Explode The Code provides a sequential, systematic approach to phonics in which students blend sounds to build vocabulary and read words, phrases, sentences, and stories. Frequent review of previously
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
92 of 95 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Even though most schools will tell you they teach phonics, most really do not. At best, they begin teaching phonics in first grade after teaching high frequency words with flashcards in kindergarten... which simply teaches young children that the way to read is to memorize what a "word picture" looks like. From everything I've read, getting a kid who has learned to read this way to put in the effort to learn phonics is like pulling teeth so I was determined to teach my daughter proper reading with phonics.
Once my daughter knew her letter sounds (thank you Leap Frog's Letter Factory!), I began showing her how the sounds could be "squashed" together to make words and how those sounds were inside of words. Since this concept requires a developmental leap, it can not be rushed or forced. Slowly she began to understand (she was 3.5 at the time) and one day, the light bulb clicked on. She could pick out the letters in simple words that she heard and read simple C-V-C words like 'cat'. That's when I went looking for the next step.
I checked out several books from the library, including "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons", "Phonics Pathways", and "The Reading Lesson". Of those, I liked "Phonics Pathways" the best and bought a copy. I began spending 5 minutes a day, a few days a week, working with my daughter but quickly realized that she HATED the book and it's boring lessons. So, I bought "Explode the Code 1". What a difference!
While the pictures are crude, they were just enough to catch my daughter's interest. Since each lesson has the same format, the same types of activities, she quickly learned what was expected on each type of page - a great comfort to a young child learning to do something new and difficult. We spend no more than 10 minutes 5 days a week but she has made great progress in learning to read; happily trying to add things to my shopping list and trying to sound out words she sees other places.
We also use the Bob Books (Level 1) and the Now I'm Reading books (Level 1, Animal Antics) to reinforce what she is learning and to get her comfortable reading slightly longer stories on her own. Of the two, I prefer the Now I'm Reading stories. Both are very phonics based but the pictures and stories in NIR are much better than in Bob.
Should you use Explode the Code with your child? It depends...
(1) Can your child reliably say each letter? Not the letter name but the basic letter sound like "c" in "cat" and "x" in "box"? If not, start with the Before the Code books or try the Leap Frog DVD "The Letter Factory". Do your child a favor and keep it fun - skip the flashcards.
(2) Can your child blend letters together to read simple C-V-C words like "cat"? Does she understand the concept? If not, play word games to get her hearing those letter sounds, play "spot the letter ___" in stores where each of you try to find things that start with a specific letter. Remember, this stage can not be forced and pushing your child too hard, too soon, may turn her off to reading. It's better to wait several months and try again than it is to try to force your child to be the first one in preschool to learn to read. It's not a race, it's an education.
(3) Once your child knows those letter sounds and understands the concept of sounding out words, you are ready for these books.
Does your child need fine motor skills? Not really. Yes, these books teach writing and many of the pages have the child circling or crossing through choices as well as printing words - but you don't actually have to do that. My daughter's fine motor skills are only now becoming good enough to learn to print but that hasn't stopped her from learning to read. We usually snuggle up together when we use this book and she points to the correct answer instead of marking it. We simply skip the "copy these words" pages or she tells me the letters she would need to write.
Once my daughter knew her letter sounds (thank you Leap Frog's Letter Factory!), I began showing her how the sounds could be "squashed" together to make words and how those sounds were inside of words. Since this concept requires a developmental leap, it can not be rushed or forced. Slowly she began to understand (she was 3.5 at the time) and one day, the light bulb clicked on. She could pick out the letters in simple words that she heard and read simple C-V-C words like 'cat'. That's when I went looking for the next step.
I checked out several books from the library, including "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons", "Phonics Pathways", and "The Reading Lesson". Of those, I liked "Phonics Pathways" the best and bought a copy. I began spending 5 minutes a day, a few days a week, working with my daughter but quickly realized that she HATED the book and it's boring lessons. So, I bought "Explode the Code 1". What a difference!
While the pictures are crude, they were just enough to catch my daughter's interest. Since each lesson has the same format, the same types of activities, she quickly learned what was expected on each type of page - a great comfort to a young child learning to do something new and difficult. We spend no more than 10 minutes 5 days a week but she has made great progress in learning to read; happily trying to add things to my shopping list and trying to sound out words she sees other places.
We also use the Bob Books (Level 1) and the Now I'm Reading books (Level 1, Animal Antics) to reinforce what she is learning and to get her comfortable reading slightly longer stories on her own. Of the two, I prefer the Now I'm Reading stories. Both are very phonics based but the pictures and stories in NIR are much better than in Bob.
Should you use Explode the Code with your child? It depends...
(1) Can your child reliably say each letter? Not the letter name but the basic letter sound like "c" in "cat" and "x" in "box"? If not, start with the Before the Code books or try the Leap Frog DVD "The Letter Factory". Do your child a favor and keep it fun - skip the flashcards.
(2) Can your child blend letters together to read simple C-V-C words like "cat"? Does she understand the concept? If not, play word games to get her hearing those letter sounds, play "spot the letter ___" in stores where each of you try to find things that start with a specific letter. Remember, this stage can not be forced and pushing your child too hard, too soon, may turn her off to reading. It's better to wait several months and try again than it is to try to force your child to be the first one in preschool to learn to read. It's not a race, it's an education.
(3) Once your child knows those letter sounds and understands the concept of sounding out words, you are ready for these books.
Does your child need fine motor skills? Not really. Yes, these books teach writing and many of the pages have the child circling or crossing through choices as well as printing words - but you don't actually have to do that. My daughter's fine motor skills are only now becoming good enough to learn to print but that hasn't stopped her from learning to read. We usually snuggle up together when we use this book and she points to the correct answer instead of marking it. We simply skip the "copy these words" pages or she tells me the letters she would need to write.
133 of 141 people found the following review helpful
By Tracey Wood
Format:Paperback
I'm a children's reading specialist and author ("Teaching Kids To Read for Dummies"). I've reviewed dozens of workbooks but use only a handful of the best. Nancy Hall's workbooks are among my favorites because they make absolute good sense. I could go into a lot of technical hoopla about the systematic and progressive teaching of "phonemic awareness", but really, this is what it boils down to: Nancy Hall knows her stuff and presents it in an easy to follow, attractive way with plenty of repetition and reinforcement. Great books.
66 of 74 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought this workbook when my child was about halfway through "How to Teach your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons." We were beginning to stall out and "Explode the Code" has been a good choice for expanding our phonics program. "Explode the Code" contains worksheets that reinforce both reading and writing. The same sound is covered again and again but with different activities so that it doesn't seem repetitious. It's very hands-on and my five year old can work fairly independently on it, once I read him the directions. "Explode the Code" is a nice supplement. I also recommend the "Victory Drill Book" for helping children improve the speed at which they read.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Explode the Code Book 1
I am a homeschooling mom and I Love this book! It has been great for my son who is 8 are really struggles to read at all. He started this book and can now read much better. Read more
Published 5 days ago by L. Duke
5.0 out of 5 stars
100% worked
I must be living an exact parallel life to another reviewer, Kathy Carrington. Reading her review was like reading my exact own experience; used the same resources too! Read more
Published 1 month ago by mandy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
Great Book! This series of books is a great way to help struggling learners with phonics. I use it in Reading centers with my students.
Published 2 months ago by Vanessa
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Reading Practice
These series of books lead the learner through stages of learning short vowels in a non-boring way that student's respond to effectively. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Genevieve B Dionne
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fabulous!!!
This is my favorite series to use when teaching a child to read. My 5 year old just started this series and likes it a lot. My 6 year old who is dyslexic is already on book 4! Read more
Published 3 months ago by tania Murray
5.0 out of 5 stars
My son loves it
works great , and my son loves doing his " s'plode the code" he is learning to read so easily .
Published 3 months ago by A. lail
3.0 out of 5 stars
Pages were missing!
The workbook was in pretty good shape, with a small stain on the cover, but four pages were missing. Fortunately, shortly after I received it, I found my original copy!
Published 3 months ago by Mardi
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect for my daughter
This book is just what I needed for my daughter. It's working out much better than 100 easy lessons because she's an early read so the pictures really help keep her interested.
Published 4 months ago by fiddledebbie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great for teaching reading!
Nancy Hall's products are wonderful! Children respond to the format, and I find it easy to use with
students who are having trouble reading and/or beginning readers!
students who are having trouble reading and/or beginning readers!
Published 5 months ago by loveteaching
5.0 out of 5 stars
Explode the Code Book 1
Explode the Code Book 1 is an excellent book to teach phonics in a very hands-on manner. The pace in which this book teaches letters and phonetic sounds is ideal for someone who is... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Fishfade
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