explode the code - this is long! sorry

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explode the code - this is long! sorry
By pj

HI
I teach self-contained learning disabled students and I use Explode the Code as a reading supplement.

Explode the Code comes in several levels. The first set of 3 books is Get Ready for the Code. It teachers students
to develop visual, kinesthetic, and auditory discrimination of consonant letters with exercises in the books. I like them because directions are clear and there is a variety of activity. Some of the activities include tracing, matching, tracking, copying and following directions. This set is for the very beginning reader or non-reader if you like.
The Explode the Code series is

a program for beginning readers grades K - 4. It provides experience recognizing and combining sounds in order to read words, phrases, ssentences and stories. There are many different exercises that involve practice reading, writing, matching, spelling and copying. There are review lessons to reinforce long-term retention. Books 1 - 6 have students match words to sharpen visual discrimination, match words and sentences with appropriate pictures to strengthen reading comprehension, select, then copy, words from picture clues, sequence letter sounds and reinforce them kinesthetically by writing the whole word, read for sentence comprehension and spell from memory. The 1/2 books are for the kids who need a little extra time or reinforcement for the skills in the previous book. If the child has mastered the skills he/she doesn't need the 1/2 book.

Books 7 & 8 have students read a story and answer comprehension questions, make words by joining syllables and build & strengthen vocabulary through crossword puzzles.

There are also new Beyond the Code comprehension and reasoning companion books for Explode the Code. These are levels 1 - 4. My kids really really love these books because they're actually reading stories and having fun!!! The stories are short but more than one page and develop reading and thinking skills. They have a variety of activities but my kids especially like the finish the picture pages. The pictures are begun and they need to have completion. Interestingly enough even my messiest student will take his/her time on these activities and do the very best job they can.

I like these books a lot. I use them as work jobs each day. My kids need to do 2 pages. I assign them at the table after reading, go over directions, questions etc and then have them do the work at their desk. They can do this independently even at level 1 and love that they can do it by themselves. I do not do this with Get Ready for the Code. Those books are all teacher directed. This program goes along nicely with Project Read which is my reading program of choice.

You can get a catalog for more information from :
EPS - Educators Publishing Service
WWW.EPSBOOKs.COM
Phone 1-800-225-5750

Post if I didn't manage to answer your questions