A handbook for reading: Phonics textbook (A Beka Book reading program)

This book is a MUST!!! My son is starting to read simple 3-4 letter words (which progresses as you learn each page fluently) and pronounce them correctly. We started really cracking down on doing this about a few weeks ago around June 17th or 18th. My son just turned 5 years old in May and is about to start Kindergarten come August 2017 (it's currently June 29, 2017 as I write this). I wish I had started earlier, but that is my fault. I want to make sure he has a head start at least for school and I hope they don't slow his progress. I feel he'll be more advanced than your average kid since parents now a days don't teach these things at home and let the educational system teach them (which I think America's Educational system is trash). At the rate that he is learning, I can actually see him reading at a 3rd grade level by the end of this year once he fully finishes this book if we keep going at the suggested intervals (20 minutes, 3 times a day) every day. I was told about this book from a person who has kids and taught them French from this same company and they suggested this book (English one) for teaching my children how to read. Now you're probably wondering why they were learning French. Well, that was because they used to live in France and their children were behind in education for their age when they moved there. So they had to teach their kids and catch them up....which they did. After talking with that person, this is the book that she suggested to help teach my children how to read and I am grateful that I was told about this book. I feel this book is THE "one thing" or the "key" you're looking for to move your child forward. On another note, I just want to mention that schools now a days have teachers...not educators. Teachers are there to collect a paycheck and follow a humdrum guideline. An educator is someone that gives intellectual, moral and social instructions. They educate students and teachers teach students. Educators focus on development and progress. Teachers focus on syllabus, curriculum and keeping up with whatever "quota" they need fulfill. An educator is a skilled teacher and all teachers are not educators. I just want to inform all that there is a difference between an educator and a teacher. Educators leave big impacts on kids lives. What you're doing is becoming that educator. Edit: July 2nd 2017 update My son now can read full sentences. Mind you they are sentences like: Ned has a bug The bug is in the rug Mom fed Bill. Bill had a hot dog. Jon sat on a log. Jill went to the van. He is reading very well and I see the enjoyment in his eyes when he connects the words with the sounds. Make sure you get excited WITH him! Now read when I originally posted about this book and look at the time difference between then and now. If that doesn't tell you how well this book works, I don't know what else to tell you. The Secret to this book is you MUST follow the directions and you MUST do it 3 times a day in 20 minute intervals. Now if you see your child is getting excited about putting stuff together and connecting them, then try to squeeze in a little more extended time but don't acknowledge it to him/her just try keeping a "flow" going like it's supposed to be the next thing. I only do it until I see my child starting to lose interest. As soon as you see that find a spot to STOP and wait until it is time to start the next 2nd or 3rd time of the day. Edit: July 22nd I just want to mention that my son now reads at a 1st grade level and we are encroaching the 2nd grade reading level. The sentences are like this: The clock in the class says nine. It is time to play with clay. At ten, it is time to clean up. Please clean up the clay, Jay. I can see the flag fly. The wind makes it flap. Snap, flap, snap, flap. The flag says, "This is my land." As you can see when I started this around June 17th/18th to today July 22nd 2017, that his reading skills have drastically increased. I should be finished with this book by the end of August or September and he will be reading at a 3rd grade level. This book is the key to reading!

I absolutely love this little book to help adults learning a second language learn out to pronounce letters and then form small words that eventually lead to sentences they can actually read with confidence! It's one of A-BECA's little known secrets, but well worth the trial to learn how to skillfully use this approach with adults successfully!! Thank you!

I bought one of these and have ordered another for teaching basic English to my ESL students. They are able to learn how to speak clearly, and read with this book.

Can't beat this program. Gets kids started in the right direction. Teaches the things they need to know for the future, how the letters sound, how they sound together, and how the spelling rules work. Can't beat A Beka for pre-school thru second grade for basics for what the kids need.

The book is excellent for teaching/learning phonics, even for ESL (English as a Second Language) adult students! I am an ESL teacher, and I like how this book starts with the most common letters and gradually introduces more advanced clusters and words. It is quite comprehensive, but over time you may find the need to add further example words, and you may notice pronunciation patterns not explicitly taught in this book. Keep in mind it is published by a Christian publishing company, and there are occasional Bible quotes and other Christian references. This is an older (third) edition. In the newest (fourth) edition, the stereotypical Indian was finally replaced by an inchworm to represent the short 'I'. There were other changes in the fourth edition, as well, but this third edition is almost identical to the second, other than a new cover design.

This book makes it easy to start with the basics and work up toward the more complex blends and special sounds. It makes English easier to learn and to teach. It even groups special sounds and blends that sound the same but are spelled differently so that the child can distinguish them and gives rules to figure out when to use each one. By far the best phonics book on the market!

I used this book with my children when I taught them to read and now I am using it with my grand children. It works.

This is for summer exercises for my grandson to reinforce his Kindergarten success in public school. He is doing really well so far.