Phonics with emerging readers

[scrapsmith]

We are half way through Beyond and the Emerging readers! My ds is reading well...however, I want to make sure he is not missing anything...We completed our phonics program but I think we could use a little review of some of the rules as I am seeing a few holes in our phonics program...any suggestions?? (I have seen several references to Explode the Code...is this the type of thing to fit in here??)

[MommyInTraining]

I would be interested in hearing the replies to this question also.

Carrie, I know you have mentioned in the past using Explode the Code. Is that a program that you would recommend?

Thanks!

Terri

[sharonb]

My 2nd grader is doing Beyond with the Emerging Readers, and she is also doing R&S 2nd grade phonics. Right now it's review of what she learned in 1st grade, but looking ahead, there's a lot of new material coming up later. R&S does phonics in 1st and 2nd grade, and then they are done. I don't know how other programs work, but I can definitely see where continuing with phonics will benefit dd greatly (and she's already a fluent reader).

ETA: If we weren't doing R&S, I'd be using ETC. We use ETC until they are close to age 6 and ready to start R&S 1st grade phonics.

[MommyInTraining]

Carrie and Julie,

I would love to hear your opinion on continuing phonics past a program like The Reading Lesson. R & S phonics or ETC would give more information on phonics than The Reading Lesson, is that correct? Do you think it is necessary to use something like ETC to solidify phonics information for the child in order to help with their spelling and understanding of the English language?

Thanks!

Terri

[Carrie]

Hey Ladies,

Most kiddos are reading quite fluently by the end of The Reading Lesson and Reading Made Easy, so you don't have to do any additional phonics unless you desire to do so. Now, if your little one doesn't seem to really have a great grasp of decoding or needs a little more fine-tuning, you can easily add Explode the Code while doing Beyond. I wouldn't start all the way back at Explode the Code 1 though. It may be a better idea to begin in Book 3. Book 4 is quite a jump from Book 3, and often feels out of place in the ETC sequence, so you may wish to omit 4. There's no need to go all the way through the Explode the Code series either.

At our house, we have used Explode the Code in the past just to practice writing words, not really to teach phonics. We also used a MCP Plaid workbook grade 2 with one of my kiddos because he loved to write. It was also a good phonics review. With my oldest son, we didn't use anything extra, so it really depends on how well your child is reading and writing on whether you think a little "extra" practice is helpful. Just make sure it doesn't become a chore!

Blessings,
Carrie

[my3sons]

Good morning, HOD gals! The Reading Lesson, Reading Made Easy, or whatever phonics you are doing can be enough on its own, and usually is enough on its own. Having said that, if you are feeling like a few holes need to be filled, and you can tell that going through another whole year of phonics is not necessary, then ETC workbooks fits that need nicely - or, MCP Plaid would too.

We actually used them for a different reason. My dc didn't need more phonics, but they did need writing practice. I have used ETC 2 and 3 for this purpose. I also used MCP Plaid a year. Both were short, independent, and helped my dc practice simple writing. I did them in the summer, since we have the summers off and my dc don't write much otherwise. We finished them the first part of the school year then. ETC is fun - whoever wrote it and drew the pictures has a great sense of humor! So, this filled the need my dc had well. I agree that ETC 4 is a BIG jump. We got it and stopped doing it, deciding it was no longer necessary.

In Christ,
Julie