Phonics Pathways and Reading Pathways

[LibrarianMom]

I have heard Phonics Pathways mentioned on these boards and other forums before. Today I decided to check them out and I'm interested in what I've read. I'm even more interested as I've found a really great deal on the two volumes (PM me if you'd like to know where). I know I could ILL a copy, but I'm not sure how long this deal is going to last. Now for my questions:

We've been using OPGTR and ETC which have been OK. DD is doing fairly well with CVC words and is learning some other words by sight. What is the advantage/benefits of one program over the other? If we used Phonics Pathways would we want to drop ETC? About how long should we expect it would take to work through Phonics Pathway?

Now for Reading Pathways, this items looks interesting for the extra reading practice and gradually building into larger words. Have any of you used this without using Phonics Pathways? Can it be used well without the phonics book or should they really be used in tandem? Is Reading Pathways good practice for adding to other more "fun" readers?

Any other suggestions or comments that you think might be helpful would be appreciated.

[Aletheia Academy]

I have looking into RP, as well. We have been using PP this year, and we love it. My kids are very young, so we are going very slowly. I am going to add RP next year to help develop fluency and tracking skills. To me, it looks like RP can be used as a supplement for any other program.

[Narrow Gate Academy]

We've been using OPGTR and ETC which have been OK. DD is doing fairly well with CVC words and is learning some other words by sight. What is the advantage/benefits of one program over the other? If we used Phonics Pathways would we want to drop ETC? About how long should we expect it would take to work through Phonics Pathway?

Any other suggestions or comments that you think might be helpful would be appreciated.

Phonics Pathways was the original recommendation for phonics in the 1st edition of the WTM. Many moms continue to use it simply because it has worked for them, and they are comfortable teaching it. I believe that either PP or OPGTR will do a good job at teaching a child to read. We use PP because I do not like the scripted style of OPGTR. We've used PP and beginning readers successfully with my first 2 children so far without ETC or any additional supplementing. We work through PP over the course of 2 years, but that is starting from scratch. Since your DD is already reading CVC words, I would expect that PP could be finished in one school year.

HTH

[Suzanne in ABQ]

I could have written this post. I used Phonics Pathways successfully with two children, without ETC, and before OPGTR was available. It took each child 1 1/2 years to get through the book. You should be able to get through it in 1 year. I'll probably use it with my little girl, too, when she get to that age, just because I'm familiar with it and it worked so well with my older two children.

I'm not familiar with Reading Pathways. Is that by Dolores Hiskes, too?

[LibrarianMom]

Reading Pathways is also by Dolores Hiskes. There are excerpts posted on their website http://www.dorbooks.com/index.html. It looks like it might be helpful for oral reading practice. Once I receive my ILL copies, I'll post a fuller description.

[Suzanne in ABQ]

Thanks. RP wasn't available when my older dc were learning to read. I'll keep it in mind for my preschooler's future.