Phonics

Several mums who were interested in homeschooling have asked me what curriculum I use for Sarah.  Since the middle of 2008 when Sarah turned 4, we've been using a great curriculum for phonics and math called "Christ Centered Curriculum".  It's wonderful because woven into just about every page is the Word of God.  It is also rigorous and repetitive.  I like the repetitive part because children learn by repetition.  I like the rigorous bit cos it doesn't dumb down my child.  By the time she was 5 1/4, Sarah was reading independently.  Most importantly, she can read the Bible.  Praise the Lord!  Some might find this curriculum a bit boring because there are no beautiful coloured pages, not much artsy activities for the child.  It is rather wordy, especially for the teacher, but actually, once you do a few lessons, the pattern repeats itself, just with relevant changes in the phonics sounds learnt.  It's a 2-3 year programme, which also includes lessons in grammar.  How many of us, at Kindergarten level, could define a noun, pronoun, adjective, homonym, homograph, verb etc?  

I don't think Sarah will be finished with the whole Phonics series even by the end of this year, but who's counting?  

I'm starting Benjamin on the short vowels now.  "Short 'A' says /a/ in Adam.  To remain in Adam all will die, but in Christ, eternal life is nigh."  What beautiful truth that is!