Advice on phonics

silly · Post by **silly** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:29 pm

I know that we're not going to be really getting into phonics for a little while, but I wanted to see if I could get some advice from some of you more experienced moms.

When my oldest turned 4, I bought a copy of 100 easy lessons on the advice of some good friends. We've tried it time and time again, and I know that he just isn't ready for it, and that's fine, I'm not going to try and push him through phonics. My big question is: I just couldn't get into the feeling of it, either. There are parts, like the say-it-fast that they just can't or won't do. Also, there seems to be a lot of writing from the start (my friend told me she didn't do any of the writing with her children).

Do you think I should go ahead and keep it and use it for when we start phonics, even though I just couldn't get into it? Or, should I look around and try something else? I haven't actually looked at other programs, but I think one thing that bugged me the most is that it teaches kids to read with their finger and I wonder if they all do that? Or, do you think this is something that will get better as they get older and are more ready for it?

lil' ladies · Post by **lil' ladies** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:21 pm

I used 100 easy lesson with my 2nd dd to teach her to read.

It is difficult to get used too, but once you get the hand of it, it's easy and it works. It sounds like your 4 year old may just not be ready yet, maybe it would be best to wait and try again in 6 months.

I used it when my dd was 4.5 until 5.5. We did about 3 lessons a week, and some we repeated twice or three times until she had practiced it enough to move onto the next lesson. I would not try to rush through in 3 months, doing one lesson a day, it just seems to be too much information too fast, and the child does not have time to absorb and process.

The finger pointing part of the lesson is to help with eye tracking, which lots of kids (and adults) have trouble with, and the writing is to help 'hands on' learners remember the sound (they say it as they write it).

When my dd finished this program, she was reading at a 2nd grade level and now that she is 6.5 (one year later) she is reading at a 3rd-4th grade level.

I have not used any of the other phonics programs, so I cannot compare them.

blessedmomof4 · Post by **blessedmomof4** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 11:29 pm

100 Easy Lessons worked well for my oldest daughter at age 5.5, but neither of my other daughters could grasp it. You could try again when he's older, but if it's still not clicking in 6 months or a year, I might try switching to something totally different at that time. Lots of people like this:

http://www.readinglesson.com/

I was just saying on another thread I wish I had seen it while my middle daughter was struggling through another program

slavila · Post by **slavila** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 7:17 am

silly -

I had the same feelings as you about 100 easy lessons when I started it with my son at about the same age as your child. It went slowly at first and like you, I wasn't going to push it if he wasn't ready; put it away awhile, got it out again and just couldn't get into it. I just wasn't crazy about teaching phonics that way. That was about a year and a half ago and we are now using Happy Phonics and Explode the Code books and we are both enjoying it and he is learning well! HTH

water2wine · Post by **water2wine** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 6:00 pm

I think I have had 100 Easy lessons sitting on my shelf for about 5 years now. Tried to pick it up many times and get going with more than one child. Just is not the program for me. Don't ask me why it is still on my shelf.

We are loving The Reading Lesson and the CD. That is a super easy program to use that my kids love. It's an awesome program.

Melanie · Post by **Melanie** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 6:47 pm

I sold my copy of 100 ez lessons at a garage sale....for $1.

I had that same feeling you're describing. I just could not get into that book and I dreaded getting it out.

I think Carrie said this regarding math, but it applies to pretty much any subject area....the best program is the one that gets done!

If you can't get into it, sell it and move on!

There are too many great programs out there to get all bogged down with one that doesn't work.

I will say this though....a LOT of the time, it's not the program. It's the readiness of the child. I would wait til he's ....oh.....5 - 51/2 and give something else another try.

W2W....I'll sell your copy for ya at my next garage sale!!!

silly · Post by **silly** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 7:03 pm

Thanks, ladies, for your responses. I've just had such a smooth first few days and this is actually feeling *easy* for me, then I see that book sitting on the shelf and remember how hard it was for *me* personally. I think I will go ahead and let it go. We still have at least another year before we start getting into phonics, so I'll spend this time really looking into it. Phonics is so important to me (avid reader that I am!

) and yet I want something that will be smooth for the boys.

joyfulheart · Post by **joyfulheart** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 9:54 pm

I highly recommend EXPLODE THE CODE for phonics for all ages. There's a preschool version- 8th grade (I believe)

I'm doing Bigger, but am also doing Explode the Code as my son needs the phonics addition to the program (dyslexia and LD issues) It's great!

momof2n2 · Post by **momof2n2** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 6:46 pm

I can not say enough good things about Phonics Pathway by Dolores Hiskes. I know so many people who use it, too. My oldest was reading 1.5 level books by the end of his Kindergarten year, and my current Kindergartener is reading solidly in the 1.0 level, and will probably do well with the next reader as well. It is going just so well for us. Only a few pictures to be distractions. Very large print. We do 0.5 - 2.0 pages a day, depending on what we are working on.
Just have to plug a good program when I see someone contemplating assessing programs.

Melanie · Post by **Melanie** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 7:07 pm

momof2n2 wrote:I can not say enough good things about Phonics Pathway by Dolores Hiskes.

Ditto!! Love this book....will take you to about 3rd or 4th grade and can then do double duty as a full and complete spelling program. Great for improving visual tracking skills.