Sonya H. reviewed on + 13 more book reviews
This book is definitely meant for public school teachers. I say this because it spends the first several pages discussing the national concern about poor reading skills, the research base for the book (classroom teachers), methodology, etc. It's information most of already know or don't need to know.
There are a few good things about the book. I really like the fact that it gives specific tips in the letter sections for "auditory-visual" learners, although sometimes I think they're confused about which learner is which! For example, under letter j, teachers are asked to spread jam on paper plates and have students trace the letter j with their finger in the jam. That's more kinesthetic, not auditory-visual (as stated). Also, there so many more activities they COULD have mentioned (but they don't) for different types of learners.
Later, students learn how to "decode" sentences rather than "read" them...
Overall, I just think they are making it much more complicated than it needs to be. When talking about writing the letters, rather than using the "top, bottom and middle" lines as we did when we were learning to write, they have this whole complicated system of "the little red house." The top line is the attic; the bottom line is the basement, but sometimes you go into the basement stairs (like with a p or a j)... Goodness. You could spend a month just trying to tell your child how to use the "house" lines!
I gave it three stars only because you CAN use the book to teach a child to read. Some of the information at the beginning of the book can be useful for teachers, but overall, I'd say stick to something like Bob Books; Reader Rabbit phonics; Sing, Spell, Read and Write, or some other terrific phonics program. This one is just too complicated.
Sonya Haskins, author of Homeschooling for the Rest of Us (Bethany House, 2010)
There are a few good things about the book. I really like the fact that it gives specific tips in the letter sections for "auditory-visual" learners, although sometimes I think they're confused about which learner is which! For example, under letter j, teachers are asked to spread jam on paper plates and have students trace the letter j with their finger in the jam. That's more kinesthetic, not auditory-visual (as stated). Also, there so many more activities they COULD have mentioned (but they don't) for different types of learners.
Later, students learn how to "decode" sentences rather than "read" them...
Overall, I just think they are making it much more complicated than it needs to be. When talking about writing the letters, rather than using the "top, bottom and middle" lines as we did when we were learning to write, they have this whole complicated system of "the little red house." The top line is the attic; the bottom line is the basement, but sometimes you go into the basement stairs (like with a p or a j)... Goodness. You could spend a month just trying to tell your child how to use the "house" lines!
I gave it three stars only because you CAN use the book to teach a child to read. Some of the information at the beginning of the book can be useful for teachers, but overall, I'd say stick to something like Bob Books; Reader Rabbit phonics; Sing, Spell, Read and Write, or some other terrific phonics program. This one is just too complicated.
Sonya Haskins, author of Homeschooling for the Rest of Us (Bethany House, 2010)
