We love abeka. This is the first time I have taught a child to read and I was very Intimidated before the school year started. However, Abeka does such a great job walking thru every single lesson. Some weeks have been staying on the same 2-3 lessons for the whole week instead of one lesson a day (some things we need to slow down and spend more time) and even then it is so so easy to stay on track bc if the flexibility.
Great advice on how to use Abeka! Both my daughters are coming from a private Christian preschool that used Abeka, so when I started to homeschool for Kinder and 1st grade I continued using it since it was something familiar, and I am so glad I did! I can't imagine using a different program for Phonics. This year we have also used their Spelling, Handwriting, Arithmetic, and Social Studies (as a spine). I love it all, no regrets. I also have the 1st grade lesson plans but I only use it loosely. The special sound cards, the workbook, and the readers are the bread and butter of the program so our focus are on reviewing these daily. So happy with Abeka so far, not overwhelmed at all, just relieved to have started with this day 1!
Totally agree that it has a lot but the built in review is pivotal. My very young daughter is using Grade 1 as K-1 over 2 full years, rather than buy multiple grades. Because so many people advocate trimming the fat and the repetition, I decided to leverage that feedback and turn Grade one into 2 years and it's going great because it is such a robust phonics ELA program. We use the 2 workbooks, the readers, the cards and the spelling book and there is enough variety. I get to offer her "Which would you prefer to do today" it's all great practice. Some days she is all about cards, other days she likes just spelling and tracing her words. The teaching guide is fantastic for filling in MY gaps as a teacher.
I started K5 with my daughter this year and totally agree that it’s ok to leave stuff out! The first couple days I tried to do it word for word like the teachers manual said and it was way overwhelming for me and boring for her because it was review. I’m much better at picking and choosing what I want to cover now!
I use Abeka and it is the thing that finally got my son reading so I agree with you I don’t have to use it all, but I do use different things to keep it from becoming mundane.
I’ve been wanting to use Abeka, so it was encouraging to see it’s not absolutely necessary to use everything. I can not use the whole Abeka program, I don’t have time for that, but I think I could if I got to pick and choose what we use
I finally decided to use Abeka for my son for 2nd grade for next school year. I know I’m way ahead but it’s so expensive I saw it used for a lot cheaper and decided to buy it. I’ve been buying the student workbooks new little by little. I think that’s the only way of not feeling guilty about buying this curriculum. I’m looking forward to using the readers but won’t be using the handwriting or spelling. Going to stick to Traditional Spelling and The Good and the Beautiful for Handwriting which I think is awesome for cursive. Anyways, I’m looking forward to the flip through of the new writing curriculum you mentioned in your video before this one. I want to start my son on an official writing curriculum this year. Writing is complicated to teach ugh!!!
@@YasminB-u9d I haven’t started using Abeka yet. I’ll be starting in August. I might order the Abeka spelling just in case mixing Abeka and Traditional spelling doesn’t mesh well. 😏
My son is thriving with Abeka phonics. He is moving into 1st grade and since we didn't use the k5 workbook a ton and he is really taking off in reading, I am really seriously considering skipping the phonics workbook to move through grade 1 phonics. He does great with the phonics flashcards and I have all the readers...plus the handbook for reading to "test" him on all the sounds in real life. We will see what i decide!
We are yet to use abecca but I’ve been looking at phonics programs especially as my older kids needs review often and now I’m teaching my youngest to read and I’m already seeing that one program isn’t enough and she needs extra review!!! We need overlap and extra review!!! My kids understand something until they get to certain words and we need to review!!! We could come back to the review section as needed!!! The reason I get different curriculum is to stop it being boring!!!
Your video was so helpful, thank you. Can you tell me what I need to buy from Abeka to teach my son how to read? What is all the material from them that I will need?
Great tips! I always buy the readers & teacher materials used too. And lately Abeka has been having a buy 2, get 1 free sale so that helps cut down the cost of the workbooks.
We love abeka. This is the first time I have taught a child to read and I was very
Intimidated before the school year started. However, Abeka does such a great job walking thru every single lesson. Some weeks have been staying on the same 2-3 lessons for the whole week instead of one lesson a day (some things we need to slow down and spend more time) and even then it is so so easy to stay on track bc if the flexibility.
Love that you are able to use the curriculum exactly how you need to for your kiddo!
Great advice on how to use Abeka! Both my daughters are coming from a private Christian preschool that used Abeka, so when I started to homeschool for Kinder and 1st grade I continued using it since it was something familiar, and I am so glad I did! I can't imagine using a different program for Phonics. This year we have also used their Spelling, Handwriting, Arithmetic, and Social Studies (as a spine). I love it all, no regrets. I also have the 1st grade lesson plans but I only use it loosely. The special sound cards, the workbook, and the readers are the bread and butter of the program so our focus are on reviewing these daily. So happy with Abeka so far, not overwhelmed at all, just relieved to have started with this day 1!
We have been loving the phonics! The flashcards are helping our boys so much. They do them with dad at night
Totally agree that it has a lot but the built in review is pivotal. My very young daughter is using Grade 1 as K-1 over 2 full years, rather than buy multiple grades. Because so many people advocate trimming the fat and the repetition, I decided to leverage that feedback and turn Grade one into 2 years and it's going great because it is such a robust phonics ELA program. We use the 2 workbooks, the readers, the cards and the spelling book and there is enough variety. I get to offer her "Which would you prefer to do today" it's all great practice. Some days she is all about cards, other days she likes just spelling and tracing her words. The teaching guide is fantastic for filling in MY gaps as a teacher.
I started K5 with my daughter this year and totally agree that it’s ok to leave stuff out! The first couple days I tried to do it word for word like the teachers manual said and it was way overwhelming for me and boring for her because it was review. I’m much better at picking and choosing what I want to cover now!
I use Abeka and it is the thing that finally got my son reading so I agree with you I don’t have to use it all, but I do use different things to keep it from becoming mundane.
I’ve been wanting to use Abeka, so it was encouraging to see it’s not absolutely necessary to use everything. I can not use the whole Abeka program, I don’t have time for that, but I think I could if I got to pick and choose what we use
I finally decided to use Abeka for my son for 2nd grade for next school year. I know I’m way ahead but it’s so expensive I saw it used for a lot cheaper and decided to buy it. I’ve been buying the student workbooks new little by little. I think that’s the only way of not feeling guilty about buying this curriculum. I’m looking forward to using the readers but won’t be using the handwriting or spelling. Going to stick to Traditional Spelling and The Good and the Beautiful for Handwriting which I think is awesome for cursive. Anyways, I’m looking forward to the flip through of the new writing curriculum you mentioned in your video before this one. I want to start my son on an official writing curriculum this year. Writing is complicated to teach ugh!!!
It can be a lot, nice work picking it up used!!
I've been very torn between Traditional Spelling and Abeka. How did you manage to mesh these two together?
@@YasminB-u9d I haven’t started using Abeka yet. I’ll be starting in August. I might order the Abeka spelling just in case mixing Abeka and Traditional spelling doesn’t mesh well. 😏
We just use the readers (used!) It’s helpful to know that there are lists of words to read through in the back before starting each story.
My son is thriving with Abeka phonics. He is moving into 1st grade and since we didn't use the k5 workbook a ton and he is really taking off in reading, I am really seriously considering skipping the phonics workbook to move through grade 1 phonics. He does great with the phonics flashcards and I have all the readers...plus the handbook for reading to "test" him on all the sounds in real life. We will see what i decide!
I also LOVE the organization of abeka phonics like you said - the charts, the cards, the color coding. Its second to none!
Couldn't agree more!!
We are yet to use abecca but I’ve been looking at phonics programs especially as my older kids needs review often and now I’m teaching my youngest to read and I’m already seeing that one program isn’t enough and she needs extra review!!! We need overlap and extra review!!! My kids understand something until they get to certain words and we need to review!!! We could come back to the review section as needed!!! The reason I get different curriculum is to stop it being boring!!!
Your video was so helpful, thank you. Can you tell me what I need to buy from Abeka to teach my son how to read? What is all the material from them that I will need?
I chat about that in this video: ruclips.net/video/ORUc1to5lRw/видео.html
I would love to see how you do the phonics games.
Great tips! I always buy the readers & teacher materials used too. And lately Abeka has been having a buy 2, get 1 free sale so that helps cut down the cost of the workbooks.
Good to know!!
@@sciencemama code is B2G1 and it ends 10/14
the enormous lesson plan book makes me anxious. i can't figure out how to pare it down.
Can I just use the level 1 workbooks?
I know people who have done just that!
What do you think a good price for the 1st grade readers would be?
It is so hard to say, when I bought the readers used, I searched all over to find the best price while still being in good condition!