[Note: from time to time we would like to “reprint” what actual users of Alpha-Phonics are saying about us. This came to us from Tricia at “Curriculum Choice“, a great blog filled with lots of useful information. ]
Basic. Simple. Long-lasting. Used with all of our five children to learn how to read. The phonics book that has been the go-to teaching tool in our family. Alphaphonics by Sam Blumenfeld is a full, logical resource for teaching students of all ages to learn to read.
“If you have never taught reading before in this sensible, systematic way, you will be pleasantly surprised.” ~Samuel L. Blumenfeld
Can be used for:
- teaching reading to beginners of all ages
- older students in need of remediation and retraining
- dyslexics
- special-needs students
- learning disabled
- non-English speakers who wish to learn to read English and improve their pronunciation
- a supplement to any other reading program or one lacking phonics instruction
Benefits:
- Easy to use.
- Spiral bound.
- All in one place.
- Reusable (as the website says and we have proven!)
What is included:
- 128 student lessons, all hand-lettered
- Teacher’s manual: introduction, our alphabetic system, teaching the alphabet, teaching the letter sounds, some practical suggestions, isolating the letter sounds
- order of lessons
- English alphabetic system
- introducing cursive, including cursive alphabet
- prereading alphabet exercises
- Introduces simple sentences right away for motivation.
Also available:
- ebook format – (this link includes a download of a free sample plus a tutorial on the ebook)
- Two CD-Roms – audio only – to accompany Alphaphonics (this link includes detailed description of what is included on CDs)
- Version for Kindle. Well, there you go.
Preparation and how we use Alphaphonics in our home: Other than reading the introduction and other teacher sections when I first purchased the book, there was no daily teacher prep for me. The last two years I placed the Alphaphonics book in my preschooler then kindergartener’s one, large workbox. The Alphaphonics book was there for us to leave open for the next day’s practice. You might like to see all the gentle and easy ways of reading we use at Hodgepodge.
Now, my four-year-old has the pleasure of Alphaphonics. I can say, after over a decade of using Alphaphonics, that it produces a strong reading base. All of our children easily recognized letter sounds with Alphaphonics practice. They were then excited to read real books. Alphaphonics builds confidence for a lifetime of reading.
What a privilege to see and hear the reading excitement in each of our five children!
Alpha-Phonics
The Alphabet Song!
Water on the Floor
Alpha-Phonics the Book on CD Rom
Blumenfeld Oral Reading Assessment Test
How To Tutor
How To Tutor Cursive Handwriting Workbook
I know this has been said before (and will be said again, I’m sure): BOOKS!!!!. . I’ve had too many children come to me as
first graders who own NO books of their own, and they
have never had a book that belonged in their home.
Mary Lou – Thanks for your comment! I couldn’t agree with you more. Even before I could read I remember having books and I wanted to read them so badly! (In those days we had Little Golden Books.) I was always proud of my little library and I was always happy to receive a new one. I think it is a crime against a child to not even try to instill in them the love of reading and owning their own books. It is one of the principle keys with which a young person can begin to unlock the doors of an imaginative and exciting life. How can a home not have books in it?!!
Of course, that is why we at Paradigm are so insistent and focused on teaching kids to read – it’s for the sake of a better world not only for those same kids but for all of us!
Again, thanks for your post!
David
I have used 100 Easy Lessons with 4 of my 5 chidren (the littlest is only 1 still)! It is extremely easy to use. My first two kids started out with a phonics program through Veritas Press that was very expensive and very involved. After the first year we switched to something more mother friendly. The girls always looked forward to mommy time and learned to read well after completing. I would recommend it as an easy, mother friendly, simple and to the point approach to learning to read, especially needed when you have other little ones in the house at the same time!
We used this book because it was on the shelf and seeemd so easy all in one book! Yes, she did learn to read but I wish I’d taken the time to find a more fun method.
Hi Carmen! Thanks for your comment, we do value it!
Question to any and all out there….Can anyone suggest or have experience of a secondary school (private or public) in Melbourne which is good’ with dyslexic children? By good’ I mean able to identify, adapt to and respond with relevance to his learning needs and strengths (which he now feels are non-existant), restore genuine self-esteem…. educate. My son is in year 7. I will look carefully into any and all options, there is no onus of reccommendation’- I just need some starting points.