explode the code

hello.How about the LIPS program?? Is this an effective tool to help my dyslexic son with sounds? Is this a program that takes us a few years to get through? or an intensive program to get the sounds of letters down pat?? and then I move onto something else..thanksruthann

PASSWORD>aa4um5Lp2CxdURuthann,I’ve used Explode the Code with both my boys and we enjoy it. The series is geared to kids 6-8, but since a lot of the pictures and sentences are silly, your son might still enjoy it.LIPS is a very thorough program, but as I understand it, it takes a while to get through it. If your son has trouble distinguishing between similar sounds he hears in words (bat vs. pat, mit vs, met, etc.) then LIPS would probably be the way to go. On the other hand, if the problem is knowing which letters are associated with the sounds that he hears, other programs will probably work as well and take less time.Reading Reflex might be a good choice to start with. It’s a good systematic program that clearly teaches the sound-symbol relationships that enables kids to master decoding skills. Reading Reflex is probably even more babyish than Explode the Code, but if he makes rapid progress you can move on to something more age appropriate. Cost is about $30- you can probably check it out from the library to give it a whirl before you buy.I personally prefer Alphaphonics over Reading Reflex- Alphaphonics has page after page of phonetic text in large print that is easy for 6 and 7 year olds to read, but it doesn’t have as much teacher instruction and trouble shooting tips as Reading Reflex. I’ve done so much research on reading, that I really need phonetic reading material more than I need teaching tips, but your situation may be different. Cost is about $25.After he gets the basics down, you might move on to Great Leaps. This program helps kids move from basic decoding to fluent reading, and they have different materials for kids of different ages, so your 10 year old can read about baseball instead of teddy bears, but still at a beginning reading level. Cost is about $70 I think.Hope this helps.Jean. : hello.: Does anyone use this program? I have a 10 year old son that I would
: like to start on an organized reading program..This looks good and
: affordable, but kinda babyish..Is it?: thanks,: ruthann

Thanks Jean..I actually ordered explode the code…and will check out Great Leaps..Is there a site online? I’ll look..ruthann

Website for Great Leaps is http://www.greatleaps.com.Great Leaps works on automating reading of small words (of, the, and, etc.) to improve reading fluency. It doesn’t teach decoding skills.Great Leaps is a good program for what it works on, is well laid out and easy to implement in a home setting. Just keep in minds its focus is narrow.Mary: I actually ordered explode the code…and will check out Great
: Leaps..Is there a site online? I’ll look..: ruthann

Organized program that has worked for me in the past, is flexible and can be tailored to the student, and is very inexpensive:(A) Scholar’s Choice Check and Double-Check Phonics workbooks #1 to 4 (each is planned as a year’s work, but I spend more time and finish them a bit faster; #1 and #2 will keep you busy for a school year) available very inexpensively online from Scholar’s Choice; this is the systematic synthetic phonics instruction part of the program. Not too babyish even at the start, not at all babyish after first 2/3 of #1 (B) Guided oral reading. Stage 1 — Any reasonable limited vocabulary “Dick and Jane” type reader will do, anything that presents the first 100 to 200 words in English in an organized manner, in sentences, repeating the same words in many, many different uses. I use the old British Ladybirds, and as they are now out of print, I’m collecting used copies on the web. Ask for help if you are interested. Your son at age 10 is probably beyond this. Stages 2 and up — a reading series (or better, two or three in parallel)that is/are linguistically rich and stress/es development of word-analysis skills. I use a set of books from Holt-Rinehart that are based on phonics, titles “Mac the Rat” in Grade 1, “Silver Steps” and “Golden Trails” in Grade 2, “Wings of Wonder” and “Flights Far and near” in Grade 3 (Again, used book stores and web searches). I also use some Canadian series that are rich in language and ideas. (C) Comprehension and writing about reading — start formal work (as opposed to informal verbal discussions of the reading)around Grade 2 — I don’t have any specific series on hand, can’t get old ones even on searches, but Scholar’s Choice has a large choice of high-quality materials.If you are interested in detailed suggestions on how to put a really good program together and/or where to get the best material at a feasible price, please emailVictoria: hello.: Does anyone use this program? I have a 10 year old son that I would
: like to start on an organized reading program..This looks good and
: affordable, but kinda babyish..Is it?: thanks,: ruthann

Hi. This website http://www.epsbooks.com is a catalog site that sells all the Explode the Code materials. They also have a huge amount of samples for you to view, so you can see for yourself if the books are too below-level for your child.We use this and we find it very slow moving but very helpful for him.

You can also order an info packet from them with all their products listed.