Get Ready for the Code - Book a

I bought the Get Ready for the Code Series with it's accompanying teacher/parent book for my 5 year old daughter this summer. What fun we had doing them. She asks to do "homework" all the time. Although she knew the letter sounds already, this was great reinforcement for her. And the opportunity she gets to work on her penmanship is also a plus. I also like that they break up the consonants into 3 books so she feels as if she has accomplished quite a bit when she finishes a book. After the first few letters she is able to work on most of the book herself. Her favorite by far is what we call the Riddle page, this page has pictures and you have to read the riddle and they have to find it on the page and follow the directions.

We cannont wait to begin the Explore the Code Books.

This is well worth the money and it 's fun too.

I purchased "Get Ready for the Code" Books A-C for my 4.5 yo after our attempt with "Phonic Pathways." I started with "Phonic Pathways" because it was recommended in "WTM" and because she already knew most of the letter sounds. She totally hated it, and for me it was a chore and laborious. I went looking for something different and found "Get Ready for the Code."

She absolutely LOVES the "Get Ready for the Code" books. The amount of repitition is sufficient without feeling like you're never going to move on. We do 4- 7 pages each day and she totally gets it without being bored. I've seen a big difference in her willingness to figure out what words start with and spelling in general. (Now, this could be a function of maturation as much as the books, but I'm leaning more towards the influence of the books.) One reason for our success with the code books, I think, is that "Get Ready for the Code" is more hands on with handwriting, matching, and coloring. "Phonic Pathways" is not--or at least the way I interpreted it.

I haven't used any of the upper ETC books yet but am well pleased with the success that "Get Ready for the Code" has brought. We needed something that was gentle with repitition and we found it.

Both of my kids have been using Explode the Code since before they could read. We started them out using the Primers (Books A.B and C) and have continued onto the others. I like how these books practice phonics and handwriting. Good repetition without becoming too boring for daily use. My kids enjoy working from these and will ask if I forget to pull them.

The progressive phonics introduction, the engaging little drawings, the repetitive tasks, the systematic skill progression, among other educational objectives, all boil down to one fact ~ THIS WORKS! I've tried several other methods to assist my special child in spelling and reading. While these workbooks are marketed more as a supplement to a reading program, nothing has been more influential in my daughter actually GETTING IT! She is always eager to pull out her Explode the Code book first. The progess is consistently steady. My friend's child who is not learning challenged feels the same enthusiam. The publisher of this series also produces the wonderful Wordly Wise 3000 workbooks which are equally successful and well-received by my students.

I purchased the ETC Primers ABC as an extra supplement to our homeschooling program. The primers are divided into three books: Primer A teaches the consonants b,f,m,k,r,t. Primer B teaches the consonants p,j,h,s,n,d. Primer C teaches the consonants c,l,g,w,y,v,z,q,x. There are twelve worktext pages for each letter. Your child will learn the sound of each letter. The concept of same/different, how to trace the shape of the letter with their finger, prewriting skills, and how to write the letter itself in lowercase. The series is geared toward children who are just learning their letters/sounds. If your child already knows the alphabet/sounds and is reading I would suggest utilizing Book 1 which is more challenging.