What to order?

[Jessica Louise]

We had been using Singapore Math and a phonics program for dyslexia. I am wondering if I should still order the entire first grade package. Won't we need some of the phonics cards for Story Time Treasures? Does anyone have any idea?

[howiecram]

If you are using a phonics program for dyslexia, you might want to use the Simply Classical Storytime Treasures/More STorytime. In 1st grade the Storytime Treasures/More Storytime is a fully integrated phonics program. The Simply classical separates the phonics from Storytime/More Storytime. You might be a better fit in the Simply Classical for a few years. If you like Singapore Math, it's actually easy to omit that from the core (even without calling an MP rep!) In your situation, you might be served best by calling in your order to customize.

[Jessica Louise]

If you are using a phonics program for dyslexia, you might want to use the Simply Classical Storytime Treasures/More STorytime. In 1st grade the Storytime Treasures/More Storytime is a fully integrated phonics program. The Simply classical separates the phonics from Storytime/More Storytime. You might be a better fit in the Simply Classical for a few years. If you like Singapore Math, it's actually easy to omit that from the core (even without calling an MP rep!) In your situation, you might be served best by calling in your order to customize.

Thank you! I can see what you are saying, but I don't know that SC will move fast enough for her. She will be eight soon and is already at a third or fourth grade reading level. I was going to go with first grade because that would give us time to learn how MP works, catch basics that their S&S cover in first grade, and get into the habit of completing a day of MP, before we had to confront tough material. I am seriously tempted to ditch everything and switch to a MP core. Integrating seems really tricky. I don't know, maybe I'm wrong and we should go with SC. The book SC is very helpful, I just thought that she was capable of tackling first grade.

[CatherineS]

What dyslexia program are you using? If that’s working well for Spelling, you could use the regular first grade core, substituting only your dyslexia tutoring for Traditional Spelling I.

If your daughter is reading at a higher level, the first grade literature selections will be easy for her to read aloud, allowing you to focus her on the more difficult task of writing answers to comprehension questions in the Storytime Treasures student book.

[sweetest]

I am working through More Storytime Treasures with my almost 8 year old (just started lesson 3) in preparation for doing MP2 next year (he will technically a 3rd grader then, so we are in a similar situation as you). I honestly think you could work through MSTT without the phonics cards, especially with a child who is already a strong reader, depending on your goals. My 2nd grader is already a strong reader with a solid phonics understanding, I chose to start MSTT more for the writing practice (physical writing and also composing his thoughts to put down on paper) before we start a complete core next year. I do actually go over the phonics cards but I would still be getting a lot out of the program if I didn't use them. For my almost 8 year old the phonics are a good review but not actually necessary (in my opinion). We are also using the phonics cards for Traditional Spelling 1, so I already had them and I do think the phonics cards are necessary for TS1 regardless of how old your child is.

At some point I will be using the Storytime/More Storytime Treasure books with my younger kids who will be learning phonics more on level with the reading (rather than as review) and then I would consider the phonics cards to be necessary. Not sure if this makes sense?

We were already using R&S Math before starting MP, so I ordered R&S 3 with our 2MP core. It's really easy to change math levels or just leave math out if you want to continue with what you are doing. I actually used Singapore with my oldest when I homeschooled her through 5th grade (she's a sophomore in college now) and I find R&S so much easier to teach!

[howiecram]

What dyslexia program are you using? If that’s working well for Spelling, you could use the regular first grade core, substituting only your dyslexia tutoring for Traditional Spelling I.

If your daughter is reading at a higher level, the first grade literature selections will be easy for her to read aloud, allowing you to focus her on the more difficult task of writing answers to comprehension questions in the Storytime Treasures student book.

That's great that she is reading at that level! I perhaps should have asked for more information. I assumed you were trying to put a 6 year old dyslexic in the MP 1st grade! (mea culpa!) Can you tell us more? I did, actually what you are thinking. We essentially skipped the phonics lesson in the teacher's guide and then used the other parts. However, if I had to do it again, I would have used the Simply Classical version. I felt like we were doing double the work. The Simply Classical version allows for the help in the writing, but continuing with a phonics program that is already working for you. I will say though, due to family circumstances (a once a week 3 family co-op) he essentially skipped the 2nd grade. I thought he would more be "auditing" the 3rd grade classes, but he's making great progress! (he was 8 Sept 1).

[Michelle T]

Even when you have a good reader, that student will need to spell eventually so the more often they see those phonetic chunks both within words and in isolation, there is a benefit. Because the Phonics Flashcards show the phonogram in isolation I always suggest using these in coordination with STT and MSTT. If you don't want to invest in a set, write the phonograms on index cards. There is no need to spend an inordinate amount of time covering them, simply run through them flashcards style then display for the student to consider for the week. Those pre-reading phonic lessons should be quick.

[jen1134]

Seconding Michelle T 's advice. My daughter could read above grade level so I wasn't doing the phonics practice with her. Then I remembered my own childhood: I was reading at high school level in elementary school but I was 38 before I learned why the letter y makes the sound it does in various words. Maybe I learned it as a kid (my mom used the phonics approach), but it certainly didn't stick!

So I tested this theory with my daughter and found that she needed the phonics after all. For example, she could read the word "cough" but if I showed her a flashcard with "gh" she had no idea what sound it made. From then on, I would simply point to the phonograms in the lesson and ask her what they said. If she couldn't answer one, we reviewed it. Very quick and easy.

[Jessica Louise]

Thank you all so much! I don't want to skip anything; I just need to decide which path we're going to take. I will probably have to come back with follow up questions after I think it all through. Thank you for helping me out!