Hi everyone! Welcome to the homeschool curriculum forum post series! Today we’re discussing reading and phonics. Since my children will be in grades prek, 2nd, 4th, and 5th this post will be geared towards elementary students. However feel free to leave a comment for whatever ages you are working with as I know it will help other homeschoolers out there!
For the early years I like to stick with basics and use Abeka for phonics and language practice. I prefer the more traditional approach to teaching letter sounds and blends as well as the reinforcing worksheets provided by Abeka.
I also like the various readers that come with the program as well as the comprehension questions after each story. You’ll want to make sure to get the “text questions and answers key” for the readers. I also like the “Read & Think” skill sheets that Abeka has starting in grade 3. They are timed reading exercises with comprehension questions at the end. The skill sheets are graded so you can assess how well your student does with comprehension. They also help prepare students for standardized timed testing as well.
Pros:
- Uses traditional sound blending for phonics practice.
- Material is grade level appropriate
- Stories are interesting
- Contains comprehension questions
- Contains Read & Think Skill Sheets for upper grades.
Cons:
- Can be pricey unless purchased used.
- Comprehension questions aren’t quite as in depth as the comprehension of BJU Press Reading program.
Another favorite is the All About Reading program! We are totally loving this program, and it’s no surprise really since we absolutely adore All About Spelling!
![aar1_thumb[1]](/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/aar1_thumb1.jpg "aar1_thumb[1]")
I already started Tinkerbell with All About Spelling Level 1 at the beginning of this year, so she was able to skip ahead a few lessons in the All About Reading Level 1 program, but I still like how the two complement each other.
The Level 1 of both AAS and AAR have a similar scope and sequence. All About Reading focuses on decoding skills, fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary, and will include lots and lots of reading practice. All About Spelling focuses on the spelling side of things like how to know which letter to choose for a given sound. Both are complete phonics programs and use the same letter tiles which makes them easy to use together. We also love the workbook activities, the pages are hands-on and interactive which makes the learning more fun!
All About Reading also has several fluency exercises that will help strengthen reading skills. The student activity workbook comes with fun hands on worksheets to help your student practice reading more smoothly. We’re currently working through both programs together and doing great!
The kit comes with these wonderful reading books which your child will have read through by the time you are finished with the Level 1 program. You can see samples for all of the readers, including the Teacher’s Manual and Student Activity book on the All About Reading Level 1 website.
Tip from the trenches: If you have a reader who is just starting out, All About Reading might be a bit easier to do first because the letters are introduced more slowly. All About Spelling assumes that a child is either already reading, or is very ready to begin reading. If a child is struggling with learning to read, I recommend doing AAR Level 1 first and then starting AAS Level 1 to reinforce the concepts learned in AAR Level 1, as well as to learn valuable spelling rules that will create the foundation for strong reading as well as accuracy in spelling.
![aar1_thumb[1]](/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/aar1_thumb11.jpg "aar1_thumb[1]")
What does the All About Reading Level 1 Kit come with? (Regularly $107.70, on sale now for $99.95)
- Teacher’s Manual
- Student Packet (Includes word cards, as well as Activity Book)
- Run, Bug, Run! reader
- The Runt Pig reader
- Cobweb the Cat reader
So, now comes the fun part!
What are your favorite Reading/Phonics curriculum, resources, websites, etc? Leave a comment below discussing your choices for this year and why.
Feel free to ask questions or reply to each other too!
It’s my way of doing a forum without actually doing a forum haha!
And hopefully, this will help us all as we start the process of researching curriculum, and trying to decide what will be the best fit for our homeschool.
Note: Please keep today’s conversations geared towards Reading & Phonics, I will be posting one for each subject separately so we can keep our comments organized.
Click here if you missed my previous Homeschool Curriculum Forum posts!
Disclosure: This was not a sponsored post, I may however be affiliated with one or more products mentioned. The opinions expressed in this post were not influenced by the company. They are products I have used and felt like sharing, cuz’ it’s my blog and I can if I want to.
Do check out the guided reading program for kids from Snap! Learning. Special Sale for Homeschoolers! http://blog.snaplearning.co/?p=217 Snap Reading Program is only $45 for homeschoolers now!
My favorite phonics/ reading/ spelling program is: http://www.spellingrules.com/dyslexia/dyslexia-books/
It’s the most logical and organized program where learning is inevitable. Words are not scattered, or the design is not done with minimal organization, like a few words here, a few there, and having to memorize all stuff this and move on. It’s very organized in huge groups of words of spelling patterns where you end up learning without trying. It’s very special.
It’s seems, of course, that there are a ton of good books and suggestions out there. My friend recommended the Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Lessons book but I don’t think it would be a good fit for my son. My son is 3.5 and a ball of energy. He doesn’t ever sit still (or quit talking!). Any recommendations for a boy who I energetic and doesn’t want to sit still? I do try to read to him aloud (although I have to admit it gets frustrating b/c he’s always running around or talking over me when I’m trying to read) so I’m not sure he’s paying much attention. I’ve asked and he doesn’t seem to have followed much in the book. 😉 But I do want to help him learn to read so suggestions on which of these books/approaches might be a good fit?
Hi, I have a question please. I am homeschooling and I am wondering how much time you spend on phonics and sight words per day. My son is at wits end and bored and I don’t want him to dislike learning, but to have to sit more that 5 mins to do a worksheet is torture for him ( he is 5). Thanks for any advice.
Hello what a wonderful resource you have here for homeschooling! I have just stumbled across your blog! My Brother-in-Law Evan Brammer and his wife Jessica are launching a wonderful site that produces handmade subscription audio stories. They home school their 5 young children and realized a need for good wholesome stories for children whether they are doing an activity or quietly listening. Let their imagination spring to life! Check out their Kickstarter Campaign
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/storymoment/storymoment
I have a friend who is trying to figure out what grade to place her child in for Abeka Reading. Can someone describe what skills a child would need to have going into first grade Abeka reading? Is there any review of alphabet and the phonetic sounds etc or does the child need to be able to read small words and have the alphabet and the phonetic sounds/pronunciations solidified prior to starting the first grade? TIA
Abeka 1st grade still works on phonics yes, but it also assumes that you’ve gone through their kindergarten reading and can at least read short and two vowel words at that point.
While I feel sight words are important, phonics is equally important. There are a lot of resources out there for teaching phonics. Reading eggs is great, another is keepkidsreading.net (a lot of worksheets for every aspect of phonics). Both great for early primary.
Hello! Has anyone used The Good and The Beautiful? I really like the way it looks and the reviews but would love to get specifics from other mamas.
Thank you!