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Delightful Reading vs Sonlight LA 1
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Hi, this may sound like a silly question but I just need some ‘objective’ advice.
I am new to SCM and have been using Sonlight over the past 2 years for my now 6,5yos. I am finishing up LA K so he’s able to read short easy words, with a few blends thrown in. He sounds them out though. I had already ordered LA 1 for him a few months ago, together with the phonics program, Explode the Code.
Here is my dilemma, since then I’ve discovered SCM and am absolutely convinced it is the way forward to homeschool, and will be changing over completely in the next few months. I put off reading about ‘teaching reading the CM way’ because I already thought I would just go ahead and use SL’s LA 1, since I’ve already got it. However, the more I’ve been reading about CM’s methods, I decided to go ahead and started reading ‘Hearing and Reading, Telling and Writing’ so that I could get a better understanding of the way she teaches language arts in general, as opposed to SL, for example.
Well, I’m only a few chapters in and I can already see that this is a wonderful way to teach reading, as well as LA in general, far more gentle but also more effective, cultivating a love of good literature from the start.
So, do I send back SL’s LA program and switch to Delightful Reading or do I stick with LA 1 for another year? I want to change because my son has been complaining about reading and doing some of the activities, they don’t seem as natural as CM’s approach. Of course, the readers would also be considered as twaddle, I’m sure. But, I would end up ‘losing money’ because I live overseas and would have to carry the cost of postage, plus I cannot return all the readers since I didn’t buy them all from SL
I feel like I’ve just discovered what healthy food really is, and now I’m opening my fridge and feeling ‘I should’ continue to eat junk for another month just because it’s there and I don’t want to waste it, all the while anticipating the delicious healthy food that is out there waiting for me!
So, at the end of the day, would switching to Delightful Reading just help to cement a love of reading good literature in my son, as well as other benefits or doesn’t it matter if I wait another year? I guess it’s not a lot of money we’re talking about, especially if it would benefit him far more in the long run? I could continue to argue with myself or choose to hear from you experienced CMer’s out there.
Any advice will be welcome!
Noelene
Well, I don’t know the SL’s method, and although I’ve read the SCM description of Delightful Reading, I don’t yet own it.
That said – I do think that Delightful Readings sounds welll.. delightful.
If SL is using pretty much straight phonics… for some children that is not an enjoyable way to learn to read. That is how I started out with my son and daughter… and they just seemed to like reading less and less until I changed my methods. We did a bit of sight word work (“teach your baby to read” type method) – then moved to using the Dick and Jane readers. That worked for us fairly well – basically a mixed method.
My 2 cents…. If you can manage it, I’d return the SL unit, sell the other books you can’t return to them, and do Delightful Reading. Some of the books you have might be ok to keep for practice… I have no idea what they might be like.
I just sent back Sonlight as well it just did not work for us at all, and will be starting CM in the next year. 🙂 Best wishes on your decision. Looks like we are in the same boat.
Marta
It’s important to note that boys usually pick up reading between 7 & 9. My son is 7 and still sounding out words. Currently he is reading short vowel 3 letter words and some 4 letter words with constanant blends. (We have been using Ordinary Parents Guide to Reading the past year). He is using the I Can Read Books from SL to read to me along with Bob books. We also do Explode the Code.
Some kids pick up reading rather quick, but others just aren’t ready. Could this be the case with him? Does he express interest in learning to read?
We took a break at the beginning of the year because my son (6 at the time) was just not ready and pushing him would have killed his desire to read. Now he is picking out books to read to me.
If you don’t feel SL is working, I would return it. Some programs just aren’t the right fit. However, if he’s not ready, no program is going to change that.
Thanks for all your comments!
Marcee – I hear your point about boys and their readiness, in fact I specifically delayed teaching him his letter sounds because he just didn’t seem interested. Then, he showed me he was ready because he was trying to make up his own words etc. and he sort of overtook me when I started him on SL K, because by then he had already learned the sounds through playing games etc. So we are now going very quickly through SL K because it’s a bit too easy for him. SL K mainly teaches letter sounds and easy words, as well as creative ‘writing’.
I think he wants to read, he can read the little ‘books’ included in the program just fine, I think it’s more of a case that he’s bored & is not enjoying it. It’s also very structured and so far has probably been moving too slowly for him. Because of this, we are doing a week’s LA work in 1 or 2 days and I’m leaving out the activities that I know he’s already mastered.
I am sure SL LA 1 would be more of a challenge because it’s more his age level now, and I’m sure he would continue to learn to read just fine. However, the question is ‘would he enjoy it?’ and become accustomed to good literature. The readers consist mainly of Dr Seuss books, as well as some others. It’s also very structured, breaking up language arts into all the small sections, and my son does not like structure, he’s quite spontaneous, so much that I can’t keep up with him sometimes!
In a nutshell, it’s not a bad program, it’s just not the way CM taught children how to read. I think you’re right in that some programs are just not the right fit.
Sounds like my mind’s made up already!
What I like about Delightful reading is that it seems to move quickly,
Noelene, your junk food analogy made me laugh – that is exactly how we felt about Sonlight 🙂
We used Sonlight 1 for our first year of homeschool when our oldest was six (he is now 13), and the LA was not a good fit for us either. Actually, none of it was.
Delightful Reading is wonderful – I haven’t been using it for long, though.
I would say, if you feel it is right for you, and you can switch, do so. If not, don’t sweat it – use what you have and modify it as best as you can to fit how you want to be teaching.
I recently read an article about homeschooling and how when you are just beginning to be prepared to spend some money on mistakes. It helped me feel better about some purchases I had made but now don’t want to use because I’ve found something that works better.
I think you really want to use Delightful Reading, so I think you should go for it. Maybe you can find someone who could use those other readers – I love giving stuff away :).
Becky
I just wanted to let you know that I’ve been using the SCM Delightful Reading program with my daughter and she continually tells me how much FUN it is! :=) I think she loves the tiles … making words and reading them … we are startingin the preschool/kindergarten stage with 3 letter words and long vowel words with the silent e … she LOVES it and gets VERY excited each day when we pull it out … no more than 15 minutes a day, but you WILL see progress!
That’s great IrieMomma! I have ordered it so I can’t wait to start, and I think my son will enjoy it too. I’ve made peace with not using everything I’ve bought but I’ll find a way to give it back, or sell it or something….
I have switched from Sonlight 1 to more of a CM method. I want to point out the frustrations my son and I have had with the LA 1 activity sheets. There is way too much grammar at their age. One day, he was in tears over it and that was the LAST day we every used those. So I am looking to add Primary Language lessons or English for the Thoughtful child. Somethings we DID like from SL LA 1, we do still use, but in our own way. I do not use the SL IG anymore at all. My kids love Explode the Code. It is about all I use for phonics. We also use some sightword cards I make up myself to go with the readers. My kids did enjoy the stories in the I Can Read It! 3 book set. All three books stick with short vowels, so after the 3rd book, I was left hanging about how to teach long vowels. Explode the Code book 3 teaches long vowels. Those books teach enough spelling, too. SL IG had “spelling” each week, which I did not like at this age, so we did not do that long either. After the three readers, they go right into Dr. Seuss like Green Eggs and Ham, which my son does NOT care for. So I looked for some other early readers. I also bought some used A Beka phonics book and grade 1 readers to help with teaching long vowels since SL left me hanging. I have also used some of the Christian Liberty Press readers, but they seem to focus too much on phonics and go at too fast of a pace. I just use them to supplement, since they are very short, one page reads. Really, I am still looking for what reader to use next. I want him to love to read, not just learn to read. I probably would have been more delighted to have used “Delightful Reading”.
@SarahCPA … have you checked into Queen Language Lessons? They are consumable workbooks that are similar to Primary Language Lessons and stuff like that … VERY gentle … include picture study, copywork, poetry, GENTLE grammar … you may want to take a look at them 🙂
SarahCPA, thanks for sharing that with me, it sounds to me like we would have had the same issues with it. We have done the primers for Explode the Code and my son kind of enjoyed them but I think they were too easy for him. My question is, do we NEED to do something like Explode the Code? I could keep them and let him do it but I don’t want to just be filling his time if it’s not really necessary?
I’m still learning more about CM and ‘language arts’ but another question would be is what would CM recommend in terms of your questions above? What about the SCM suggested readers for Grade 1?
@IrieMomma: I also considered Queen Language Lessons, as well as the other two options. I wonder if I should get through more phonics and master reading more first before starting the gentle grammar. Right now, I point things out to him as we read. “Let’s is a contraction. It means Let us.” I write it down both ways for him to see and we continue reading the story. Do you recommend Queen’s LL over the other two? Would I start with Very Young Vol. 1?
@Noelene: I think they need something like Explode the Code, which from what I could see on here of Delightful Reading, that would cover it. Each week is a pattern of words, like all starting with sp, sn, sk. They sound out the parts of the word with beginning, middle and end sounds and then copy the word. They read some silly sentences and match up the right one to the picture. He likes these and thinks they are funny. Near the end of the week, it shows the picture to go with the word, and they have to write the word (spelling). But, they can flip the page back to a prior lesson if they can’t remember. It has helped him. But any other phonics/reading/spelling program should cover the same things. It is probably not CM, but he likes it and it helps him, so we do it.
I have an Alice and Jerry reader called Day In and Day Out. It is old. I haven’t tried it yet. It may be too easy. For Bible, he reads Rod & Staff grade 1 or The Beginners Bible, which he likes better. Beginner’s Bible is a SL LA 2 book. He does great with them, with my help. He loves science books, but Christian Liberty Press nature readers are still a bit too difficult. He used to really like Thomas and Friends trains, so he does enjoy some of the Step into Reading books with Thomas. I want it to be interesting to him. So that is why I have him read some Thomas train books. He loves dinosaurs and we have found a few he could read at the library. Next week, I plan to try the A Beka reader with him because its focus is on long vowels, which is what we are learning now in Explode the Code 3. (I found a great lapbook activity for short vowel / long vowel. It is like a game and is great for tactile/ kenesthetic learners.) http://www.homeschoolshare.com/short_long_vowels_lapbook.php
I thought the Pathway readers (SCM) may not interest him. I read on here that they are more for girls. I am not sure which Pathway reader to start him with. Would I have to start with the first reader, even if it is too easy for him? He knows short vowels, blends, and some sight words. We are learning long vowels now.
I am still learning more about CM and language arts, too. 🙂
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