Recommendation for phonics--saxon vs ??

[icukirt]

I am still struggling with what to do for phonics next year. We are finishing Saxon Phonics K and ds has breezed through it with 10 lessons left. He is reading easy readers without any difficulty. Does anyone like one of Carrie's phonics recommendation over the other and why.

I am not married to Saxon phonics (I got it as a hand-me-down) and don't have phonics 1.

I don't know why, but I am really struggling with what to do for next year (1st grade). I've also thought about Explode the Code...

Any input would be great. We will be combining Little Hearts and Beyond next year...thanks for your help.

[tiffanieh]

My son was in your shoes last year when he came from a private school in Kindergarten. He could read level 1 books but was far from being "done" with phonics. We got Reading Made Easy and because of the foundation he already had it was super easy for us to do everyday. We were done with the book by Christmas time and he was easily reading on a late 2nd grade level by then (He is in 1st this year)

With both of my kids we've done RME AND Explode the code. I have them do 2-3 pages per day in the explode the code book (I don't "teach" much out of the explode the code books, nor do I buy any of the teachers manuals)...I use it mainly as written practice of what they do orally with Reading made easy. I didn't do any of the written work - for me or my sons that RME has you doing since we were doing it in Explode the Code.

I would highly recommend doing them both.

If you were to do as we did, then by Christmas time of his 1st grade year he will then be ready for the emerging reader set found in Beyond...it makes a seemless transition!

Yeah for reading!!! My favorite subject!

[icukirt]

Thanks Tiffanie-I just sent you a PM.

My son was in your shoes last year when he came from a private school in Kindergarten. He could read level 1 books but was far from being "done" with phonics. We got Reading Made Easy and because of the foundation he already had it was super easy for us to do everyday. We were done with the book by Christmas time and he was easily reading on a late 2nd grade level by then (He is in 1st this year)

With both of my kids we've done RME AND Explode the code. I have them do 2-3 pages per day in the explode the code book (I don't "teach" much out of the explode the code books, nor do I buy any of the teachers manuals)...I use it mainly as written practice of what they do orally with Reading made easy. I didn't do any of the written work - for me or my sons that RME has you doing since we were doing it in Explode the Code.

I would highly recommend doing them both.

If you were to do as we did, then by Christmas time of his 1st grade year he will then be ready for the emerging reader set found in Beyond...it makes a seemless transition!

Yeah for reading!!! My favorite subject!

[Mom2Monkeys]

We're doing RME as well and might do the ETC books if it weren't for the soon to be released RME workbooks. We're a "guinea pig" family giving the workbooks a pre-press trial run...I can tell you they are great! They provide lots of activities that go with the lessons. My son loves them! He's only in Pre-K this year but is reading sentences...not stories yet. But he can read parts of level 1 readers and we're only through 21 lessons of RME. Nothing has ever stuck with him, but these oral lessons/practice in the RME guide combined with the reinforcement with the RME workbooks has done the trick!

[moedertje]

Mom2monkeys,

I am so glad to hear that RME has workbook pages coming! I am considering using it with my 2nd ds in K. I just wanted to know if you know if the workbook pages will be for K, 1st grade or both? When are they supposed to come out with them? Thank you so much.

[Mom2Monkeys]

The pages correspond with the lessons in the RME guide exactly...so whatever grade your child is in while doing that lesson, it still fits! My son is 5 and is still just pre-k, but we're going strong. There are optional writing/copywork activities at the end of each group of pages for that lesson...it uses an Italics style handwriting. If your child isn't ready to write, just do the index card activities in the guide instead. We skip them for now b/c my ds isn't ready for the writing (plus we've started teaching cursive first). You don't have to do italics to use it though. I just love it! It has really helped cement the lessons for my ds...and I love how they fit just right with what he just learned. I have him do his lesson, complete a couple of the pages then begin the next lesson with the remaining pages to check for retention. It has worked wonderfully! I haven't checked her site recently, but she might have some info about them on there now??? I'll post if I get any updates.

[moedertje]

Tamara,

Thank you so much! I will check the website as well. I will be using RME with my 5 year old who will be in K. Please let me know if you find more info and if I do I will post as well.

[icukirt]

Mid-may is the release time frame...

[moedertje]

Oh, I have plenty of time. I could not find anything on it on the website, could one of you ladies please send me the link to find out this information?
Thank you again!

[icukirt]

I emailed Valerie directly from her website...

[moedertje]

That is what I did.
Thanks again and I am so looking forward to using the phonics that is recommended in the guides. There are so many Mom's so excited about the results.

[Carrie]

Tamara,

Thanks for this update! We had not received any information from Valerie at this point about these, so this is new information for us! We'll be looking forward to seeing what they look like, as workbook pages would be a wonderful addition to RME!

Blessings,
Carrie