Phonics K: Home School Version (Saxon Phonics & Spelling)

What I would like to say has to deal with the work book that accompanies this program. I find the arrangement of some of the exercises confusing for one's eyes. They have an upper case /lower case match up on some pages. They use two rectangle boxes filled with the upper case and lower case letters, the child is then supposed to draw a line from the upper to the lower case. The problem is, the boxes are right next to each other,so it's an eye circus for the child. So, I fold the paper in half for my kid to work on one box, then turn it over for him to work on the other box. The same problem I find when they ask the child to circle a particular word by a row of words in line #1, then in line #2 and so forth. The row of words are right under each other. I have had to cover all the other rows excluding the one he is working on to eliminate "crazy eye" problem. The program does use alot of manipulatives and this can get hairy if you have more little ones at home, and you are trying to homeschool. The nice thing is you may use the games or such if you want, or fashion it to meet your child's needs. I don't care for their explantion of the "silent E" they refer to it as a "sneaky e". I used my own explanation (silent e) and of course, "when two vowels go walking....". A nice additon to support this program are the "leap frog" dvd's that talk about letters.Leap Frog - Learn to Read at the Storybook Factory.

This is a superb homeschooling phonics program. Unlike other programs, this is a clearly laid out, lesson by lesson, rigorous kindergarten program that actually expects children to be able to read. Each letter is systematically studied in the classical Saxon format of incremental learning that has been so successful in the well-known math program. Each sound is reviewed along with the rules necessary to put these sounds into use in order to enable the student to read. The homestudy manual follows a week-by-week, day-by-day format with one increment of learning per week. Starting with one letter/sound per week, all consonants and short vowels, the double consonant rule, the long vowels, several digraphs (i.e., sh, th) and more are taught in this kindergarten phonics program. The education is not cluttered up with "cutesy" timewasters so common in other kindergarten curricula. I want to get the word out to all homeschoolers that this is the best-kept secret for teaching your child to read out there! You will never be disappointed. Once more, Saxon Publishers has provided a treasure to all homeschoolers to ensure their children's academic success.