Explode the Code Reviewed by Harriet Yoder
When I started homeschooling, I used various complete phonics-based reading programs. I had the advantage of learning to read with phonics, but I also learned a lot more about phonics through teaching reading. In the end, with nine children in our homeschool, I needed something that wasn’t as time-consuming but did the job.
Explode the Code reading workbooks work beautifully for us! Reluctant readers like this series!
If your younger child needs to learn the consonant sounds, then Get Ready Get Set Go for the Code is what you need. When your child knows the consonant sounds and is ready to move to the short and long vowel sounds and all the blends, you’ll need Explode the Code.
Our listing for Explode the Code shows the sounds each book teaches. For reading comprehension practice, Beyond the Code features decodable stories that follow the phonetic sequence of the series.
If you need help with teaching phonics, I suggest using another phonics program such as Alpha Phonics or The Reading Lesson as your primary program and using the Explode the Code books as your reading workbooks.
Another nice thing about Explode the Code Workbooks in the homeschool setting is that you can give immediate feedback about handwriting and spelling mistakes as your child works each question. For example, if you notice that your student wrote a letter incorrectly, you can suggest a way to make it properly.
Our Children Always Slowed Down in Books 5 and 6
Don’t be surprised if your student slows down when you get to books 5 and 6. We used this program with six of our children, and we always seem to take longer to get through those two books. Maybe it is because the blends are harder to learn. Once we passed those two books, work on books 7 and 8 went a lot faster.
Books 7 and 8 also include some reading comprehension passages. These are excellent comprehension exercises for your young reader. If you notice your student having difficulty, then you may want to add some reading comprehension workbooks to the schedule.
Aligned to the Common Core State Standards
According to the publisher’s website, Explode the Code aligns to the Common Core State Standards.