Is a phonics program really necessary and if so...

[Sue G in PA]

help me figure out what to use. Ds6 loathes ETC. Not a workbook type kid, I guess. Okay, based on my previous posts, you know he loathes school right now period. BUT, he has always had a particular dislike for ETC. Too boring, too easy. We skipped ahead a level or so...no dice. So, what else is there for phonics that would appeal to a non-workbooky type kid? OR, do I really even need a phonics program. This kids learned to read on his own and just sort of "internalizes" phonics rules. Rules we've never covered...he just gets. Could we just read a lot and cover rules as we come to them? He also uses SWO for spelling and finds level A a tad boring as well. We are doing pretests and skipping ahead to units where he gets more than 2 words wrong. We're halfway through. TIA for your suggestions.

[training5]

My second child was like that. I would just drop it. If he reads well, which to me is the point of phonics, let it go.

[nmoira]

My oldest was a very early reader. I did no formal instruction with her other than having her read the word lists and "stories" in OPGTR (i.e. no lessons), well after she started reading. It took just a few minutes per day. I figured she'd internalize whatever she needed to internalize, and perhaps she did (though I suspect she would have ended up in the same place anyway). SWO was a complete bust for her. Sequential Spelling was much better, but we've moved to Megawords because I figured it would take less time and she wants to be able to spell NOW (SS has 180 lessons per level and, IIRC, 7 levels).

I would recommend ditching the phonics program and instead having him read aloud occasionally to check pronunciation.

[coffeegal]

Once children are reading well, you can substitute spelling for phonics. Let him run through SWO A quickly and get started in SWO B. Drop ETC, and follow your instinct. :) Read alot and cover the rules as you run into them in SWO or in your reading.

[Stacy in NJ]

If he already knows how to read drop the phonics (ETC) and focus on spelling and handwriting instead.

[Beth in Central TX]

If you don't use a program, then I would get the 70 Basic Phonogram Cards to make sure you cover all of the sounds. The flashcards would be a fast way to review phonics with him. In addition, you could set aside the cards that he is having trouble with and guide his reading to focus on those sounds.

http://www.bhibooks.net/catalog/item/4154895/4031110.htm

[Sophia]

If he reads well, which to me is the point of phonics, let it go.

I agree.
I stop using ETC once they are fluent in reading because at that point it is busywork.

[nmoira]

If you don't use a program, then I would get the 70 Basic Phonogram Cards to make sure you cover all of the sounds.I dunno, if he's reading well, I'd be inclined to do nothing until (or if, depending on the program) it comes up in spelling. Some kids just get it, and I'd be hesitant to take any of the joy out of it, especially this early on.

[MomOfOneFunOne]

My kiddo is an extremely strong reader so by the end of first grade, with reading, spelling, and latin, I didn't really see much use for phonics, per se. I feel that we get enough of it in our other lessons.

[WendyK]

I don't think it is for every kid. We don't use one (my son is 6).