Posted in Book Reviews
|
Have I mentioned how much I like Explode the Code? With J, I used Phonics Pathways, on the recommendation of The Well Trained Mind. And it worked-- he learned to sound out words... but it was painful. The lay-out of the book is too busy, and each day's phonics lesson was a struggle. We had tears and pouting and resistance on almost a daily basis. I switched to Explode the Code to use with O. We began sometime last year (at 4 and 3/4) when he wanted to "do school" (i.e. have workbooks). I thought it might be too early, but no. He loves these books. I rip apart all our workbooks and put a page of math, a page of phonics (and whatever else we're studying-- Latin, or grammar, etc.) in their "daily work notebooks" so they can get started without me, in case the morning is crazy. Every day O has a page of ETC and a page of math. Phonics Pathways made a big deal of the fact that some kids aren't ready to write their letters when they are ready to read them, and they didn't want to link the two necessarily. Both my boys have been ready to write at the same time as they're starting to read (though the reading definitely took off more quickly than the writing for J). ETC links the two processes pretty closely, using exercises with writing and reading in an alternating fashion. Every day, O goes to his notebook and eagerly does his ETC page. And his ability to sound out words-- both to read, and to write them-- is progressing steadily. Today M asked if she could do ETC, too. So I pulled out Book 1 to try with her. She isn't as confident of all her phoenomes yet, but with some help, she sat on my lap and did three pages (the pre-test) at the beginning of the book. She loved it. Two thumbs up to Explode the Code.
"r-r-r-ock." |
Comments
|
|
|
|
|
Posted by
|
|
|
|
|