Should I add ETC?

[Debbie in London]

Hi! Reading all the threads recently about ETC has me wondering if I should add that to our schedule. DS is a first grader and about to turn 7. He can read Frog and Toad books without a problem. Although he's able to read things more difficult, he doesn't choose to. He likes to pick books that he can read in 20-30 minutes and be done, or he just likes to read the Usborne Encyl. of World History. We are doing Phonics Pathways just to make sure we haven't missed anything in the phonics department. We are also doing GWG 1/2, All About Spelling (we write words everyday, even though he would much prefer to do it all orally), and copywork. Oh, and I should mention he doesn't really like to write. If we don't use a special pencil grip he holds his pencil in a fist. Anyway, I wasn't sure if we needed to add ETC to what we are doing and would love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks!
Debbie

[Rebecca in GA]

I'm a big fan of ETC, especially for newer readers. We never did past 5 or 6 because it just became another chore with no real advantage for us, but early on I think it can be very valuable.

[SandraDumas]

point of that. It would be serious overlap. If you aren't consistent with PP and you want to *replace* PP with ETC then maybe. But it looks like he's writing plenty for a 7yo...ETC is just phonics, not reading and not review. PP has phonics instruction, reading and review. But PP, ETC, and AAS would be overlap and maybe overkill.

[Narrow Gate Academy]

I agree that PP with AAS is plenty of phonics for now. I would not add in ETC, especially since he has so much difficulty with writing.

There's nothing wrong with a child picking shorter easier books to read alone. It helps build fluency (although I will be glad when DD2 gets tired of Magic Tree House). If you want to challenge his reading a little more why not have him read aloud a few pages a day to you from a book that requires a little more effort? We waited to do this until after finishing PP, but my kids were a little younger. Pick a separate time of the day from phonics. Start with 5 minutes and slowly build up.

HTH

[Debbie in London]

Thanks so much for each of your replies!

Rebecca, hearing all the great reviews is what got me thinking about this.

This is our first year home schooling and with our big move at the end of May we got off to a rocky start. Things are going very well now, we've settled into a routine and we are getting PP and AAS done consistently. As a newbie I've been having doubts and after reading so many great things about ETC I wondered if DS wasn't getting enough. DS isn't thrilled with PP because he's a pretty serious kid and doesn't like some of the silly phrases, but I think he'd be even more unhappy if he had to do more writing. So I think we'll stick with what we're doing. :)

Deanna, thanks for the info on reading. I just wish DS would choose to read on his own. He does have a convergence issue so I'm hoping that might be part of it and when that's better he'll choose to read for pleasure.

Debbie