I received an email from Kathy asking:
I noticed you are using Explode the Code for Phonics. Is that your only phonics curriculum? The reason I ask is I have read in a couple places that Explode the Code is a great supplemental program, but not a primary one. Can you shed some light on that for me...according to your experience?
I noticed you are using Explode the Code for Phonics. Is that your only phonics curriculum? The reason I ask is I have read in a couple places that Explode the Code is a great supplemental program, but not a primary one. Can you shed some light on that for me...according to your experience?
Here is my response:
I agree that Explode the Code is not complete curriculum for phonics. I have done Sing Spell Read and Write in previous years with my daughter, so she already knows all the phonics rules and is a strong reader. I also used Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons for awhile with her when she was wanting to read NOW and not just keep learning phonics.
Anyway, the Explode the Code books are great for continued practice once they have the phonics basics down. I also use the Grammar Rocks and Grammar Songs CDs with her so she can learn all the other parts of speech and grammar through music. The thing that really is helpful for her with Explode the Code is that it will not let her be lazy. It gives her a picture and then words that are similar and she has to figure out what word best fits the picture. (So say it's a a girl they might give her girl, grill, and growl.) Since she (like her monther!) likes to do EVERYTHING fast she has a tendancy to just glance at the word and say what she thinks it is when she reads. This makes her stop and use her phonics rules to sound out the words and find the right one.
So that is my 2 cents on Explode the Code. Hope that helps!
Happy Homeschooling,
Jamin
So that is my 2 cents on Explode the Code. Hope that helps!
Happy Homeschooling,
Jamin
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