Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the replies so far.

She can read and did end 1st grade reading at a first grade level but still struggles with decoding words. K and 1st cover the basic letter sounds but there was very little work with letter blends so we are still struggling with those.

Barton is great for decoding. SO is WIlson, but it needs more training. Barton is more geared toward the parent at home.

My only hesitation with Barton would be that it is really expensive.

It is less expensive than tutoring.

Op,we are preschool homeschool phonics folks, but I just want to cheer you on here!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the replies so far.

She can read and did end 1st grade reading at a first grade level but still struggles with decoding words. K and 1st cover the basic letter sounds but there was very little work with letter blends so we are still struggling with those.

Barton is great for decoding. SO is WIlson, but it needs more training. Barton is more geared toward the parent at home.

My only hesitation with Barton would be that it is really expensive.

Ask around your homeschool community you might be able find someone's to borrow or rent.

Also try out Spellingcity.com and Readinga-z.com.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the replies so far.

She can read and did end 1st grade reading at a first grade level but still struggles with decoding words. K and 1st cover the basic letter sounds but there was very little work with letter blends so we are still struggling with those.

Barton is great for decoding. SO is WIlson, but it needs more training. Barton is more geared toward the parent at home.

My only hesitation with Barton would be that it is really expensive.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the replies so far.

She can read and did end 1st grade reading at a first grade level but still struggles with decoding words. K and 1st cover the basic letter sounds but there was very little work with letter blends so we are still struggling with those.

Barton is great for decoding. SO is WIlson, but it needs more training. Barton is more geared toward the parent at home.

Anonymous wrote:A bit tangential, but in the troll spelling thread someone recommended All About Spelling. I looked this up and it seems very phonics based. It could be helpful in your situation.

All About Reading is their related curriculum which I've heard good things about on homeschool forums. My son is younger, but I really like Logic of English Foundations. Blends are hard for some kids. Have her count out the sounds she hears when you stretch out the word slowly. Sometimes we pretend words are like rubber bands that we pull apart and then snap back together.

A bit tangential, but in the troll spelling thread someone recommended All About Spelling. I looked this up and it seems very phonics based. It could be helpful in your situation.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the replies so far.

She can read and did end 1st grade reading at a first grade level but still struggles with decoding words. K and 1st cover the basic letter sounds but there was very little work with letter blends so we are still struggling with those.

PBS kids has online games. ABCya and Starfall are other favorite online resources.

Thanks for the replies so far.

She can read and did end 1st grade reading at a first grade level but still struggles with decoding words. K and 1st cover the basic letter sounds but there was very little work with letter blends so we are still struggling with those.

Tell me a little more about your kid. If they aren't reading at all in second grade I'd recommend an entirely different program than if they are reading at or above grade level. If they on or above, explode the code is fine- I'd start around book 5 or so. If they are not reading or are below grade level you need to spend more money catching them up (all about Reading, logic of English) and if they are really struggling Barton.

Explode the code is a great program.

We liked Abeka phonics. I wouldn't recommend them for any other subject, but the phonics curriculum was solid and worked well for us.

Most phonics instruction happens in K/first grade. You're looking for something for a pre-reader, right?

Here's some good background that might help:
http://www.readingrockets.org/article/phonics-instruction

For those who homeschool and use a Phonics curriculum - can you talk about the one that you use and that your kids have benefited them most from? My child is in 2nd grade.