a pretty amazing ride.

Mandy,

Mel did a great job of helping you! It varies from program to program as to how long it takes to cover all needed phonics instruction. Some programs complete the instruction in K and 1st grade. Others go into 2nd grade to complete instruction. It would be good for you to take a look at the grade 2 level of the program you are currently using to see how much actual phonics instruction is still included (so take the most notice of what sound combinations are introduced and practiced throughout the grade 2 program). This will give you an idea of how much "phonics" instruction is left or whether you are pretty much done learning new sound combinations.

If there are not many sounds combinations introduced in the grade 2 of your program, then you could just teach those sounds on your own, or you could use something like Explode the Code to teach them alongside the Emerging Reader's Set. If there are quite a few sounds and sound combinations left, then you could instead either use the last part of one of the phonics programs that we offer or you could just use the grade 2 of the phonics program you're already using. It is so important to make sure you cover all needed phonics early-on though, just to be sure you don't have to go back later and try to teach it when your child gets older and is struggling to decode longer, harder words.

Blessings,
Carrie

Thanks Carrie,
I am using the CLE Learning to Read. I have the Reading 1 and really a lot of it is just comprehension and review. There really isn't a lot of new phonics introduced. I did not like it, but liked the LTR. It just introduced the sounds and rules in a way that was easy for us to follow. I used it last year for my first grade son, but did it full speed because he was beyond ready, but the whole program ( all subjects ), just wasn't a good fit for us overall. THis is our first year with HOD, and we love it! We are using all HOD recommended items, except for the phonics.

We had that situation with our middle one last year. We were not using HOD yet, but most of the emerging readers he had already read. And, when we began Beyond this year, it was harder to select where to begin for books. So, we have done our own thing for the fall. In January we will start on one of the boy sets. Right now, he has devoured the Nate the Great Books. They are not Classical Literature, but they have been great for building his confidence and strength in reading. Plus, with the read aloud Stories of the Pilgrims, he reads a paragraph aloud on each page because he likes to do that too.


Deb