Phonics Pathways: Clear Steps to Easy Reading and Perfect Spelling

I nanny a just-turned-4-year old and we’ve been working through this book the past several months. Though we’re not super consistent with it, he’s picking up so quick! This is how my mom taught us how to read and I’m excited to be able to use it with the next generation.You don’t have to know anything about teaching to use this book. It’s great for anyone needing to learn how to read and much more effective than sight words or other strategies.

This book was recommended to me in the Well Trained Mind. My not-quite-three year old and I are, very casually, very much for fun, going through the book. We are only on the fourth consonant (short vowels were first), but I can tell he's already starting to figure it out. He blended the "se" set all by himself. I didn't prompt or anything and we were on a new page. I don't call it reading but it's pretty exciting.I recommend only doing this for fun with a kid that young. I ask if he wants to learn to read. If he jumps in my lap, we do a page or so (kiss after every effort, right or wrong); if he says no then we just go on about our business. I hope for a yes at least every day, though.In the book, flipping ahead, it looks like by page 28 (we're on 12) he'll be reading several three letter words. That's crazy. That's like 14 days from now (instr. to mom in there, as well).It's a lovely layout, if the graphics are a bit pixilated. I like how great a value it is. You also don't need cards, worksheets, pens, pencils, or anything. I'm doing this the way WTM suggests and ignoring the bit about you can't proceed unless you can write the letter, too. I'm not going to let low coordination in fine motor skills stop a kid from reading.Other phonics programs cost way way way way more and have tons of little pieces and parts and tapes. This is just a book and it blows all those other programs away.Please remember to have fun teaching reading. These are impressionable years for these early readers.

I homeschool four daughters. We began using Phonics Pathways when my eldest was five. She is a very intelligent child, and caught on quickly to the simple format in which the reading and spelling skills are presented. In half a year she has begun reading books at a much harder level than what we are studying in Phonics Pathways, and is already reading at a second grade level in the tutorial. We also use the book to teach spelling, since it includes spelling rules. My second daughter does not have her sister's knack for the written word. I hesitantly began using Phonics Pathways with her just shy of age four to teach her letter sounds and simple blending. She has also been successful with this no frills, straight-forward approach to phonics tutoring. I have even begun using it with my two-year-old to reenforce letter identification. The layout of the book allows each girl to go at her own speed, without frustration. There are adequate reviews, although you may wish to check out some of the author's support material for further reenforcement. Have a ready supply of easy readers on hand, because in a limited time your child will be able to read simple books, such as the Bob books and basic Dr. Seuss. Some children need extra stimuli (songs, etc.) to help them learn. For those that don't (and even some that do, like my second daughter) we have found that the Phonics Pathways approach offers a simple, slow and steady method that can serve as an entire phonics/spelling program, without muddling the process with too many extras. All learning types can benefit from this book. It is also an excellent boost for remedial readers, and I, as an avid reader and freelance writer, have appreciated the spelling refresher! One note: the author recommends learning to read and write each word from dictation before moving on. We found this to hinder the speed at which my first child could move along in her reading, since children naturally develop faster in some areas than others, so, although we use the book for spelling and phonics, we move her ahead in each area at different speeds. This has caused no difficulties whatsoever!

My mom has used this book (literally to shreds) to teach all of my younger siblings, and I plan on using it for my children, as well. It's systematic, easy-to-understand, and builds from the basics so kids have a firm foundation to build off of. Dewey the Bookworm is cute without being insulting, and the little sayings are very encouraging for new readers, which can be very a very frustrating time. I wish this book had been around when I was learning to read! I would recommend it to anyone who's teaching someone to read, particularly if they're having trouble.

I found the book to be more than just excellent. The reader will learn better techniques to teach phonics than I found in other books.

This book is an excellent one for anyone teaching beginning reading. Phonics is broken down into easy to follow steps, making it easy for even parents to follow. I am using this for tutoring children in reading and have been very successful with it. I would definitely recommend it.

Taught my 3 kids to read using this book. Bought it again to help some kids at the school.

I had a friend recommend this. I do not care for it at least not at the start of the book for those just learning phonics. I think it would be good for 2nd and 3rd graders to practice speed and spelling. In my opinion this is a supplement, not a solid teaching system.