?s about Reading Made Easy

bookworm · Post by **bookworm** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 1:40 pm

Ironically, before I had heard of HOD I looked at Reading Made Easy for my son. He was mid way thru the learning to read process so I never bought it and just finished up with Explode the Code books.

So now that my 6 yr old is learning to read I've been looking at programs again. She can read the short vowel 3 letter words but that's where we are now. I picked up Phonics Pathways about a yr ago but it's not really cutting it for us. My DD doesn't really like it and I want her to enjoy reading.

Now that I see Reading Made Easy suggested with HOD I thought it deserved a second look.

Can anyone give me some reviews? Is it a scripted program like 100 Easy lessons, I can't remember the format.

Thanks,
Ann

Melanie · Post by **Melanie** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 2:18 pm

Hi Ann!
I would check out the table of contents for each book before deciding....the order that the letters and sounds are introduced are different from one program to the next. I think RME introduces long and short vowels together and The Reading Lesson is more traditional and would be a little easier to jump into in the middle.

Did you use Reading Pathways or Phonics Pathways? I've not used Reading Pathways, but do use Phonics Pathways and just from looking at sample pages, it seems that Phonics Pathways, The Reading Lesson and First Reader are very similar.....so RME might be a good change of "style" for you and it is scripted.

I would also make sure she's just not "hitting the proverbial wall" with reading right at this time. It may not be a different book, but maybe more time that she needs. You know the expression about finding something you lost in the last place you looked....well, sometimes the same is true of reading programs. It may seem that the last one you use was the one that worked, but in reality, it was just the readiness of the child.

bookworm · Post by **bookworm** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:09 pm

Thanks Melanie. Yes, it was Phonics Pathways, not Reading Pathways.

blessedx5 · Post by **blessedx5** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 8:31 am

I have Reading Made Easy and to me it always seemed like a lot of work....that is mostly why we dropped it. I have an older copy I bought several years ago so unless it's changed (which I doubt) I would try and get a hold of a copy and compare it to others before I bought it.

Debbie

Lilyanna · Post by **Lilyanna** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 9:29 pm

RME is highly scripted.

As Debbie mentioned, RME can be a lot of work. It incorporates writing, drawing, and activities with copywork and flash cards. It doesn't have to be used that way though. My dd wasn't ready for writing activities, so we skipped all of those. We just did the reading portion and it was an "open the book and go" program for us. About 3/4 of the way through the book, I realized that I was holding dd back too much. We dropped the program and she started reading normal books.

We have been using ETC for writing and spelling practice. If I had used RME as designed, maybe I wouldn't have needed to teach these separately. She just didn't seem ready at the time. I plan to use RME with my next dd. It can be as little or as much work as you want.

Post by **Carrie** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 2:05 pm

Here's a thread with some links that may help!
http://www.heartofdakota.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=708

Blessings,
Carrie

bookworm · Post by **bookworm** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 2:40 pm

Thanks Carrie, that was really helpful. Hearing more about people's experiences helped me understand the program a little more.
Since my DD is very visual I think the dotted letters, gray letters, etc will appeal to her and help her with the process.
She's such a different learner than my DS! It's like a whole new homeschool journey with her

?s about Reading Made Easy

?s about Reading Made Easy

Honestly....