krodriguez
Feb 24 2006, 01:18 PM
I just got a postcard and signed mine up for next year. Here is the website but you have to do it over the phone. Book It - They have a beginners Book It program but when I asked about it they said you had to be a
licensed daycare. I am not sure I like that, but oh well.

[http://www.bookitprogram.com/]

JessicaN
Feb 24 2006, 01:31 PM
And homeschoolers can join? it said, private, public, and parochial schools.



krodriguez
Feb 24 2006, 01:34 PM
Yes, we are considered private schools. I even told the lady on the phone and she said just
to tell me what the name of my school was. Last year I had to think fast and just said
Rodriguez Homeschool.



alisonamsb
Feb 24 2006, 05:02 PM
I quickly went through the website but couldn't get a good idea of what the program is and
how it works. Could you explain it a bit? Sounds interesting but I'd like more info. I am
currently using the accelerated reader lists for picking books for the kids. But the actual
program is way too expensive. I think I came across another program for home users (HS or
parents wanting to become more involved) at one point but can't remember what it was. Is
this similar to AR?
Thanks for any info..



Melanie
Feb 24 2006, 06:11 PM
Kelley, I mean to do this every year, and every year I scrap it. Maybe the time has finally
arrived!! Thanks for posting about it.



quiltinmommy
Feb 24 2006, 06:16 PM
WE do book It thorugh our co-op. M kids just need to go redeem there last certificate to get
their medal. Fun, fun!



cctabb
Feb 25 2006, 12:34 AM
Do you think it would be worth doing if you had to drive two hours to get to the closest Pizza
Hut?
I'd hate to sign dd up then not be able to find the time to follow through.



Sherinova
Feb 25 2006, 12:39 AM
Alison...its different than what you're thinking.
Book-It is when children read a set amount of books each month. They get a certificate for a
free pan pizza at Pizza Hut.



Tressa
Feb 25 2006, 12:53 AM
I was going to sign up for it this year, and then I realized there isn't a pizza hut close enough
to make it worthwhile. Bummer.



Sherinova
Feb 25 2006, 12:55 AM
Kelley, I might have goofed...but I signed up using the online option. It said my teacher
materials would be mailed in mid-September.



Beth S...in AK
Feb 25 2006, 03:21 AM
We did Book It for several years, but the Dc have dicided that they don't want to do it
anymore. They really don't like the P.H. pizza...and the pizza's are kind of small for them....
so they say!

==END==

MNKristy
Mar 4 2006, 12:02 PM
Hi Ladies,
I had posted previously about teaching reading to my son and got many wonderful suggestions. (To recap...he's halfway through first grade in the public school and not reading yet). We completed the Study Dog program on the internet. Now, we are making our way through Starfall. I even ordered the printed materials (the books and workbooks). Now, this week at work, I realized that the special education teacher has the Explode the Code series so I copied Book 1-1/2. We are now making our way through that. My question...I was going to order 100 EZ Lessons on Amazon but I'm not sure if I need that now. With Starfall and Explode the Code, would this book be beneficial? I just can't tell from looking at the sample pages, if I need this book now. Will it be overkill? If we continue doing Starfall and the Explode the Code series, should this be enough? Or would EZ Lessons be helpful also? Just looking at previous posts, it looked like several of you have done both so I knew that you could give me input from your experiences. Thanks ladies!



Tressa
Mar 4 2006, 12:11 PM
Well, you know..I like 100 EZ lessons. I used it successfully with my 2 older children. Having said that, I am not sure in your case I would grab 100 EZ because you are doing so many other things like Starfall and Study Dog. I think that adding 100 EZ lesson would be confusing. 100 EZ lessons is meant to stand alone when teaching reading. What your are doing sounds fine. It might just be a time issue. One day, you are going to see a light bulb go off and he is going to be reading great! I think you are setting up a good foundation.



Blaise
Mar 4 2006, 12:41 PM
I agree. What you have now is probably enough. I love starfall!
Good Luck!



mimzie
Mar 4 2006, 01:27 PM
I have tons of phonic based teaching books, probably 10-20 of various ones (I'd name them if I could think of them but the only 1 I can think of is Alpha Phonics lol, my brain is still asleep) But even with all these books in our house, the only thing that got my 6yr old reading was sitting down and opening the McGuffy Primer. We opened the book and he began to read! Slowly but he was reading!! I really didnt know he could read! LOL He only knows some of the phonics, not all of them, if we come to one he doesnt know we just learn it then and there and keep going. He's doing really good and starting to sound out words to spell (Something we dont do at all yet) Can your son put the sounds together? Like "C" "A" "T" and knows it is cat? If that comes quickly to him then I think he's probably ready, just open a book and show him how to sound out the first few words. Being able to look at 1 letter and say the sound vs reading a word is a big jump! I know with my son, it was almost like he didnt realize the sounds he knew could be applied to words for him to read them. We have never done sight words or anything like that so when he started reading, he had to read every word, no words were just known (which is the way I wanted it because I'm too worried about the look say method) He may just need some encouragement to realize he can read!
Good luck!



MomofBunbun
Mar 4 2006, 02:02 PM
I agree with What Tressa said. If what you are using now is working, there is no reason to start 100 EZ, IMO. It is not a phonics program and it's approach is different than ETC or Starfall and it might hinder instead of help at this point.



MNKristy
Mar 4 2006, 03:36 PM
He is just starting to be able to sound out words since I have started working with him. The public school uses more of a whole language approach (or the look say method that you called it!) where the kids learn site words and are given a "Poetry Notebook" to read short passages from each week. It was not working for him until I started teaching him phonics. Now that we have done Study Dog and are working on Starfall, he is learning how to sound out words and then blend the sounds together to read the word. I am starting to see progress. We did the first Explode the Code lesson from Book 1-1/2 today and he did so well. He was really able to sound out most of the words on the page, since there is a lot of repetition and all of the words are of the same vowel pattern (like today was short "a"). So I think things are starting to click for him, but it is through the phonics based approach and not the whole language that the school stresses. It has just been challenging since my other two learned to read easily. They were both reading by this point without much direct teaching. But it has been much harder for Zack. But I am seeing progress.
Thanks for your input. I really appreciate it!



alisonamsb
Mar 4 2006, 06:36 PM
I agree that the 100 EZ lessons would probably not be beneficial at this point. That book is a program that is meant to be used with younger children who have had no (or very little) exposure to letters and phonics. I love the book and taught my twins to read with it. I would recommend it to most parents just starting out with young children but at the point where your son is, it's probably better sticking with the explode the code (which I hear is great) and just lots of practice with reading. BTW, like Mimzie, I also used the McGuffey primer (and 1st reader). They are great because they are SO simplistic and build gradually. All words in the stories have been introduced past stories so there's plenty of repetition. Adults may find the stories too simplistic/boring and you may think the children would too. But my two just loved the simplicity. They were thrilled when they could read it all themselves without my help, vs. picking up other readers or regular books where they might need help with many words on each page. It might be a good option for supplementing. you can get the readers on amazon through the used section for as little as $7.00 including shipping. Ebay usually has many of them too.


==END==

cctabb
Mar 4 2006, 02:42 PM
Does anyone know of a link, book, something to help assess reading level?
Thanks.
P.S. Something reasonably priced or even better - Free


krodriguez
Mar 4 2006, 03:05 PM
Here is one I have used:
reading assessment
[http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/articles/060899.htm]
It is rather simple and I am sure there are better ones out there but it is free.


cctabb
Mar 4 2006, 03:40 PM
Thank you very much. I've just spent the last two hours looking for something online
and have had no luck. I'll check both of them and let you know which I used.
Thanks again


Blaise
Mar 4 2006, 06:29 PM
Bookmarked all of them!


alisonamsb
Mar 4 2006, 06:51 PM
I just wanted to second the thank yous! I also have bookmarked them. I have been using
just informal assessments: using accelerated reader reading levels of books and seeing how
they do with certain books in terms of word recognition and comprehension as well as
fluency ; word lists by grade levels to determine where their word recognition skills are I
found a site: readingkey.com which is great for this. They have extensive word wall lists
broken into phonics rules for each week of the year. Much more comprehensive than the
dolch list, although they include all of these as well. It's a whole program for schools but they
allow access to their word lists and a few other good activities.


Melanie
Mar 4 2006, 07:02 PM
"Reading Assesments"

This site has a lot of info. The part I am talking about is about 3/4 of the way down the
page. Scroll down until you see a stop sign.....
It's titled "More on Reading Level Assessment" and lists several links to reading
assessments.
I just did this one with my daughter. This test puts her at the the 2nd month of the 5th
grade. She is 7 and not a particularly strong reader, in my opinion. Maybe I need to rethink
my standards and lay off of her. I am going to use a few different assessments and
see what's up.


quiltinmommy
Mar 4 2006, 07:24 PM
Which one is "this" one? The word list on that page. To me a word list is not a comprehensive
assessment... reading in context and such are all part of that. I was referring to the stuff
after those two word lists.


Melanie
Mar 4 2006, 08:39 PM
Oh, okay. Duh. Yes, we just did the two word lists at first. She just did the Reading Aptitude
Assessment Test (from Mind Play) which included comprehension, and it put her at a third
grade independent reading level and a fourth grade instructional reading level, which is much
closer to what I thought her reading level was. She had a good time taking the test.


cctabb
Mar 5 2006, 12:36 AM
I did a couple different ones from the links posted and dd tested to about the beginning of
third grade. One at about the end of second grade the other about mid-third grade so I
averaged them out. One of dd little friends was here when I asked dd to read a mini-story on
the screen. The friend is in first grade at ps. She couldn't read it as well as dd did. We homeschool at
about first grade level, so I was a bit impressed with our progress.
Then after is was all over I realized that I could have had both girls read to me from a book,
and see where we stood that way. But I am glad I did the "formal" test.
Thanks for the links. They were a big help.


shelbygt
Mar 5 2006, 03:27 AM
Son just completed the English assessment on the ACE site and he places around 4.4 level.
He is doing 3rd stuff right now. Thanks for posting the links.


- - -
Note: Most of the URL's are lost.

==END==

Tressa
Mar 10 2006, 11:51 AM
I am so excited! My youngest read the first book in the Bob Book series. I can't tell you how thrilled I am! This is also a big accomplishment for me, because my other 2 children learned to read quite easily with 100 EZ Lessons. With my youngest, I have really had to step outside my comfort zone and come up with other ideas to teach him. He hated 100 EZ lessons and I was worried that he would learn to hate reading. So, I put it away. I have been using Study Dog, and felt letters that I bought at convention one year, and playdough.
Anyway, I just wanted to share my news. I am still excited. He was so happy to read that little book to his Auntie.


MomofBunbun
Mar 10 2006, 11:52 AM
How exciting!! Celebrating with you!


Sammi
Mar 10 2006, 11:59 AM
Wow!!! This is a HUGE deal!!
I remember my kids reading their first Bob books too. What a happy feeling...that lasts for
days!!!


jessicasmom
Mar 10 2006, 12:06 PM
Thats Wonderful!


mimzie
Mar 10 2006, 01:40 PM
WOW!! Congrats!! Isnt it wonderful when they first learn to read!!


TiffinKY
Mar 10 2006, 01:43 PM
That's great news!


Beth S...in AK
Mar 10 2006, 01:43 PM
That is wonderful, Tressa!


hs4hmom
Mar 10 2006, 01:57 PM
Wonderful!!! Looks like a bookworm in the making.


sumi
Mar 10 2006, 02:29 PM
That's awesome, Tressa! He's not even 5 yet, is he?


Melanie
Mar 10 2006, 03:27 PM
That is so wonderful!


Appliejuice
Mar 10 2006, 04:42 PM
WooHoo! Way to go.


Blaise
Mar 10 2006, 04:45 PM
That is soo awesome!!!


chocolatechic
Mar 10 2006, 04:52 PM
I am so very excited for you too!!!


quiltinmommy
Mar 10 2006, 04:58 PM
HURRAY!


Mina31
Mar 10 2006, 05:46 PM
Oh wow, what a happy moment. Very excitting news indeed.


Donna
Mar 10 2006, 05:52 PM
Congratulations to your little reader Tressa!


Tressa
Mar 10 2006, 07:08 PM
He will be 5 on the 31st. Can you believe that? I sure can't. He is still my baby.
Thanks everyone! I am just so proud of him. I hope that we can keep on this track.


Sherinova
Mar 10 2006, 10:07 PM
WooHoo! Victory Dance!
The first Bob book is so exciting!


praise_singer
Mar 10 2006, 10:09 PM
CelticMuse


Mar 10 2006, 10:48 PM
Tressa, this is so exciting. I'm so happy for you.


alisonamsb
Mar 10 2006, 11:58 PM
SUPER!!!! YAY!!! It feels so good, doesn't it? When you finally see it all clicking??
Alison

==END==

MKDirector
Mar 11 2006, 08:07 PM
We have been using Spelling Power for about 5 weeks and 1 son does fine with it, but my other son is really discouraged because he misses more words than ever. I don't think I am following the program exactly right, but the instructions on how to use it are almost 100 pages and I just don't have the time to read it all! I feel like my 9 yo who is struggling with it needs to goto a workbook type spelling where he has 20 words for the week and then other assignments to go with the words.
What spelling books/programs do you like??


quiltinmommy
Mar 11 2006, 08:11 PM
I use Spelling Power with my older kids... My youngest daughter uses Spelling Workout and we like it as well. My guess is that he's not in the right level which is why he isn't doing as well. have you considered moving him down a level. I never read the entire book either. I read only the sections I needed to get started. Let me know if I can help you sort through it.
MKDirector


Sherinova
Mar 11 2006, 09:16 PM
You are doing it correctly. Are you using just one group at a time and reinforcing the spelling rule before you give him the daily list? Its recommended to test no longer than 5 minutes. Sometimes we don't even make it to the 5 minute time limit because I stop if my son has missed 3. Some groups are harder for my son than others. I have also made a chart of each spelling rule w/the examples (not the word list, although sometimes those are included in the examples). He doesn't always use them, but there are handily taped to the wall if he needs to look.

I've had an off & on again 'relationship' (if you will) with SP and wondered if ds wouldn't do better with a workbook fill in the blank type spelling program. Currently, I've decided to stick w/SP. If he has to do the 10-steps all week on the same couple of words, then its really no different than a daily spelling assignment. Anyway, that's how I've decided to look at it.

I've also gone back to a couple Explode the Code books that I have on my shelves...the last couple of levels and have son working through them. I try to align them up with the spelling rule of the week, but it doesn't always work out nice and neat like that. I think it is helping because the daily spelling lists are going better.


MKDirector
Mar 11 2006, 10:06 PM
=[quote name='Sherinova' date='Mar 11 2006, 08:16 PM' post='196800']
"Are you using just one group at a time and reinforcing the spelling
rule before you give him the daily list?"

No.....sometimes groups overlap...we do 24 words a day. I haven't done anything with the spelling rules.


TiffinKY
Mar 11 2006, 10:42 PM
I'm using the Building Spelling Skills by Christian Liberty Press. It is basically a 20 word per
week workbook format. I have to divide the list in half (10 words per week) for my oldest ds
with special needs, and then I supplement with additional activities.


quiltinmommy
Mar 11 2006, 11:25 PM
The spelling rules really help my kids and I set the timer and only give words for 5 minutes.
Sometimes we whiz through the list, other times we barely get half way through it.


Sammi
Mar 12 2006, 08:11 AM
I bought spelling power a couple of years ago.
Did not like it....sold it....never looked back.
Yes, I did read the 100 page intro....ughh!!!

==END==