Winter Promise “Just Learning To Read”

After using Winter Promise PK/K Basic Phonics last year (& LOVIN’ it!!), I decided to move on to WP “Just Learning To Read”.  I especially liked this curriculum because it incorporated Explode the Code (huge fan!) & I love the Now I’m Reading beginning readers. 

*Before I go any further in detail, I want to make it clear that I have not used this curriculum consistently, due to the way life has gone for us it has been more of a stop & go :)

I like Just Learning To Read, but for me (TYPE A) & my boys (well, 100% boys), it jumped around a little too much.  The key focus wasn’t clear throughout the program.  For example the focus may be short a, but a particular word family was not a main focus.  So using Explode the Code the focus could be –at, but the worksheets were –at, –an, & –ap, which were not explained or taught anywhere else in the program.  The readers correspond to the vowel focus, but also contained other blends & sounds that had not been covered.  Sight words were not formally introduced in any particular part of the program either.  For some kids these are not issues, for us it was just too jumpy to master any particular focus.  So that was my main issue with the program.  Here is my overall opinion:

• The guide – wonderful, informative, very easy to use.
• Handwriting pages – the lines were not wide enough for my boys.
• Explode the Code books – love.  However, after book 1 is completed I noticed the program uses book 2 & 3 out of order (a couple weeks on book 2, then a couple lessons in book 3 & back & forth).
• The Word Family Activity book – I liked parts of this, but much of it was over their head & just became busy work.  The space allowed for writing is extremely small & this was a big problem for us.
• Read & Write Mini books – this was my boys’ favorite part.  They took great pride in making their books & we will continue using these as we review.
• Readers Set – I really do like these books & my boys enjoyed reading them a great deal – I just wish they would have corresponded more to the program.

We began the K program this fall & I have seen great progression & maturity for reading, but I don’t think my mustangs are ready to continue on to Explode the Code Book 2 (which is where the program is headed).  So, I decided to take a little break from WP & do my own thang – REVIEW!  At first I thought I’d just pick up ETC Book 1 1/2 (1/2 levels are review).  But I actually think they not only need 1.5, but they also need to redo book 1.  Some of the material in WP was just too advanced for them when we started & I really haven’t pushed them, but would like to see more concepts understood before we continue.  I will be sharing over the next few days how I plan to tie things together more for them.