Explode the Code ?

[EricaL]

If we use explode the code (starting in Kindergarten), will we also have to do spelling in the later grades, or does ETC cover that? Also, how long does it take to complete a book? What grade do you typically complete the 8 books?

[debbie in ak]

Both my boys did books 1-6...they did about 3 books a year, give or take. After that we switched to Spelling Power. I feel they still need spelling after doing ETC.

[Mary FL]

Dd is going into 5th and is completing Book 8. My advice is take it as it comes. Every child is different.

IMO, you can't go wrong with ETC.

As far as spelling goes, we've just begun taking words out of their writing assignments or books we're reading to compile a list. That's it.

[AndreaD]

We do between 2-3 books per year- my almost 8 year old has half of book 7 and book 8 to finish up. We do between 2 and 4 pages per day.

[KristenS]

We also do between 2 and 3 books a year, but include the Beyond the Code books in that mix. My son will be going into 3rd this year, and wrapping up with the last two ETC and the last BTC, if we get lucky. In 4th we'll consider a spelling program, because I expect he'll need the reinforcement. ETC is great ... he just needs a confidence booster to follow it.

Not sure about my youngest yet, but she's tackling ETC 3 for K. (We start pretty young here, and go slowly ... both were willing/capable of understanding the concepts, if not always of doing the writing.)

We tend to do 1-2 pages a day after those easy primers. Depends on the amount of writing. The Beyond books go a little quicker, since there's more reading and some fun stuff thrown in. (They make a nice mid-school-year break between the phonics volumes, starting around 3 and 4. Not sure when they are meant to be done, but right after 3 has worked well for us, and then we alternate as needed.)

[Tricia O]

After some trial and error with our first child, we plan to use ETC thru book 8, then start a spelling program (currently Spelling Power).