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This phonics based reading program for grades 1-4 has two components, one based on workbooks and the other, online. The book based instruction has workbooks, study guides, and other supporting materials. The online component is a multi-sensory phonic program, based on the latest literacy research. The online materials provide immediate feedback to students as they work through the program. The workbook program materials range in cost from $under $10 for individual components to over $70 for the teachers guide.
Website: Explode the Code
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(18 Reviews)
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Contributor Reviews
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Cons: terrible UI
Grades Used: 1st
Explode the Code online has been disappointing. Graphics are sometimes hard to decipher and the system is so slow that my 7 year old son types faster than they can process, and they think he got it wrong when he didn't. It is quite frustrating.
Cons: freezing constantly
Grades Used: 1
The books might be better, but Explode the Code online has been a total disappointment. The program consistently freeze every time we use it. About 30-60 seconds into the program, the system just freezes and refuses to budge until it is restarted. This is extremely frustrating and disrupting for my two young children who are trying hard to learn to read, and therefore extremely frustrating for me.
Besides the technical issues, the graphics are so outdated, even I have to stare at some of the pictures for way too long to figure out what word the program is wanting my child to spell or read. This adds to the frustration and it definitely isn't fun for my kids. They find it boring. They request to play Reading Eggs and are excelling and improving with that program, but they moan when I try to get them to do Explode the Code.
I emailed them the six weeks ago and never heard back. I finally made time to hunt down their customer service number and called them, but was met with responses like, "There's nothing we can do." "We don't get many complaints like this." " It's too late for a refund." "It must be a problem on your end."
I wish someone had warned me before purchasing. Huge waste of money, and terrible customer service.
Cons: The online ETC system is down and no one knows when it will be back online, also ETC staff make mistakes and they won't refund your money even when the mistake is completely their fault
Grades Used: k - 3
Our family has home educated 5 kids for over 10 consecutive years and we have found both ETC workbooks and the online subscription program to be very effective in reenforcing reading skills. I wouldn't use either the books or the online program as a stand alone reading program; I don't think it's meant to be. We had a lot of technical difficulties when we purchased ETC through the discount homeschool buyers co-op one year and so, since then, we have opted to pay full price for a subscription that is glitch free and has outstanding customer service.
Until this year. This year is the first year that I have been extremely disappointed with ETC's service and policy. I don't plan to pay for another subscription. Their customer service messed up our expiration date by accidentally putting the same year for our beginning date and expiration date. When we contacted them, they refused to refund our money for the time that we did not have access to ETC online because of their mistake. Furthermore, the online system has been down for the last week, is currently down, and they have no idea when the system will be back online except that it may be longer than 2 weeks. They claimed that they will refund our money for this month but they won't send me a receipt or even an e-mail to confirm this claim. I doubt that I will get money back for this month either. All in all, the online experience with ETC has been terrible this year and I can't recommend them like I used to.
Cons: Only goes to third grade. Tests in the back of the book doesn’t have the questions needed or the answers, you have to buy the teachers edition
Grades Used: Books 1-8
This has been really great for my son in learning how the words/syllables are put together. Critically thinking in the sense of correct spelling for words that are similar, real life or fantasy, etc. Some pictures are hard to make out what it is, but there is always a picture before or after that page or pages to help give you clues as to what is. What I really like for my son’s sake is that the ideas are silly and fun, for example: can a wagon hitch a ride on a duck’s head? The vocabulary is spot on, a few words here and there that are slightly harder but the pictures can help your little one figure it out and if they don’t (very rare) you help a little. For the most part, the kids do ALL the work by themselves!!! One full page of work 3x a week. They also have an online version.
Each book is approx. $7.80 each through Christianbook.com
Books A,B,C are for Pre-K - K
Books 1,2,3 are for 1st grade
Books 4,5,6 are for 2nd grade
Books 7,8 are for 3rd grade
Cons: Pages tear easily (when erasing)
Grades Used: K
I used the Primer series (Get Ready, Set, Go...for the Code: A, B, C). My K student was struggling to remember letter names & sounds, and this was a great phonics supplement to our main program. There was a lot of handwriting practice, sometimes we skipped some. I thought the teacher's manual for this level was geared more towards group/classroom use and did not use it at all. I plan to order again for my next K student.
Cons: Can't think of one
Grades Used: 3 and 5
These books are cute and fun and I use them as reinforcement now that my 2 older kids are beyond phonics programs but have some learning difficulties. My 3rd grader is significantly delayed in reading and writing, yet is eager to complete his lesson each day. There is enough reading and writing that we both feel like he really accomplished something when he's done. My 5th grader has benefitted from the review and it has increased her vocabulary and even some critical thinking is needed for parts of the lessons. We love these books!!
Cons: Some pictures are questionable
Grades Used: books 1 and 2
We started using ETC after looking at it at a convention. The 1st book was difficult for my daughter in that she didn't like all the writing and repetitiveness. The lessons seemed too long and we had to bread them into 2 lessons to get through them but she was definitely learning something so we pressed on.
Some of the pictures were questionable. In fact, I had trouble at times deciphering what the picture was suppose to be but we would just skip it or decided what it was together and go with it. This bothered me in the beginning but we got over it.
I didn't feel we needed additional practice with book 1 so we moved onto book 2 and now, it seems, she likes ETC. Now that she understand the directions, and is more comfortable with her reading, she says its one of her favorites.
We don't do a lot of busiwork/workbooks but it is a good supplement or something different and excellent for when we need independent work time. I think they are good books.
Cons: little or no color
Grades Used: 1-2
One of our children was a struggling learner. Phonics was frustrating. I found Explode the Code and LOVED it! Our son finally could do his school work without tears or frustration. Explode the Code's approach is very easy and repetative, just what our struggling learner needed.
I only used the workbooks and used them as a supplement to our other phonics program.
I also only used this with one of our children because he needed the extra help and repetition. I'm not sure our other children, who found learning easier, would have benefited from this program.
Recommend for struggling learner.
Cons: The pictures can be difficult to make heads or tails of.
Grades Used: 1 and 1.5
These workbooks are fun and easy to do. They gradually increase in level while continuing to reinforce things already learned.
Grades Used: 1st
This is a great supplement to any phonics program. Good if you want your child to have a little independent work.
I'm not sure where I discovered these but really do love them. Just enough bookwork without becoming tedious and love the variety of teaching the same concept. Will definitely be using them again.
Cons: not so great pictures
Grades Used: K-2
We have used this for 3 kids now and I will continue with our 4th child as well.
Cons: May need teacher's guide
Grades Used: Variety
I used this series with my oldest without teacher's guides and every so often I didn't know what a picture was or exactly what they were learning. It went much easier for me once I got the guides and of course they can be reused with all my other children.
My oldest breezed right through these books and learn to read easily. I loved hearing her sound out the words and the smile on her face as she felt she was accomplishing something.
My next two (1st & 2nd) are on Book 2 and moving a little more slowly. Some days they complete 2 pages and some days just 1 page. They are struggling a little more than my oldest so we are getting extra practice by using the 1/2 books. Even though they may still struggle through a easy reader book, they are successful with ETC sentences.
Grades Used: K
We used this for phonics & handwriting since there was alot of writing required. It was simple and easy to teach. There was enough practice for each new sound.
Cons: Lots of Writng
Grades Used: Pre-K - 1
My son loves these workbooks. He is 4 1/2 and we started with book 1. We have now finished book 3 and he is reading every word he sees. The sounds are presented in a logical manner. We do not attempt more than a couple of pages a day, so it takes us a few days to finish up one lesson.
The only draw back is it contains a lot of writing practice. Which was overwhelming to him at the beginning. He was just learning to write letters, and wanted to write all of the words. Now that he can write well, (we used Handwriting Without Tears) he completes the pages easier.
We also use the online version of Explode the Code. I assign him review lessons and he loves the variety it offers. He doesn't have the mousing skill to click and drag, so I sit with him to avoid frustration.
Grades Used: pre-K-3rd+
My kids have used the Explode the Code series since the beginning (pre-K and K). It's been a great phonics introduction, and as they moved through the books, it introduced more advanced concepts in easy to follow methods. There is a lot of repetition, so the kids remembered it. As they got older (1st-2nd), it was very simple for them to do most of the pages on their own. They would even ASK to do the work.
Last year, I discovered Explode the Code Online (through Homeschool Buyer's Co-op online). We LOVE it. I use it to supplement the workbooks in a fun, interactive way. I can set the levels they must achieve and when they do it, they get rewarded with a "FUN" Button that takes them to online games.
Cons:
Grades Used: books 1-3
Easy to use. Effective. Repetitive enough to learn, but not enough to get monotonous. Separates the sounds, which is very important for a dyslexic child. Easy enough for my child to use it on his own. Love it.
Cons: Some of the sentences don't make sense or use out of date language that my kids don't understand.
Grades Used: Preschool thru book 2.5
I really love Explode the Code. It is very easy and has cute pictures. The only draw back is it has some really strange question to answer that don't really make a whole lot of sense. These strange questions are only on a few pages so I can overlook it.