Christian Light Learning To Read Program - Grade 1 (Sunrise 2nd Edition)

Description

How often have we been told not to judge a book by its cover? With its rather plain packaging, this phonics/beginning to read program from Christian Light might not fare very well. But, it would be a big mistake to dismiss Learning to Read just because it doesn't have cute graphics or a catchy title. Designed to be preparation and an entry point for their well-constructed reading program, LTR is phonics, and phonics well-done! The general "feel" of the program is wholesome, God-honoring, and rural.

Starting with frequently used consonants and short /a/, reading is begun early (the primers are added with the second light unit) and the decoded vocabulary grows through the introduction of all consonants, short vowels, long vowels, /wh/, /ch/, dipthongs (called vowel sets) – ee, ai, ay, ea, ie, oa, oe, ue, ui – beginning and ending blends, and finally trigraphs, compound words, suffixes, and special vowel sounds. Consonant sounds, short and long vowel sounds, and some digraphs are introduced using a rhyme as a mnemonic device. Light Units include frequent review lessons as well as a review at the end of each unit. Lessons are designed to teach to all the learning styles and include listening to stories, oral discussion, activity sheets, hand motions that accompany the teaching sequences, penmanship practice, several skill-building segments (e.g. working with sounds, blending fun, reading skills), dot maps (copying dot designs), and spelling. Classroom reinforcement is emphasized and includes use of flashcards, games, and the unique Sound Slider.

The four paperback Primers have black and white illustrations and are 50-70 pages each. They progress from single words to multi-page stories. [May I take a moment to rave about the illustrations? They are excellent! Drawings, but well-proportioned and very detailed with meticulous shading.] The stories contain new sounds and sight words. Small icon-like pictures substitute for words students have not yet learned. [What a good idea! Stories are much more interesting without the risk of encouraging sight reading utilizing this pictorial vocabulary.] Some stories contain challenge words – untaught but can be sounded out – which are bolded and listed in footnotes.

Light Units – consumable work texts that provide phonics reinforcement, reading comprehension, and handwriting activities. One unusual activity is the Dot Maps, which become progressively more complex and develop hand-eye coordination. About 50 pgs each, pb.

Practice Sheets – blackline masters (removable answer key in middle) that provide additional practice and activities. 52 pgs, pb.

Teacher's Guidebooks are comprehensive and include a complete overview of the program, a detailed scope and sequence, daily schedule and lesson plans, reading assessment rubric, alternate tests, games suggestions, answers to all student pages/tests, spelling word lists, and grading/record-keeping info. Daily lessons are scripted and include reduced copies of light unit pages. A nice feature; examples are given to help evaluate student work. [One of the disadvantages of homeschooling is the lack of comparison with other students and a good working idea of what is acceptable. Sometimes we're way too hard on our kids.]

Teacher support materials include: Letter Flash Cards (4"x 5") – full color illustrations for each consonant, vowel, and the four main digraphs (ch, sh, th, wh) on one side and rhymes on back. Picture Wall Cards (8½"x 11") (see our website) – same as Picture Flash Cards, but larger and without the rhymes. Word Flash Cards (8"x 2¾") – both sight words and sound-out words. Phrase Flash Cards (11½"x 4") – help students recognize thought segments in groups of words. Sound Slider, an ingenious device for practicing beginning and ending blends – a double-sided laminated strip (4"x 20") listing all consonants and four main digraphs; five double-sided, laminated "sleeves," each with a viewing window and a vowel positioned on one side for beginning blends and on the other for ending blends. Student or teacher slides a sleeve up and down the strip to practice – then turns the strip over and goes through the other side.

It's hard to imagine a more let's-get-down-to-business-and-learn-to-read program. Although designed for a classroom, the easy-to-use materials will lend themselves well to home use and the total cost is reasonable. Necessary components would include the Primers, the Light Units, and the Teacher's Guides. Nice to have but optional would include the flashcards and sound slider. he practice sheets may be optional depending on the student. Expect to spend about two weeks on each Light Unit which leaves just the right amount of time (about 10-12 weeks) to finish up the year with the I Wonder reader from the Christian Light Reading Program (see description in Reading). ~ Janice

Teaching Method
Traditional
Teacher-centered curriculum commonly used in classrooms that may include a text, teacher manual, tests, etc.
Charlotte Mason
A methodology based on the work of a 19th century educator who maintained that children learn best from literature (Living Books), not textbooks.
Classical
A methodology based on the Latin Trivium (three stages of learning), including the grammar stage (memorization and facts), logic stage (critical thinking), and rhetoric stage (developing/defending ideas).
Unit Study
A thematic or topical approach centered around one topic that integrates multiple subject areas.
Montessori (Discovery)
A methodology based on the work of a 20th century educator that emphasizes student and sensory-driven discovery learning and real-life applications.
Other
Other methodologies
Religious Content
Secular
Contains content contrary to common Christian beliefs (i.e. evolution).
Neutral
Avoids religious or theoretical topics or presents multiple viewpoints without preference.
Christian/Religious
Faith-based or including instructional religious content.
Learning Modality
Auditory
Learns through listening, talking out loud or reading out loud.
Visual
Learns through seeing, prefers written instructions and visual materials.
Kinesthetic/Tactile (Hands-On)
Learns through moving, doing and touching.
Multi-Sensory
Curriculum that employ a variety of activities/components.
Presentation
Sequential
Curriculum progresses through well-defined learning objectives. Emphasizes mastery before moving to the next topic.
Spiral
Topics and concepts are repeated from level to level, adding more depth at each pass and connecting with review.
Conceptual/Topical
Focus is on the “why,” often with a unifying concept as well as specific skills; coverage may be broader.
Teacher Involvement
Low Teacher Involvement
Student-led materials; parent acts as a facilitator.
Medium Teacher Involvement
A mix of teacher-led time and independent student work.
High Teacher Involvement
Teacher-led lessons; may utilize discussions, hands-on activities and working together.
Additional Materials Required
No other materials needed
Everything you need is included.
Other Materials Required
There are additional required resources that are a separate purchase.
Other Materials Optional
There are additional resources mentioned or recommended but are not absolutely necessary.
Consumable
Consumable
Designed to be written in; not reusable.
Non-Consumable
Not designed to be written in; reusable.