Review of Explode the Code

by Ginny
(Oregon)

We used levels PK-8 of Explode the Code for phonics from 2000-2006.

I used Explode the Code beginning with the Get Ready, Get Set, Go, series with all three of my children starting at ages 4.

I love ETC because it is so user friendly, and by that I mean for the child as well as the parent.

Every lesson follows the same exact pattern, utilizing 7 different ways to interact with a sound, blend, etc, one approach to a page before moving on to next sound or blend. Each time those same seven approaches are repeated.

After one or two lessons a child knows what is expected to be done on each page without needing help which makes it very good for independent work. The set up of this program is fantastic for reinforcing the concepts!

I used ETC with Sonlight's "I Can Read It" readers series and readers similar to the Bob books. This made a complete phonics program and was a gentle, yet through approach that worked for all three of my children.

We were sad the day we finished the last book as it had become a staple of our schooling days. :)

The only thing I didn't like was level 4 which covers rules for syllables. I felt that learning about how to divide words into syllables is really a spelling skill, confusing at that level not very useful for phonics. I skipped this level each time and we never missed it.

I loved these books!

by Penny
(Louisiana)

I loved these books. We used the beginner books up until the 5th book. They are very good books and helped my daughters to learn to read so much better. The only problem that I had was that some of the words we didn't use, so they didn't know what the words were.

Wonderful Phonics-Based Series

Levels Used: Levels 1-4
Dates Used: 2007 & 08

Likes: Explode the Code (ETC) is a wonderful phonics based workbook series that allows children lots of practice in reading. Subtle differences in words hone children's attention to detail while reading words.

The sentences and hand drawn pictures are funny and keep my children's attention. My dyslexic child hated reading practice until we started using ETC.

For extra practice the 1/2 leveled books supplement the whole leveled books and cover the same material.

The workbook are inexpensive, around $6 each.

Dislikes: We don't use this as a phonics instruction book but as reading practice since it does not cover phonics rules well.

Simple and Direct Approach

by Leigh V.
(Massachusetts)

Levels Used: books 1-8
Dates Used: 2005-present

Likes: I have used Explode the Code (ETC) with three children now, one of which has learning differences, and I like the simple and direct approach the publishers take to learning phonics.

I like that it is not overly repetitive or visually distracting. The hand drawings and silly sentences are just enough to hold any child's attention and interest.

I also like that although my child with LD was much older than the "recommended age/grade" when he began using this program, we still found it to be the perfect balance-- not "dumbed down" by cutesy cartoons and not overly academic.

Dislikes: Phonics rules are not introduced anywhere in the series.

Effective and Fun!

by Michelle
(CT)

Levels Used: preK thru 3rd grade
Dates Used: 2005-present

Likes: My kids enjoyed the artwork and the silliness, all while being an effective tool for phonics/reading.

Dislikes: none