Tyler is a very bright child, but a very busy boy . . . so teaching phonic's has been a learning process for me with him (great for the next 2 boys in line though:)  In Kindergarten I really didn't "push" him -- we explored a couple programs & ended up with Hooked on Phonics.  At the time that was GREAT & I would recommend it.  As he began to be able to read more -- he wanted more!  I realized along the way that he was wanting to read by sight (he is a great speller).  I picked up some of the Pathway Readers (*available by Rod & Staff).  We would do a story a day & add phonic's to eat for 15 minutes.  I realized in doing this that he was "done" about 5 minutes into the phonics.  About this time I picked up The Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading (*available at Peace Hill Press) so I decided to make a plan for these great programs (there I go again) . . .

Monday:  1 Story in a Pathway Reader (Narrate back the story, answer my questions about the story, ect), work on sight words using flash cards, & do 2 pages of Explode the Code

Tuesday, Wednesday:  1 lesson from Reading Lessons, review previous lesson & any problem lesson, do 2 pages of Explode the Code

Thursday:  Corresponding "blends" in Hooked on Phonics workbook, do 2 pages of Explode the Code.

Friday:  Storytime

I know this sounds like "a lot" but I had to have variety for him to keep him from buring out on one program.  This works for us.

I'm not sure if I will use Hooked on Phonics again with my younger boys, I am very interested in the Veritas Press Phonics Museum.  I love the rich pictures they use!

Tiff