When do you move to Emerging Readers?

[Heidi in AK]

DD is in the middle of doing LHFHG, and I have been wondering for quite some time how long we do phonics work. We are doing Explode the Code Online, which I am SO HAPPY we are using, because it constantly assess the child's skill level and moves them to the next level requiring exercises. DD has really blossomed under this program.

I often catch her in the wee hours of the morning with books on her bed, which she has devoured before our acceptable wake time. She reads to her 2.5 year old brother. Truly amazing.

At what point do I move from phonics work to actual emerging readers? I just asked a question in another thread viewtopic.php?f=6&t=10737&start=15#p78273 about what to do with Storytime based on our current pace, and have been meaning to ask this question too.

She really likes ETC Online, but I just wonder what to do and how soon. There are 8 "books" to go through online, and she is partway through book 4.

[countrymom]

Generally you should complete a phonics program before moving on to the readers. I am not familiar with the ETC online, so I don't know how far in depth it goes. You want your child to have some solid basics, and although the first 2 or 3 books are not too hard the emerging reader set will take off. Your child needs to know all of the phonics basics so they can sound out words.

[homefire]

Thanks for asking, I was wondering this as well.

[mom23]

I'm also not familiar with ETC, so I can't speak specifically to that one; we did The Reading Lesson and I think that ends with them ready to begin reading 2nd grade material. It was a perfect preparation for the ER's-we just moved directly into those mid-year when we finished phonics with TRL. If you have some way to gauge what grade level they are reading with ETC, take them through approx. a first grade level and then introduce ER's. You could always try it, and if it's too much move back and work with phonics some more.

For us, the early books in the ER set laid a perfect groundwork for the later ones. It sounds like some have had trouble moving from the first books in the series to later ones and ended up using both of the optional Bibles to start out with, so you could try that, too, if moving from the easier Bible to the other books is too hard...

[KristinBeth]

Hi Heidi! We're at the end of TRL, and will finish by the end of this month, so you and I are on nearly the same page (as usual )
We're just going to get the Beyond guide and jump into the ER schedule. I have another phonics program at home that I can use for review as needed, if needed, for certain rules. But I'll only dust it off if necessary.
Ack, the end of the year is coming up soon. I guess I'd better buy that guide!

[Heidi in AK]

Kristin, I love that we are always tracking! I'll probably order the Beyond set, just to have it on hand, and I really want to get the girl readers. I'll probably get the classic set for the "real" time we go through Beyond.

[Carrie]

Heidi,

Since ETC book 4 does multi-syllable words, I would think that you could just keep going with ETC (not even needing to go all the way through Book 8 unless you desire to do so), but also begin the Emerging Reader's Set starting with whichever Bible you felt fit your daughter's reading level best. The Early Reader's Bible is the easier of the two Bibles and has a more controlled vocabulary. The Beginner's Bible is harder, with a less controlled vocabulary and longer stories.

Usually we advise going all the way through the phonics program before heading into the Emerging Readers, however ETC goes far beyond typical phonics and heads into more spelling type rules.

Blessings,
Carrie

[Heidi in AK]

That is great. We already have the Beginner's Bible, and I was wondering whether to purchase the Early Reader's Bible since we already have the other one. Do you advocate it, given that situation?

[Carrie]

Heidi,

I'd take a look at The Beginner's Bible and see if you think it is the right reading level for your daughter right now. If it seems a bit hard, then I would use The Early Reader's Bible instead. You'll need the Beyond guide for the plans and questions for The Beginner's Bible, but for The Early Reader's Bible you could just start with your child reading a story aloud a day and then answering the questions that are within The Early Reader's Bible. After you finish that you could then head into following the plans in Beyond with The Beginner's Bible next. Either scenario will work depending on how strong of a reader your child is and on what point you want to purchase the Beyond guide.

Blessings,
Carrie

[Heidi in AK]

Carrie, I think I'm going to take the plunge and purchase all of Beyond. I can't believe I'm going to go ahead and get it, but knowing we'll need it eventually, I will go ahead.

We are going to need the TM for the Bible and ER's work, as well as the ER's themselves. We'll also have to get 1A and 1B, because DD is devouring the Earlybird Math and will soon be in 1A&1B. I just thought for the shipping, we'd just get the entire kit and kaboodle.

I'm a little dizzy because we'll have to continue to do the LH from LHFHG, as well as the LHFHG Storytime box, because DD won't be ready on the History, Science, Rhymes, and Bible Study. She also needs the narrative practice from the LHFHG storytime, correct?

So, I'd do LHFHG as written for the LH, and all of the RH except for phonics now, right (where I'd do the ER's using the Beyond TM), and then move her into the Beyond manual as we complete Fine Motor Skills and ARFH K, right? She is even almost done with Do It Carefully. She worked ahead without my knowing it earlier this week!!!

[Carrie]

Heidi,

You've got it! If she finishes early with Do It Carefully/ Finding the Answers, you could always do Thinking Skills next.

I probably would try to have her only jump to Beyond for the 3R's and possibly storytime if you finish early. Overall, I do try to get my kiddos to stay on track with the plans though as much as possible, just to keep MY sanity.

Blessings,
Carrie

[Heidi in AK]

Yes, I agree, Carrie. I don't want her jumping into ALL of Beyond, because I think she needs to stay on task with the scope and sequence you have laid out for History and Science, as well as working on her Bible memory and rhymes. Thank you so much for weighing in here!!!

[homefire]

Heidi, thanks again for asking the question and thank you all for your advice. I think that we are going to be in the same boat in a few months so I'm already getting a game plan together.

[Kims]

We did 100EZ lessons and then went straight to emerging readers. We do ETC book along with this. I did just move him up to the next level though because he knew it.

[Heidi in AK]

Kim, I'm glad that there are phonics options, and that 100EZ worked for you. We ended at ETC after starting with 100EZ. That didn't work for us. My question was more when to move to ER's since ETC seems to take phones farther than the other programs.