Favorite "learn to read" book/program

[cpendergraff]

For k and younger.

Thanks!

[iris0110]

We use funnix and really love it. It is a computer based program that teaches from letter recognition through 3rd grade reading comprehension. It really is the ideal program both for my oldest who needed a little reading confidence boost (and just does better with computers) and my youngest who started at 5 with no reading ability and has little to no concentration and a desperate need to argue with and defy me. He doesn't have to work with me, everything is on the computer and he loves his computer teacher. He feels so smart now that he can read and loves bringing me little books and showing me how well he can read them. He is also quite the little champ at spelling so I must say the program works quite well with phonics (Tharen is more advanced in the reading, writing and spelling department than math). Funnix is by the same people as Teach Your Child to Read.

We have also done some www.progressivephonics.com It is free minus the printing cost. You just print out the books and work sheets to go with them. I thought it was a bit slow and awkward though. The boys do seem to enjoy the little books. They also enjoy playing with www.starfall.com

[dolphingirl]

We love Happy Phonics (from lovetolearn.net) combined with the Get Ready for the Code series (the precursor to Explode the Code).

[JackieLyn]

I like Stairway to Reading. It's a free program more for kids who are having problems with reading, but it can definitely be used as a beginners program as well. It would be helpful if your child knew all the letters and their sounds first. It's also easy to use.

[RainandRedemption]

DS was in prek this year and they used abeka. He has done well with it, no stress or anything, he picked it up really easily. But, if I would have kept him home this year and looked into learning to read, I probably would have leaned toward a whole word approach.

[3BoysMamma]

I like Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. I learned to read with it, taught DS1 with it (he's almost finished with the Magic Tree House books in 1st grade), am teaching DS2 with it, and plan on the others unless they struggle with it. It was neat though - when I was starting it with DS1, I had flashbacks to when I learned with the same book. Right down to my momma telling me I couldn't eat until I said "said" right instead of sa-id

[Emma]

I'm using the Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading. I modify it slightly (as in I don't read the "instructor" cues), and it's working great. We're a little less than halfway through it, and Ivy is currently reading an Ivy & Bean book. She does need some help since we haven't covered all of the sounds/combos, but I'm guessing that's only around 20% of the words if that. I also use Explode The Code in conjunction. The two books aren't lined up exactly in what they teach when, but they're complimentary, with one reinforcing the other.

[roseyroberts]

I second Teach Your Child To read In 100 easy Leasons. I have spent hundreds of dollars on all kinds of fancy reading programs only to find the $10 book I bought to be the best by far in my opinion.

[LindsayNErik]

The Reading Lesson is nice,and pretty easy to execute.

[lissa~K]

We use:
-Bob Books
-Sam Books (print them out free here) http://www.marriottmd.com/sam/index.html
-Reading Eggs http://readingeggs.com/
-Explode the code workbooks
-another workbook we really enjoyed this year was The Complete Book of Phonics

ETA: I couldn't stand Teach Your Child to Read In 100 Easy Lessons