Alyeska
- Reviewed on Tuesday, March 02, 2010
- Grades Used: K
- Dates used: 2004-2005
We used the K program for K and first grades. The four workbooks provided with K were enough for two years worth of phonics instruction. And the books were so thorough that we didn't even need to order the grade one set.
Since completing the K workbooks, my daughter has been an excellent reader. She has been grade levels ahead in reading and rarely runs across words she doesn't know...and I attribute all of this to this good, strong, and thorough phonics and reading course.
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Marian
- Reviewed on Tuesday, February 23, 2010
- Grades Used: 2nd
- Dates used: 2009-2010
The child for whom this was purchased began this, his first grade year, reading very well, with excellent comprehension. These great results came from using Sing, Spell, Read & Write last year. (For us,though, it was mainly "Sing & Read." I adore the songs and approach of SSR&W, but this child was just not developmentally up to the level or amount of writing required. I find this to be a common problem-- kids are ready to read before their fine motor skills are ready to do the type of writing and seat work that many programs contain.)
For this year, I wanted something that would give him a nice phonics review and start him on some more challenging, interesting, engaging literature as we transitioned to separate chapter books. We've been happy with Horizons math for other kids, so took a look at the phonics. What I saw of the program online seemed very promising: a rule at the top of each lesson, with practice beneath and on the back of the page, with 2 readers containing longer stories. I purchased both 2nd grade workbooks, and chose to just purchase the reader volume that contains Robinson Crusoe, thinking that the more boyish theme would be most engaging.
I was astonished at how technical and detailed the phonics rules at the top of the workbook pages are. The wording of the rules is completely confusing for a child for sure and is, on occasion, for an adult as well. In my opinion, the level of technicality in the rules presented is both unnecessary and completely ineffective. (And, really, must a 7 year old call the long vowel mark a "macron." Maybe that's just my own pet peeve...) Beyond the rules, the exercises are very repetetive and some of the vocabulary used is obscure. We're picking our way through it, skipping plenty, and just not taking this phonics book too seriously.
The reader was scuttled after yet another battle to read with my son. He's a bright kid, an eager reader, and, like any other red-blooded boy, was initially very interested in a story about a man stranded on an uninhabited island. He quickly grew to absolutely hate the reader and reading time altogether. That's just wrong. (He's now quite happily reading Magic Tree House chapter books with me.) I really did not appreciate that the story was rife with use of a reflexive colloquialism ("I build me a boat." ) The first time or two it was used, I explained that the usage was wrong. The third time and several times thereafter, w . e made sort of a joke out of it and corrected him ("Silly guy!") After a while, though, I was just annoyed. Why? Why provide children with such a horrible example over and over again? It's almost as if they're trying to teach that usage.
For our needs at least, I'm very disappointed
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mtanner
- Reviewed on Tuesday, January 19, 2010
- Grades Used: 1st
- Dates used: 2009-2010
My first grade daughter and I started strong at the beginning of the year and are now struggling through. I'm looking for supplemental things because this is way too fast paced. She gets it as we go, but there is no retention of the material. It's rule after rule with no great review and use. I won't use this again. This is our first year homeschooling and I must say, the public school stuff we used last year, although not as challenging, was more thorough and had better reviews.
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Lawsonclan5
- Reviewed on Wednesday, May 14, 2008
- Grades Used: K
- Dates used: 2007-2008
This has been a wonderful program for my child (1of 3). She has enjoyed the lessons, and takes great pride in her reading ability. It has been amazing to watch her learn to read! She couldn't read in August and now she is reading restaurant menus and story books to us! What a priviledge it has been to take that journey with her! I do feel that there is more writing in the program than is necessary for a K child, but we have adapted the lessons to suit her. I wasn't sure how I felt about the incorporation of grammar and punctuation into the curriculum, but she has done amazingly well with the materal. Still having difficulty with quotation marks particularly...
I definitely recommend this program; however, it does require seated book work for 15-25 minutes depending on the lesson and the motivation of the student.
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