Pyramid - Reading Pathways

[psreit]

There have been threads on the topic of Phonics Pathways, so, out of curiosity, I was searching it online. I was not familiar with PP. Although I am using TRL and really don't have a desire to change that, I was wondering about the Pyramid book, which, if I understood correctly, is now Reading Pathways. When I get dd through TRL, how would using Pyramid help past that? Is that something more than what would be gotten through ETC, which I use along with TRL, and will probably continue to use after TRL. Looking at the samples for Pyramid, I like how it works, but I'm not sure how it would fit in with the phonics we're doing now. Am I looking at too much? I don't know. I guess I just feel, at this point, that dd will continue to need something after TRL. Maybe once things really 'click' I'll feel different.

[MamaPajama]

I'm not familiar with the Pyramid book, though I've heard of Reading Pathways. We have used Phonics Pathways in the past and will still use it if need be. I'm hoping to switch DS over the TRL because PP has TONS of long word lists. We would usually get through half a page in one sitting. However, when we finish TRL I plan to pick it up in PP, which will be about 2/3 of the way through. PP definitely takes the child beyond the reading level in TRL. I'm not sure if that helped at all, but I hope it did!

[Kathleen]

We finished TRL this spring, and my daughter was ready to move into the Emerging Readers right after that. She's young...and so I'm planning to use both Bibles at the beginning of the set to stretch it out a little for her before we get to the more difficult books. We've started the Early Reader's Bible, and then will follow with the Beginner's Bible. I'm also planning to start with the 1st spelling list in Beyond with her. (Phonics kind of moves into spelling as the kids get older.) So, while you could use a program like Phonics Pathways that covers every rule there is, I don't know that it's necessary. (And that's totally a personal choice...which is why HOD leaves it up to us as the parents. ) I did use a VERY thorough phonics program with my oldest that covered every rule there is. For us it was overkill , and I know that we both would have been much happier by following HOD's reccommendations like I'm doing with the next in line.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that you could use a phonics program that continues to teach phonics up to a higher reading level. OR you could use one of HOD's reccommendations like TRL and follow up with the Emerging Reader's Set & the spelling scheduled in the guide and end up at that same higher reading level. Does that make sense??

:DKathleen

[MamaPajama]

We finished TRL this spring, and my daughter was ready to move into the Emerging Readers right after that.

I was curious about this. I wasn't sure if it was necessary to continue phonics once you start the ERs.

[psreit]

I definitely want to go to the emerging readers after TRL. I know some do continue with phonics during that time. So, then I wonder if dd will need something else after TRL. How will I know?

I didn't homeschool my older dc when they were learning to read, so this is new to me. I just want to make sure I don't miss something. My oldest two were sight readers and the younger of the 3 was a phonetic reader. She struggled more with spelling because of this. I see dd(7) being more like that. She wants to sound out everything; even sight words. But, doesn't reading become more by sight, the longer they read? How many rules do we think about when we are reading? I can see how that could become overkill. We aren't too far into TRL, so I guess I just need to give it more time.

[MamaPajama]

I definitely want to go to the emerging readers after TRL. I know some do continue with phonics during that time. So, then I wonder if dd will need something else after TRL. How will I know?

I didn't homeschool my older dc when they were learning to read, so this is new to me. I just want to make sure I don't miss something. My oldest two were sight readers and the younger of the 3 was a phonetic reader. She struggled more with spelling because of this. I see dd(7) being more like that. She wants to sound out everything; even sight words. But, doesn't reading become more by sight, the longer they read? How many rules do we think about when we are reading? I can see how that could become overkill. We aren't too far into TRL, so I guess I just need to give it more time.

I can understand what Kathleen said about phonics merging in with spelling. I suppose at some point it does seem silly to continue with phonics when they will learn the rules by learning to spell the words also. Another things worth noting is that even though Phonics Pathways boasts a 4th grade reading level upon completion, it is recommended for K-2nd, probably for the same reason. That's my best guess anyway. Having not explored this territory yet myself, I teeter between confidence and nervousness.