As the mom of five young children, I am often on the hunt for resources that will get used time and time again. I need resources that are flexible enough to meet the needs of all five kids–from my gifted child to my very hands-on learner who needs lots and lots of practice. This book definitely fits the bill and is a huge asset to any homeschooling mom who is teaching phonics and reading.
How It’s Laid Out
The book is organized into various charts that coincide with a particular sound and spelling rule. Most charts have exceptions called “every day bloopers” as well. There is a chapter for games and teaching phonics, a chapter on teaching and encouraging good writing skills and ideas and a chapter on vocabulary roots. To say that it’s comprehensive is almost an understatement. You do have to read the directions (imagine that), but what I love about this program is its flexibility.
The book is designed to go with Eagle’s Wings’ Alphabet Island Phonics (which I also love by the way) but it doesn’t have to, in order to be practical and well used.
Some Things That I Really Love
It can be used from kindergarten all the way up to 9th grade. For large families, this means one book–for all the kids.
It works very well as a supplement to what you’re already doing (but it can also be used as a stand alone). The reason I like it as a supplement is that it is an effective means of reaching my gifted and language prone learners. It’s also effective as a tool of remediation in working with my learners who need more reinforcement. I feel that it is designed well enough to really be used, rather than using me! You can easily go at your own pace–be that faster or slower.
I love the way they teach penmanship. Each letter has a little formation poem that goes along with it. While I realize not everyone loves the idea of memorizing a little poem for each letter–I would suggest that it doesn’t have to be taught as memorization but rather just repeated each time the child practices that letter. What I have found, is that for my horribly sloppy writers–it’s a great way to reinforce penmanship skills. Also, I can see already that the formation poems are going to be very helpful in teaching my two lefties how to write.
I could write quite a bit more, but I’ll sum it up with this: The Comprehensive Phonics Book is a ‘must have’ resource if you are teaching phonics. . .especially if you are teaching more than one child.
Do you have a curriculum you want me to review? Drop me a line!
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