Reading/LA Program in the Younger Years

[Taramisu]

Hi,

I am planning on starting my almost 5 year old son on a simple phonics program this year gently, as he has shown great interest in learning to read now. We won't be starting LHFHG until next summer/fall when he is 5.5. This program we are planning on doing will probably be used through next year while we are doing LHFHG so we will be subbing it for the HOD reading program. My question is, if we are done with our program by the following year, will it be easy to transition to the HOD Language Arts program at that point (in the next program after LHFHG- don't remember the name!) or is it something that you need to use from the beginning of learning to read and on for it to make sense?

Thanks!
Tara

[MelInKansas]

Actually the phonics part of HOD is not connected to the rest of the material, so I would recommend you check out the HOD resources for phonics now and start with those if you think they will work for you. The child will move through phonics at their own pace, wherever they are at, no matter which guide you are in. The other LA stuff is scheduled in the guide but also customizable - handwriting, fine motor skills, math, there are at least 2 levels to choose from and really you could add something else in if needed.

So you wouldn't do another phonics and switch to HOD's phonics. You would pick one phonics program you want to use up to 2nd grade reading level and just keep doing that through your time in HOD.

History, Bible, science, and other activities are more tightly tied to the guide you will do. I hope this makes sense!

[Taramisu]

Okay, I think I understand. But I've heard something about emerging readers? Is that for after the 2nd grade level once they are done with phonics? I would like to stick with the program I found and researched, so I guess I will use that all the way through. Thanks!

[StephanieU]

Yes, the Emerging Readers come after phonics and start at a later first grade reading level. The schedule and questions for them are in the Beyond and Bigger guides.

[MelInKansas]

Yes Emerging Readers comes in somewhere around 1st/2nd grade when the child is reading roughly at a 2nd grade level and has completed at least basic phonics. The schedule, pacing, and discussion questions with the Emerging Reader set are contained in the Beyond, Bigger, and probably even Preparing teacher's guides. You would need the books and then use the guide for the guidelines. This would be phonics/reading and as long as your child was doing well no other phonics is needed. And again you move into that whenever your child has completed basic phonics instruction and can read at a 2nd grade level.