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My DD is reading CVC words with almost no problem at all. She knows all her short vowel sounds and the basic consonant sounds. She is just beginning handwriting. We're on lesson three of A Reason for Handwriting. We need to learn all the phonics rules and such since we only know the basic cat, hat, map, dog, pot type words. I have no idea where to go from here. We tried The Reading Lesson and hated it.
Please help!
Crystal

You could try Reading Made Easy, which is another choice on HOD for phonics. We used it with dd in first grade and were very happy with it. I will be using it with ds for his K year.

Also, you could try www.donnayoung.org for extra help with learning to spell; there's a list of spelling rules. This is free.

I have used www.starfall.com in the past as well for extra reading. There are also games there that the kids like to play when they are done with their 'lesson' for the day. There is no cost for this..

Another site to try for reading incentives might be www.bookadventure.com. You can assign dc books to read; then have dc answer the questions on the site about the book. The child earns points towards 'prizes'. My dd and ds enjoy that. It is also free.

Another thing we've done is play spelling games: Spelling Beez, Scrabble Jr., Boggle Jr., etc.

These are just a few things we've tried that have worked for us. I'm sure others will have some great suggestions!

have you tried any other reading program?
I've tried
Sing spell read and write.
and Teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons.

both were good programs

Thanks for the suggestions. I tried WP's K LA. I tried 100 EZ Lessons and The Reading Lesson. We just found Progressive Phonics and so far DD loves it. As in, she asks to do it first thing in the morning!

You could add in the BOB books too. The first boxed set is a very gentle, fun, easy place to begin, and both of our children loved the books. They are available at most book stores (and Sam's Club) and are inexpensive. Also, Explode the Code workbooks are a nice tie-in at that point too.

Reading Made Easy is a wonderful phonics program too, but if you are using the Progressive Phonics program and liking that... by all means just continue with that.

I do know many moms that enjoy The Reading Lesson, so for other moms that may read this, just know that different phonics programs fit different children better than others. Praise the Lord we're blessed with so many phonics program choices these day!

Wow! I won't be a much help b/c I think that's great for a 4yo!!

If you're wanting all the rules, then something like Phonics Pathways would be an option.

I hope she has a Happy Birthday in 2 weeks!!
Mel

Thanks for the suggestion on books. I think we own every phonics readers ever made. But seriously, we do have at least 4 different sets (BOB books are among those.) I do have the Explode the Code books 1-3 (We finished A-C last year.)
The Reading Lesson looked like a good book. But bringing it out, made my DD run away, so it didn't seem like the right approach for us.

Melanie - I understand that most would not be teaching phonics to an almost 5 yr old. But she's known her letters since 2 and as been trying to sound out words for almost a year now. So we "strike while the iron is hot".

Crystal,
we started phonics with both our boys before they were five with Phonics Pathways.

Three months before my second son turned four I realized he not only didn't know his letters, but he didn't even know the ABC SONG. [How is that for mother of the year!!!] He turned four in July that year, and six months later we were able to start the Phonics Pathway book. He was 4.5. We are almost finished it now [he will be 6 in July.]

I love that there are so many phonics choices - and I love that they aren't too $$$, too.

My DD is probably near the same age as yours, and has known her letters and sounds since 2, can read CVC words, etc. We've used Reading Made Easy (which HOD sells, BTW) for about 2 months now and she's really enjoyed it. I don't do it exactly as written-I tried and that wore her out, but we've modified it a little and she's enjoying it for the most part. I just started at the beginning even though some of it was review and it's gone pretty well. Hope that helps some!