Explode the Code Reading Curriculum Review

Excellent workbooks in the Explode the Code series help teach reading with a phonics approach.

Review by Harriet Yoder

When I started homeschooling, I used various complete phonics based reading programs. I had the advantage of learning to read with phonics, but I also learned a lot more about phonics through teaching reading. In the end though, with nine children in our homeschool, I needed something that wasn't as time consuming but did the job. Explode the Code workbooks work beautifully for me! Reluctant readers like this series!

If your younger child needs to learn the consonant sounds, then Get Ready Get Set Go for the Code is what you need. When your child knows the consonant sounds and is ready to move to the short and long vowel sounds and all the blends, you'll need Explode the Code. Our listing for Explode the Code shows the sounds that are covered in each book. For reading comprehension practice, Beyond the Code features decodable stories that follow the phonetic sequence of the series.

I like to use Color Phonics, a reading software program from Alpha Omega, in addition to Explode the Code. It provides additional instruction in a fun "child friendly" computer program.

If you need help with teaching phonics, I suggest using another phonics program such as Alpha Phonics or The Reading Lesson as your main program and using the Explode the Code books as your reading workbooks.

Another nice thing about the Explode the Code series in the homeschool setting is that as you are sitting with your student you can give immediate feedback about handwriting and spelling mistakes as they are made. For example, if you notice that your student wrote a letter incorrectly,  you say, "Let's make that letter this way because it looks nicer and anyone will be able to read it."

Chosen by Cathy Duffy as on of her "100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum" in the phonics, reading, and literature category.

Explode the Code Curriculum

• Get Ready, Get Set, Go for the Code For the child who needs to learn the consonant sounds.
• Explode the Code Series Review See our review of the Explode the Code Series
• Explode the Code For the child who knows the consonant sounds and is ready to move to the short and long vowel sounds and all the blends.
• Beyond the Code For reading comprehension practice, this features decodable stories that follow the phonetic sequence of the Explode the Code series.