Sound Slider

Designed to prepare students for Christian Light’s well-constructed grade 1–8 Reading program, Learning to Read is phonics well-done! The general “feel” of the program is wholesome, God-honoring, and rural.

Learning to Read teaches all consonant sounds, consonant digraphs, long and short vowels, most two-letter vowel sounds, and many sight words. Each sound is introduced with a picture card, followed by a story and a fun rhyme about the picture and new sound. Learning to Read integrates Christian Light Language Arts 1 for a full Language Arts credit, beginning with LightUnit 105. However, families may choose to simply use Learning to Read to focus on phonics mastery and reading. After completing Learning to Read, students will be ready for Christian Light Reading Grade 1, I Wonder.

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! Well-proportioned drawings are 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. (Some stories contain challenge words—words that have not been taught but can be sounded out—which are bolded and listed in footnotes.)

LightUnits are the consumable worktexts 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. There are ten LightUnits in the Learn to Read program. These are available individually or in convenient packages.

There are two Teacher Guides that align to the Learn to Read LightUnits: one for 101–105 and one for 106–110. Essential to the program, the Teacher’s Guides provide answers and instructions for each lesson. Also included are a comprehensive outline; a summary of sounds, markings, and phonetic rules; teaching tips; activity ideas; games for reinforcement; and more. Daily schedules are included, as well as yearly schedules to assist in planning.

Optional Practice Sheets are blackline masters (removable answer key in middle) that provide additional practice and activities.

Additional teaching supports include Letter Flash Cards, Word Flash Cards, Sight Word Flash Cards, and Phrase Flash Cards. Also available is the Sound Slider, which is an ingenious device for practicing beginning and ending blends.

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 include the Primers, the LightUnits, and the Teacher’s Guides. Nice to have, but optional, are the flashcards and sound slider. 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 Program.