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Phonics Pathways, ninth edition

Publisher: Jossey-Bass/Dorbooks, Inc. Author: Dolores G. Hiskes Review last updated: August 2010 This is one of my 100 Top Picks!

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See the complete review in 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum.

Phonics Pathways is one of my favorite resources because it is a complete program, clearly and easily presented, and is very reasonably priced. It works for all ages, and it begins instruction with the sounds of the letters. Phonics Pathways is more comprehensive than some other programs in that it includes diacritical markings, suffixes, prefixes, plurals, possessives, contractions, and compound words. It teaches blending using "consonant-vowel" combinations such as "ca, co, cu." Different learning styles are addresed with multisensory methods throughout the program.

In the ninth edition, Phonics Pathways added a valuable extra--they incorporated supplemental games that were previously sold separately. These are now printed directly into the book for you to reproduce and create for yourself. (Preprinted games on heavier card stock are still sold separately for those who prefer not to make their own copies.) The games make this a great program for Wiggly Willys and Sociable Sues.

Lessons include practice with syllables, words, phrases, and sentences, so extra readers are not necessary. Teaching instruction is included on each page, so there's no flipping back and forth or referring to a separate teacher manual.

The ninth edition has an added section at the back explaining correlation to state standards for those concerned.

Reading Pathways, fifth edition, is an optional, companion to Phonics Pathways. The subtitle, "Simple Exercises to Improve Reading Fluency," reflects the content. Earlier editions of this book were titled Pyramid since the reading exercises expand in pyramid fashion from a single word to complex sentences. Within each pyramid, the single word is repeated in each subsequent line, but each time one or more additional words are added to make and then expand a sentence.

Note: the new Phonics Pathways, ninth edition and the new Reading Pathways, fifth edition are now published by Jossey-Bass Publishers, but you may still order through Dorbooks.

Also, Dorbooks has produced an audio CD, Speaking Pathways, that features Dolores Hiskes explaining and pronouncing phonics sounds as taught in Phonics Pathways plus spelling rules and patterns. This might be very helpful for the parent without a phonics background or for the student who would benefit from the auditory presentation. Speaking Pathways is available only through Dorbooks at present.

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