 My children are enjoying Explode the Code on line. It gives them a change from the normal pencil & paper work and challenges them. The instant feedback they get from earning reward definitely helps keep them focused on trying their best.” Sarah, Co-op Member |
My daughters have both had a great experience with ETC. We bought it when my oldest and I were having some clashes over reading time, ETC helped her continue her progress more independently. Now she's only 7 and reading at a fifth grade level! I have four friends who also use with their kids.”Carra S., Co-op Member |
I bought explode the code online because of the great pricing on HomeSchool Buyers Co-op. My 5 year old son has been using it for a few months now and there is a marked improvement in his reading ability! He was trained in sight words and he hit a roadblock when reading word patterns that he did not know how to recognize. I wanted to turn him on to phonics and help him sound out words by using this program and he has made amazing progress! I am happy to see that he can independently read upto 1st grade level now and is trying to sound out more advanced words using phonics. He uses it 2-3 times every week and keeps track of how many butterflies and airplane buttons he gets each time. He was recently very excited to get 2 airplanes in one session!
I love this product and am thrilled with it. I let him substitute it for his TV time. The only problem we ever found was that he was being timed on his typing speed and he would get a bumblebee if he fumbled to find letters and it totally demoralized him - we solved this problem by having a parent point out the letters on the keyboard. I think that this feature should be turned off for extremely young kids as they have not mastered the keyboard at ages 4 and 5.
Otherwise I would give it "Two Thumbs Up"!”ashley, Co-op Member |
Explode the Code online has been great addition to our homeschool day. My daughter was using Explode the Code workbooks with great success, but with the online program she gets the added benefit of improving her typing and mouse skills as well as immediate feedback for incorrect responses. It has really helped her to pay closer attention to each phonogram, resulting in fewer mistakes in her oral reading.”Beth Widner, Co-op Member |
We are using Explode the Code for our oldest two children, ages 8 and newly 7, and we are very pleased. It has been great filling in all the gaps for the 8 year old. It automatically progresses the child when he has mastered each step and allows him to test and skip the areas he already knows well. I am glad that we started the other child earlier. We plan to start our 5 year old soon. We used the workbooks while traveling, which I liked at the time to get in extra handwriting. But, the online version moves them along at such a quicker rate, to get them reading on their own sooner.
I have them work around 45 minutes each day and they enjoy seeing how many paper airplanes they can earn in that time, which is the highest award. They also are excited to see their progress at the end of each session on the teacher's page.
This is a product I would (and do) recommend to parents of quick learners as well as those with reading difficulties. It is also a product that can be used for working parents as there is no lesson planning or even teacher interaction needed.”Mom of 5, Co-op Member |
My 5.5 year old is learning and retaining so much! I love that, from the outset, a brief quiz set the program to match the level he needed to be on, so he was able to jump right in to learning. I'll be using this program for my younger son when he's ready to begin reading.”Candy, Co-op Member |
We LOVE Explode The Code online. We read a review through Cathy Duffy's curriculum review website and decided we would give it a shot. This has been a life-saver for us when it comes to phonics and reading. My middle son was struggling to say the least. Every day he was in tears while trying to complete worksheet after worksheet in our previous curriculum. Then we started Explode The Code. The first day he scored far below basic and I began to think well maybe he really does have a learning disability when it comes to reading. The next day before we started he asked me what the buttons were and I explained to him that they were rewards he could get when he completed a task accurately and within a shorter time span. That day he was proficient and has received excellent on two tasks. Needless to say he can read fine, what he lacked was motivation from workbooks because they were pointless for him but the fact that if he works hard he could possibly get a paper airplane button on his scorecard now that is a completely different story. He loves it most days unless he is in a building state of mind and it is no longer a fight to get him to work on reading because it's a game. We've even had days where he will gladly sit and go through the assignments for an hour because he's trying to get that airplane. We love Explode the Code, we will continue to use it until our son has completed all the "books" and we have recommended it to friends. Thank you so much for offering it!”Ellie Wilson, Co-op Member |
My son, 4, has been using this for about a month, more for fun than anything. He enjoys it and asks if he can play his explode the code. The only thing he doesn't like (nor I) is that some of the pictures are hard to tell what they are trying to depict. Even I have been wrong in what I thought the picture was. Other than the pictures my son likes the program.”EMS, Co-op Member |
We love Explode the Code. Currently my 4 yo is using the workbooks along with the online games. I started her off with Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading. She was getting bored with it so I decided to try Explode the Code. She gets excited when I tell her she's going to work on her Explode the Code activities!”Amanda P., Co-op Member |
My 8 year old son had been struggling with reading and is now excited to try! He is REALLY proud of himself when he receives a paper airplane as a reward for getting all the answers correct!”Kathy A., Co-op Member |
All 4 of our children have used "Explode the Code"in book form and loved it. Our youngest son is very happy to be able to do this program on the computer. I love being able to see his progress on my laptop.
I give it 2 thumbs up”Y.O'Brien, Co-op Member |
My son has been using Explode the Code online for two years now. It is straightforward and simple to use. It reinforces the skills that they learn in the workbook program. It has been asset to us because he greatly improved his phonics skills, made phonics less of a chore and its not cluttered with flashy characters that distract from the task at hand. I have told many friends about this program and my middle son will start using it soon also.”S, Aldridge, Co-op Member |
I was using it first for my daughter who is in first grade, reading at grade level. Her reading has really improved. Now, instead of asking me to read a book to her, sometimes she just picks up a book and reads to the four year old :) Nice to see that independence. I more recently started using ETC with an older student who is reading below grade level. I am excited to begin to see some of those gaps filled. Reading just hasn't "clicked" with him but we can see definite improvements.”Laura, Co-op Member |
My six year old was really needing some extra drilling in phonics basics, but I was having a hard time finding a method she didn't resist. Until ETC came along...the perfect solution! She thinks she's playing a computer game, and I know she's getting the extra practice she needs. The best part is the way it keeps track of problem areas and automatically reviews those lessons which are weak. I'd recommend it to anyone whose child needs a little extra phonics practice.”Mary, Co-op Member |
We have been using the online version of ETC to help with Spelling and decoding words. We previously used another program but saw little improvement in his overall writing.
I have really loved ETC so far. It shows me his areas of weakness and allows me to check in and see how he performed on his daily work. I have also an improvement in his Spelling as it is showing carryover to his writing.”Laresa H., Co-op Member |
My son was struggling with paper & pencil phonics. He was not engaged, and therefore learning to read became a frustrating process for both of us. I was unsure of what he needed to work on and what would be best.
A friend in my co-op told me about Explode the Code. I went online to research and discovered the online version of the program. I was so excited! I knew this program was solid in what it was teaching and the online format would engage my son. The added bonus is the feedback provided to the parent of what the child is excelling at or struggling with and the peace of mind that the program automatically moves him forward or keeps him where he is at until the concept is mastered.
Now "Reading Practice" is a part of school we both look forward to. The fact that he can work independently on it has freed me up for that time as well, to work on other things I need to do. It's a win-win!”Melissa N., Co-op Member |
So far the program has been working great for my son. In the past, reading time was a real big struggle. My son didn't like it and I was having a hard time with my patience with him. After almost a month of using explode the code online, my son still loves doing it. He is picking up reading and doing well. It also is a lot easier for me with 5 little ones.”I. Parker, Co-op Member |
We purchased Explode the Code for each of our children last year and this year we did it again only this time through the Homeschool Buyers Co-op! The kids find it much more entertaining and user friendly than some of the other phonics and reading programs out there. As their parent, I like being able to see the progress reports and where the kids are struggling. We'll continue doing it until the kids complete all the modules! Two of my three are dyslexic and they are reading better than ever!”Ester S, Co-op Member |
Love it!! We have used ETC for over 6 months with 2 of my girls, ages 5 & 7. They both like it, and it does a great job of teaching and reteaching where each child is. It is a great way of teaching reading/spelling! My 3 yo is using the ETC book, but I plan on switching him to the online version when he is ready for book 1.”Amy C., Co-op Member |
I love ETC because it works! My daughter likes using the computer version better than the workbooks.”Amanda, Co-op Member |
I bought ETC for my two oldest children and then purchased a third for our youngest. We love it! The children enjoy the program and have benefited from it. I like that I can track the work they have completed by time and skill. We use it as a supplement to their schoolwork. My oldest is dyslexic and it has helped her with phonemic awareness. If we have a few minutes to spare before dinner time, I'll ask them to complete 3 buttons worth. Often they'll want to complete more because they enjoy the challenge. I typically assign it as independent work while I work one-on-one with another child. ETC is a great complement to the Slingerland program my daughter is using.”Mom to 3, Co-op Member |
My 2nd grade daughter finished Book 5 of ETC in September. After I purchased ETC on-line for my kindergartner, she begged me to order it for her as well.
i like that they continue to give more practice with each concept until it is mastered. I like the parent feedback aligned with state standards. The only thing I dislike is that it penalizes the students for not being fast on the computer. Often, they will get all the questions correct, but still get a poor score based on time. I can always look to see how many they missed in each section though.
My children are more familiar with the touch screen computers (iPad, iPhone, etc.) and still have trouble with using a mouse. I wish it didn't require flash so we could use it on our iPad or iPhone.
I am excited to see their progress through the year and will probably renew for my 5-year old next year.”Vickie Brammer, Co-op Member |
Having a great curriculum available on the Internet has helped my struggling 1st grader learn so much without realizing it. This is better than regular phonics games because there is a separate link where I track his progress and can find teaching tips to strengthen his weak areas. He loves the short lessons and the instant "badge" that is earned. I plan to continue with the online version until he is a fluent reader!”L. Rothermel, Co-op Member |
I've used ETC workbooks for 7 years now. They are wonderful! This is my first year using the online program. I can't say enough good about it! My son loves it! Instead of encouraging him to do another page, he is asking to do another lesson online and will work much longer. His spelling is improving and it is so enjoyable for both of us! We all know how much boys hate to write. This is perfect because they can type it. Most kids love the computer so this is the best of both worlds. It's worth every penny! Don't hestitate to sign up!”Carla B. in Michigan, Co-op Member |
I'm so glad that we added the ETC online to the workbooks. My 3 children have enjoyed being able to do school on the computer and I'm glad that they can review what we have done. Also, the way they have enabled me to reward the work done online keeps my kids motivated to either complete a certain amount or spend a certain amount of time.”Marie R, Co-op Member |
I purchased this as a supplemental resource to our Horizons Phonics Curriculum. I have been very impressed with the quality and content of Explode the Code. It has put the joy back into learning for my six year old son. I will continue to use this program with my two younger children as well.”Maureen R., Co-op Member |
My son has struggled to read. He's in 3rd grade, and pre ETC, he was reading at a first grade level, in spite of our having tried a number of reading programs.
He is a visual learner, and once we started ETC, he moved forward in leaps. He enjoys the work, and it's easy for him to proceed independently. He has used another online program, but this one seems to be much more enjoyable to him.
We will definitely continue to use it until he has covered all the material and reached reading proficiency for his age group.”Caryn, Co-op Member |
My son is mastering his phonics at a faster pace doing the on-line program. The rewards give him an incentive to push forward since reading is not his favorite subject. He likes to see if he received a "butterfly" for his work. He looks forward to earning a green "mosquito" (as we call it). Thank you for the discounted program and my son is grateful that he is not doing another workbook this year!”Tammy W., Co-op Member |
I have used this with 3 of my children, and the results have been spectacular! I highly recommend this to all of my friends with struggling readers.”C. Fry, Co-op Member |
I feel this program is outstanding. My five year old Son loves it and can work independently both on the online work and the written work in the workbook. He is proud of himself that he can read already!”S. Smith, Co-op Member |
This has been a great tool to reinforce my daughter's phonics skills. I used it all last year and re-ordered it again this year because I find it beneficial. She is reading so well now, and I believe Explode the Code has helped her with sounding out words.”Jennifer D., Co-op Member |
My 1st grader uses this as his primary phonics lesson. It is enticing and efficient. My 3rd grader uses it for remedial spelling lessons; I believe we are targeting specific problems effectively.”S.Swann, Co-op Member |
We love ETC On-line because my 5 yo gets phonics practice tailored to his level/weak areas. Also, it is something he can do independently while I help my other children with their studies. Great product! My son looks forward to it each day.”Mara, Co-op Member |
I was so glad to discover ETC online through the Co-op as my son loved the workbooks and, due to learning and visual memory delays, needs to repeat exercises. As an older student, he loves that he gets to work on the computer and earns "fun" time once he completes enough lessons (such as online games, etc). ETC just works and on the computer it is more like fun than work!”Joy P, Co-op Member |
I have been homeschooling for 9 years now, and I had no difficulty teaching my two oldest children to read. When I began teaching my third son, however, we had so much trouble. By the time he turned seven, I knew he was behind and I was worried. Plus, my fourth child was having similar difficulties. We have been using Explode The Code Online for just over a month now, and already I am amazed with both boys' progress. Not only are they learning quickly, but they are very enthusiastic to complete their lessons everyday. I intend to use this program with my younger children as soon as they are ready to read.”Clare Durina, Co-op Member |
We just signed up for our second year of Explode the Code on-line. This program is like buying the Explode the Code books and a tutor to go with them. My daughter can word independently and practice her phonics. The software moves her onto harder material when she is ready for it, and gives her more practice in the areas where she is slow or is not getting the phonics concept covered in that unit. And all I have to do is turn on the computer! The parent page is full of valuable information about the students strengths, weaknesses and progress, and I don't have to worry about ordering the next book - it is all right there!”KathyH, Co-op Member |
I recently bought a years subscription of Explode the code from Homeschool Buyers Co-op. I wasn't sure if it would work for my 4 yr old daughter, but was thrilled once we started using it. The lessons are in small bites and allow the child to feel successful each time. It also gives very detailed reports on what problems the child got right but it gives a report as to how long it took the child to do the problem. My daughter has a daydreaming issue... or gets side tracked with conversations not about the subject. I showed her the report and how the program thinks she didn't know the answer, when in actuality it wasn't that at all. I asked her to stay focused for the short time period we set then showed her the report again and she was pleased with her better score. I also liked that the lessons allowed the student to skip instructions if they already knew how to do the problem. My daughter also tires quickly and isn't ready to do much writing as the book version would require, so the online version allows her to show what she knows without writing. Very happy with Explode the Code Online. We also use several other online phonics/Reading programs and I think this one will be used more then the others. We will continue to use this for this year and see how my daughter is doing and if we will need to add another year or not. I have told my moms group friends about it and hope they give it a try.”Patricia Nelson, Co-op Member |
Explode the Code online is the perfect companion to the ETC books. The tools online allow me to keep track of my first grader's progress. It also gives my son positive feedback as he learns to read. My husband and I are both amazed at how quickly our son has learned to sound out words. We're very happy with Explode the Code online and consider it one of our best curriculum choices!”C.M. Southern, Co-op Member |
Explode the Code Online has helped our family considerably, as my 6 yr. old son is able to do it independently while I spend time with my 3 yr. old. We were using another reading program that required considerable 1-on-1 time with him, which left my 3 year old to entertain herself. Since most of his subjects require 1-on-1, she was left out too much of the time, which I knew was not good for her and that was causing me quite a bit stress. This program takes care of reading and even spelling, and allows us more quality time together. I can monitor his progress, and it automatically keeps detailed records for me. He loves being on the computer, so even though it is work, he welcomes it. I believe we will continue to use this program.”Mom of 2, another on the way., Co-op Member |
This is my first year to homeschool and I loved the idea of having one area of study on the computer to break up the day. At first my daughter, who is six, was a little hesitant and didn't want much to do with Explode the Code Online. But not now. She loves doing her reading on the computer and was so excited when she got her first airplane. The badges are great and it gives her something to work for.
Almost two weeks into the program she started sounding words out on her own. I had been trying to get her to do that all summer and she wouldn't! I really love how the program is constantly assessing her placement and repeating the areas that she struggles with. I also really appreciate the teachers section where I can track her progress, see what areas she is struggling with, and get ideas of how to improve her reading skills. I will definitely be using this program throughout our homeschooling years! Thanks Homeschool Buyers Co-Op!”Christy C., Co-op Member |
We are using Explode The Code with my 5 year old boy. He loves it! We spend about 10-15 min/school day on the site. It makes phonics fun. I like the "teacher" section so that I can see his progress, strengths, and area that need more support. They even give game ideas for areas that need more work. Totally worth the money, IMO.”Emily, Co-op Member |
All my kids have loved Explode The Code online! The love seeing there progress buttons and self-motivate to do better each time! I love it because it monitors and tracks their progress for me, and adjusts if they need more work in a certain area! My two older kids love to help my two younger kids, they wish they could still do it!”Jayme S., Co-op Member |
We started this program actually as a precursor to full time school. We have a young(late b/d) 5yo boy not ready for "full time" K but also beyond preschool. He is loving Explode the Code and can't wait to do his "work". He has readily grasped the material and can understand the directions. The directions are easy for him to follow. He needed some help at first with using a mouse but that didn't take long to get the hang of! He has used other online programs such as starfall and he prefers this because "its not for babies!" I will continue to use it and have already recommended it.”K.Palladino, Co-op Member |
My six year old LOVES the Explode the Code online program. It's very interactive and she begs to play.”Jen, Co-op Member |
I bought this for my 5 year old several weeks ago. She was barely reading, but loves this so much, she'll spend hours on it (while I'm schooling my older ones). She's reading little sentences now, and asks to get on all the time. I don't have to help her; she just keeps trying for those butterflies!”Carol Litz, Co-op Member |
My six year old looks forward to Explode the Code online each day. I appreciate using that time to work with my older children. Very similar format to the books, only better, since there is no grading to do!”T Pflum, Co-op Member |
I like that it tracks the childs progress and gives positive feedback to the child as they work through the exercise. My daughter loves the program and we will continue to use the product. We have told several friends about it as well.”S. Byerly, Co-op Member |
Our daughter used written ETC last year and was moving steadily. Online ETC has been a great upgrade for both of us. I have a better idea of how she's doing. She works a little faster. If you'd like to continue the workbooks, they can be used to supplement each other or alone.”Kate, Co-op Member |
I have used Explode The Code Online for 3 of my children. I use it as a supplement to their reading lessons. All have benefited using the extra practice of phonics and reading each day. Plus they love getting to be on the computer during school time!”Cathy D., Co-op Member |
We are loving Explode the Code,my son and daughter are both using it and love how they get rewarded with butterflies and games. I love how you can click on a letter and you hear the sound, I think that really helps both my kids.We will continue to use it all this year and will tell others about it.”Amber K., Co-op Member |
I really love the Explode the Code online. My daughter who is 4 has learned alot from it. I do wish it was more age specific. Because she is only 4 she is probably slower at it than some older kids and has a hard time earning the "good" bugs. She was weak in sounding out words though, and this has helped her tremendously...”Christy Z, Co-op Member |
My son enjoys the online program, much better than the workbooks, since his fine motor skills are weak and he just plain likes computers. I like that the program automatically has him practicing specific skills until he can perform satisfactorily, and I appreciate the detailed reports so I know exactly what the exercises are that he's doing.
Unfortunately, the program frequently freezes and needs to be restarted. This happens nearly every time he uses the program. It's very frustrating, since he has to start over earning the passing badges in order to access the "fun button." Also, since the exercises are timed, the hunting on the keyboard for letters is time consuming, distracting and detrimental to the goal of reading, and artificially lowers his score for those exercises, discouraging him. This is a big deal for an older child with speech issues that have affected his ability to learn to read. I would like a different method of spelling words, so to separate reading skills from typing skills, since he's not learning proper typing technique from this program.
Despite these drawbacks, I recommend the program and may purchase it in the future for my younger children.”Kimberly A., Co-op Member |
My son is developmentally delayed and very very dyslexic. Reading is hard for him and he hates reading 'programs'.
But Explode the Code online he will do. He likes it much better than the books, I think partly because it's a computer and computers are cool, and also because of all the sounds and rewards and typing is easier for him than writing. Besides, it's Orton-Gillingham based and that seems to help him remember.”Miri M, Co-op Member |
I really like the teacher view where I can see how my child is progressing through the material. As a visual learner, I like the graphs and visual presentation of data. My daughter likes that there is a computer game that she is required to play for school :)”Melissa C., Co-op Member |
This program has transformed our homeschool. I am working through teaching reading with my 3rd child and ETC has made all the difference. He is reading, writing, and spelling far better than his brother and sister were at the same age. I am VERY thankful for this program!”N. Zimmerman, Co-op Member |
Bought this for the 3 older children I adopted from China. They had been using the books but the online version is SOO much better because they can hear the words pronounced while they are reading the words. I only wish I had bough tit a year earlier ! All 3 love it (boys ages 19 and 12, girl age 12).”Catherine, Co-op Member |
This is a great self-directed way for a child to work on their reading skills. Great in that it is done on the computer so different than sitting down to another workbook and keeps my child's interest better. The best part is the immediate positive feedback they get.”Nicole O., Co-op Member |
I am using ETC with my 1st and 4th grader for the 1st time this year. They love getting on the computer to do their phonics. My son immediately started reading after using the program 2 weeks. He already knew his letter sounds but had not put them together to make words. My 4th grader is just using it to review. They love the immediate feedback. I love the easy use. I highly recommend ETC!”Heather P., Co-op Member |
I LOVE Explode the Code online as well as their workbooks. My daughter is almost 6 and we started her in the online program a little over a year ago. Thanks to Explode the Code, she is reading at a 2nd grade level! My 4-year-old son just began the program and he is reading many short words already! Not only are my children beginning to read, but the online program gives excellent computer skills! Both of my children love the program and enjoy doing it. Each level is graded by a score (we call them stickers) of a lady bug, bumblebee, paper airplane, etc...we have a reward system for each time they earn an airplane and it really encourages them! I highly reccommend this program to anyone. I will mention that I did decide to use their workbooks as a supplement for my son, which has helped him greatly. I plan on having my children complete this program.”Susan D., Co-op Member |
My kids (I have two doing phonics) have both enjoyed ETC. They really enjoy getting a "butterfly" and like the reward system. I enjoy the ease of use and that they can work at their own pace. Thank you for a great product.”Chris G., Co-op Member |
Explode the Code has helped by daughter better understand phonics, giving her reading ability a real boost. ETC has also helped her improve her spelling. She enjoys using the program, and as a result is more willing to spend the time needed to learn.
I like how easy it for me to navigate the reporting features and how easy it is to adjust the learning levels so my daughter doesn't get board if she's grasped a concept and needs to jump ahead.”Carol S., Co-op Member |
I am a tutor for young children with autism and I am using this program with 2 students. They both love doing the work, in fact sometimes it's hard to get them to stop and they keep asking for just one more try. I love the data information and it makes it very easy to keep parents informed on the child's success.”M. Spruill, Co-op Member |
We have used Explode the Code online for just over a year, for my son we adopted from China when he was almost 6 years old. He is now reading at grade level!”Laura C, Co-op Member |
This has been a great addition to our school day. Although we have the workbooks the online version has given us the extra practice that my daughter needed. She loves it and asks to do her "computer" school everyday even on Saturday.”Ildiko Baugus, Co-op Member |
I purchased this program for my 8 year old dyslexic daughter who is reading on a first grade reading level at the end of her 2nd grade term. She WAS public schooled. She loves the program! It is summertime, and currently not using it everyday at this time. I do notice she is being challenged and loves the online content. She wants me to sit down with her so I can watch her. I have not used any other products for reading/ spelling, and, hopefully, the need will not be there. I hope to be able to do a more thorough review at the end of our school year.”Elizabeth H., Co-op Member |
I have always been impressed with the Explode the Code workbooks, and have continued to be very pleased with the online version. It helps my children get through more material faster than they could in the workbook, and focusing on the areas where they struggle. I love that they move faster when they are already proficient in an area, and are provided review when they are not solid. There are not a lot of goofy graphics and distractions from the content, which I really like. I have used it with my first son, and am now using it again with my daughter. They both love their phonics time!”Talia K., Co-op Member |
I use this with my two younger children, ages 5 and 8. Both children use the computer regularly and have no tolerance for cheesy computer games and programs. For the past two years I have used the ETC workbooks with the 8 year old, and I was nervous trying the Online format. I have to say, ETC Online goes above and beyond my expectation. It is everything it claims to be. My children love it and ask to do it every day. They are excelling in phonics, and strive to "earn the Airplane" in every unit. The program is challenging, but because its leveling is automatic, it's never frustrating. I give it 5 stars!”C. Owens, Co-op Member |
My 7 year old son started ETC online this January. He was scoring below basic and couldn't read a basic reader without a great deal of struggle. He is now, just 5 months later, scoring proficient in book 6! He is reading level 2 readers and his spelling has improved multiple grade levels. This is the kind of learning program that perfectly utilizes the technology without creating wasted time on gaming-type activities. Highly recommended!!”Michelle G., Co-op Member |
I have been using ETC with my six year old who has been learning to read this year. It has given her a great phonetic foundation to learn spelling along with reading. She can spell complex words that others her age have not learned yet.
I just began using ETC with my 8 year old daughter. She struggles with spelling. It has been great to watch her fly through the material she does know, building her confidence, and yet be able to have the areas of her weakness worked on at the same time. The program does a great job of finding these areas and helping her get them down well. It has been a great program and we hope to be able to afford to use it with both children next year.
We have looked at many other phonics programs and this is by far the best program. My son used the book ETC curriculum and loved it. At the time they didn't have the computer curriculum. My daughter didn't like doing the books but enjoys the computer curriculum.
We have a homeschool co-op that we are involved in. As a leader in the co-op, I am asked about curriculum all the time. I have told many of my homeschool friends about ETC. Some have even begun using the program themselves.
Note: I do have to help with the mouse as it is overly sensitive to errors. Sometimes we click on the right answer but if it is not directly in the center it is read as wrong. Making one error can set a child back many lessons. This is the frustrating part about ETC. One error in typing, or one error in mouse clicking can be interpreted as the child not knowing the information. It would be great to have a teacher override for these kind of errors that allows us to keep the child on the right track if we know they have the material down. [Co-op note: We have shared this info with the ETC creators.]”Debbie Schlegel, Co-op Member |
I recently purchased Explode-the-Code online for my 5 year old son. We had been using the workbooks, but his fine motor skills are not quite as developed as his thinking abilities and readines to read, so all of the writing he needed to do slowed him down. I am very pleased with the progress he has made online. He can go through the lessons much faster now and is progressing rapidly. Also, he insists on doing it all by himself and is learning where the letters are on the keyboard so he can type out the words without help. The other day he did nine segments straight and didn't want to stop. With the paper textbooks, he whined through two pages per day. The program does evaluate based speed as well as accuracy, so his doing the typing does affect his "rewards," but I take this into account when reviewing the progress reports. Overall, I am very satisfied with ETC online. It serves the purpose we needed, and I got it for a great price through the Co-op.”Dana M., Co-op Member |
Explode the Code has been a wonderful solution for our family. I have 3 boys, and the oldest 2 (ages 7 and 4) use Explode the Code online. I'm able to track their progress individually. They both enjoy the online version much better than the many workbook type phonics programs we've tried. The only thing I would change would be some of the pictures, like many phonics programs, some of the pictures are nearly impossible to figure out. I will continue to use it and plan to use it for the little one as well.”L. Boyle, Co-op Member |
We recently purchased Explode-The-Code for our daughters aged 5 and 7. Our 7 year old daughter is a good match for this product and with one month of use she has had some success moving forward with sounding out words, which was her weakness that intially prompted us to purchase this product. We have found that our 5 year old struggles a bit to master the program - she does not move quickly enough through the lessons to achieve a good score, and she is at the lower end of the skill set needed to use the program. I would say that in a few months our youngest will move more quickly through the lessons which will mean less frustration for her and likely draw her to do more work without support from her parents.
All in all, this is a solid product: it gives good parent control over assignments, it is designed with a simple format for young children to navigate themselves. Its weakness is in the rewards (which are hard to achieve for younger/less skilled learners) and the teaching method is much more lesson-based than game-based which can be less exciting and harder to motivate young children.”T.B., Co-op Member |
My kids LOVE working on Explode-the-Code online. Without the daunting sight of "all those workbook pages" to do, they are able to spend just a few minutes a day going through several lessons.
I love the feedback that I get and the ability to reassign anything that I determine needs additional practice.
As for the price, what an awesome deal! I could never get all of the workbooks for the little it cost to subscribe. It's worth every penny!!”K. Crabtree, Co-op Member |
So far ETC has been amazing.. My daughter is 8 and has had trouble w/ phonectics.. I am starting to see the improvements.”Kris, Co-op Member |
Should have switched to this a long time ago. Much easier to use than the books were. I don't have to grade papers! (Wahoo!) Immediate feedback for the kids. Wonderfully complete progress reports for parents. I love the fact that it tracks the kids' time in ETC, by date, in addition to reporting the academic progress. We'll definitely continue to use and will recommend for our grandchildren.”Midge C., Co-op Member |
My son had been using the Explode the Code workbooks. I like the pacing of the online version. He is excited about working on his phonics each day (as opposed to hiding)!”D. Harper, Co-op Member |
E-T-C is great! We like that it keeps track of our children's progress through use of a nationally standardized chart. Our family is currently using ETC for our younger children's learning and as an assessment for our oldest children's knowledge base. The foundations of reading and learning to spell are not something we want to wonder about. ETC not only makes sure that our children are learning, it also makes sure we know their strong and weak points.”A Ford, Co-op Member |
Love this program, I've used it for years with my 2 boys. Only phonics program that works for us & the boys can be independent with.”Becky, Co-op Member |
We started using Explode the Code (online version) about a month ago and I have definitely seen great progress in my young son's reading. He is 4.5 and benefiting greatly. I would not have pushed reading so early, but he was begging to learn more during our reads. So, we started simple and then I wanted to get something fun for him, as well. He is always begging for 'screen time', so I thought this might be a nice reward also. It has been fun for him, although a little more repetitious than I would like. But, I have to keep reminding myself that learning to read can sometimes be just that - repetition. So, all in all, I recommend this product! I do like the fact I can customize his learning pace and when the "fun" games are allowed to show up. We do not use it every day, on average once or twice a week - but again, he's young and I'm not pushing the reading, just judging his interest level.”Mary B., Co-op Member |
When my six year old son was struggling with phonics, I decided to add some online options to our mix of methods to help him learn to read. After reviewing a number of programs, I decided to go with ETC Online since we are using the workbooks too.
My son really enjoys the online experience and sees the work more as a game than a lesson. The only negative is that when he first started usiing the program his keyboard skills were slow, so he was advancing too slowly in the program because he wasn't adept at the keyboard. With time and practice though, that resolved and he's learned typing skills too!
We are continuing to use both the online and workbook products and recommend the product to others.”Regina, Co-op Member |
We have used both work books and the online explode-the-code. We do like the online version but there are some flaws to the system itself. The game freezes and/or i have to refresh it even though she is in mid play. Another thing i never thought of, but using it online, your child has to have basic computer skills. (in the beginning she has gotten many answers wrong this way) My daughter (4 yo) isn't too happy with the drag and drop notion and really doesnt like to have to find the letters on the keyboard to spell words... it takes too long for her to locate letters since they're out of sequence. I have found that the pictures used you have to sometimes guess what word they are trying to have you use.. .and if i am guessing certainly my daughter is, or gets frustrated.
Pluses: I do like that they show you examples in the beginning showing every detail. It is very repetitive. They give her lots of reinforcement.
Overall i would buy it again with the discount.”lor, Co-op Member |
This is the first year to have our newly adopted daughter home to school her. I had 3 other daughter that graduated from home 2005-2010. I'm familiar with a lot that was out there in the past. It's been GREAT to find Homeschool Buyers Co-op and Explode the Code. She was not quite ready for long vowels, so I bought a workbook of Explore the Code, but she resisted. Explode the Code on-line has been great. She can work either on her own or with me close by depending on her need level for the day. She does have favorite activities that she thinks is easier than the rest. I also love the feedback and the ability to adjust the level if I think she needs it. I can also look ahead to see what's coming so I know what to compliment with on paper and actual reading. I will continue to use Explode the Code. I'm thankful for the GREAT discount available through Homeschool Buyers Co-op.”Barb Sheffer, Co-op Member |
As a classical homeschooler with 3 young children to educate, I often find it hard to fit everything in. I was looking for something that would take some of the time pressure off of me but still give my children a solid foundation in reading. I started my 6 year old daughter out on it halfway through 1st grade. She really enjoys the program and is doing quite well. The program picks up her weak spots even better than I am able to do. It has freed me up to work with my 8 year old son on more complex comprehension questions and to begin to teach my 4 year old son his letters and sounds. I can't believe how much freedom something simple like this has given me! I plan on enrolling my 4 year old as soon as he has mastered his letter sounds. I just wish I had known about this program when my oldest son was just starting out!”N. Zimmerman, Co-op Member |
My daughter has been making very slow progress in phonics since September. I ordered ETC Online the first week of March. She has rapidly progressed in this past month. Her ablities have improved more in the last month than the six months prior. The lessons are quick and enjoyable. She retains more from ECT Online than any other method we have tried. We will continue to use it until she completes all the levels.”Lori D., Co-op Member |
My 8 year old asked for "computer school" this year, and since he can use more phonics practice, Explode the Code online seemed like the perfect option. It's only been a few weeks since he started using it, but I can already seen improvement in his reading lessons. Its set up is self motivating to my son, as he gets so excited when he gets a butterfly or airplane token (the butterfly token means he passed a level and the airplane token means he got a perfect score on it). I can definitely see purchasing another year's subscription as needed for this child and definitely for the next one too.”Robin E., Co-op Member |
My 4 1/2 year old is doing really well with Explode the Code online. She enjoys doing it, and I set a goal every day of her earning 5 blue butterflies. It takes her about 15 minutes. It's a nice break from the workbooks!”Misti, Co-op Member |
I teach children with autism and they really enjoy using this program. I love the data reports, which allow me to individualize my teaching strategies.”M. Spruill, GA, Consultant Teacher |
I am the mother of a 6 year old with a phonetics speech disorder. Phonics lessons were hard and involved lots of frustration and a few tears. Explode The Code counters that with nice simple "games" he can play. As a parent I still need to sit with him as he does the program and keep him focused but it has increased his skills in an otherwise hard area for him. He loves that he can play a set amount of lessons and the games button comes up; good motivation for him. I like that I can supplement the online game with the paper workbook when we are traveling with no access to a computer. I recommend this program for kids who seem to be frustrated with a traditional way of phonics mastery.”Laura B, Co-op Member |
My boys were struggling with written work. Allowing them to do their phonics on the computer has been a great motivation for them. They even look forward to it. I like that they can use it at their specific level, and I can view their results in the teacher files.”Amy Kusmaul, Co-op Member |
We have two daughters ages 4 and 5. We are really noticing how much exploded the code is helping them learn how to read. This is a great tool to use online!”Shannon Green, Co-op Member |
I absolutely love explode the code and the huge discount I got on it from Homeschool Buyers Co-op. My son is gifted in math but struggles with language arts/spelling some. This is helping so much and I love that it automatically scores him so I can secretly check his scores without deflating his self-esteem!”Felicia A., Co-op Member |
We love Explode The Code! We use it as a reward because my 6 year son can't wait to "play" it when they finish his other lessons. I purchased a seat for my 4 year old knowing he would want to do the lessons if he sees his brother doing them. I'm amazed at what he is learning so quickly. They're so proud when they earn the tokens and move to a new level. I have to limit the time they are on it because they just want to keep on doing the lessons. Since ETC keeps track of what they do and don't understand, I'm able to get all my laundry folded and put away!!”Barbara G., Co-op Member |
My son struggles with dyslexia and Irlen Syndrome, and everyday when we had to sit down for reading it was a battle! He was frustrated and hated it! Since using this program for a few weeks I have noticed his confidence has really improved, he enjoys working on the lessons. He gets immediate feedback on how he is doing by the little bug symbols. I love the parent section - I can monitor how he is doing and tweak the program for his needs. I am so happy that we found this program!!!”Hillary DeJohn, Co-op Member |
This has been a great tool for me to help my phonics challenged 7 year old son and the price is right!”Pam G, Co-op Member |
I have an 8 and 10 year old doing ETC. They get bored of so many other programs, but not this one! I love it how the program follows how they do and assesses them after each lesson!
It is a great program. I recommend it to any new readers or readers struggling!”Denise, Co-op Member |
I wanted to use ETC online for my children, but the price for each student was a little overwhelming. However, through the homeschool buyers co-op, I was able to purchase 2 seats for my struggling readers. ETC has helped build stronger foundations and give a bigger emphasis on those areas where they struggled. It is fun for them as well as educational and that is what every homeschool mom looks for when searching for curriculum! I do not know of another online product that helps children like this one! I've shared this information with my facebook friends!!!”Mrs. Wright, Co-op Member |
Our family has really appreciated Explode the Code online. The presentation is logical and incremental and allows a student to progress through the phonics principles at their own pace. I love that the curriculum adjusts for the student's proficiency. But the best feature has to be the progress reports and the parent control features, which allowed me to stay on top of how my children were learning and make any adjustments or add any extra supplemental activities (which ETC online suggests). My kids really enjoyed doing their lessons with Explode the Code. It was a great way to add variety to our homeschool day. I am now introducing Explode the Code to my youngest child and I have recommended it to others whose children lack motivation using traditional workbook activities.”Carey C., Co-op Member |
My kids are using this curriculum..this has been a good addition for me as I no longer am working on phonics with my two struggling readers!! The feedback is immediate from the program so the kids can keep learning. This is the second year my family is using the online program. My eldest used the paper ETC and I love having the online version instead. It is the same curriculum EXCEPT no handwriting..well, we use another handwriting program. My next child has graduated from ETC online..he rapidly went through the levels. My last two children are using this online have struggled with reading and this has helped them both considerably and I no longer am the enemy, pushing them to work with me on phonics! I have friends who are using it now and love it..it's a good deal.”C.B., Co-op Member |
My son who is four had become frustrated with reading and stopped. Once he began working with ETC he began reading again. We work together to figure out what each picture represents, after that he is able to do all work on his own.”Stephanie, Co-op Member |
I recently purchased ETC for my daughter, age 5 - Kindergarten, to use. Her brother uses Switched on Schoolhouse and she was always jealous because he got to "do school" on the computer and she didn't. In that regard, this program has been awesome! She feels like a big girl and enjoys doing her work for the most part.
The work is fairly slow paced and she does get bored doing the same thing over and over and there is no way that I've seen to jump ahead. From what I understand, the program will move her ahead when she shows that she has mastered the skill.
My biggest complaint is that the program is very glitchy. It freezes up quite often and the only way to fix it is to close the window and start over.
It is easy enough for my daughter to use on her own without me having to look over her shoulder and I do like that a lot. She gets excited when she gets one of the blue badges (meaning she has done a good job) and bummed out when she gets a yellow one (bad job). She is content to do the work for about 15 minutes and about that time she gets bored with it.
Overall, I'm happy with my purchase and my daughter does enjoy this program. She does seem to be taking a lot away from it as well.”Karly Campbell, Co-op Member |
We used the Explode the Code book series during Kindergarten but by the first grade my little one was a bit bored with the format. We moved to the online Explode the Code and she is again engaged and enjoys her lessons. As the parent/teacher I appreciate being able to monitor her progress and see the areas she may need a little extra work with the reporting tools. I would recommend the online Explode the Code without reservation!”Jen, Co-op Member |
My son struggles with reading, but was resistant to other methods of remediation. He loves Explode the Code online. He appreciates getting immediate feedback and I appreciate monitoring his progress! I notice improvement in his decoding skills and I highly recommend the product.”M. Roth, Co-op Member |
My son LOVES explode the code online. We have used the workbooks for some time and have always appreciated the quality instruction, but the online program is even more amazing! Through Explode The Code Online, I can monitor my son's progress in so many ways. It is almost like having a personal tutor just for him. It also provides specific ideas for reinforcing areas of weakness as well as a standards report card for all areas covered in the instruction. He is always ready to use the program...especially with the fabulous "fun" button as a reward! The printed progress reports are perfect for his advisor, and she is excited as well and is eager to tell other parents about the program. I will continue to use this program with my son for as long as he needs phonics instruction. Thanks Homeschool Buyers Co-op for making this affordable for us!”Robin Hardy, Co-op Member |
Explode the Code has added considerably to the fluency with which my daughter reads. We bought it on the recommendation of a friend whose daughter loves it, and I have been pleased with the results. My six year old does this program completely independently - very helpful when you have multiple children at home. We use it to suppliment our regular phonics program which comes with books and written worksheets and phonics tiles, all of which I think are crucial for a strong foundation, however, traditional phonics requires the complete attention and time of the parent teaching. I enjoy the flexibilty of phonics practice time being independent. We will continue to use this program through first grade.”Kathy J, Co-op Member |
I have seen improvement in my son's reading ability since beginning explode the code online. He spends about 30 min. a day, 4 days a week, and does so without complaining. I would recommend this to anyone, especially those with reluctant readers!”C. Fry, Co-op Member |
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Explode the Code online!! I was debating between getting the workbooks or going the online route, and I am so glad that we chose the online version. Our main curriculum already incorporates phonics and handwriting, so ETC online works as tool to further his understanding.
It's easy for my six year old to manage all on his own, and it's easy for me to quickly glance at the screen and see how he's doing (there are "buttons" on the side that he "earns" that tell me very easy whether he's mastered the concept or not.) I also have access to view what he needs more work on. I also love how I can use this as a multi-media/computer class as well.
The greatest benefit is that he views this as a reward!!! I say that in order for him to "get" to do Explode the code, he has to complete all of his other written school work. It is amazing to me how he stays on task in order to be able to have computer time.
I am so very happy with this program and would recommend it fully (and I already do!!) to everyone and anyone!”Christy R., Co-op Member |
ETC online has helped our child so much. It has the repetition that I could not give her because we became frustrated with each other. It's so helpful that the software actually makes the letter sounds. She enjoys the immediate feedback of the software that she sees in "bugs". We are 100% pleased and highly recommend it!”S. Willis, Co-op Member |
I use Explode the code with my 6 1/2 year old along with All About Spelling.
What I love:
- It is black and white ( nice, bright colorful pictures would be too distracting)
- Different exercises ( ensure a thorough understanding)
- The reporting ( great for printing off to give to authorities, or just for your own info)
- Simple (very easy to use)
- Rewards (are very basic, so child is not focus on getting rewards)
The only problem we have found is that because we are English people living in Australia some of the pronunciation is different. Also words are used which are not very common for us. But overall, a great product. I wouldn't use it solely by itself as I believe it works well for us because how it ties in with All About Spelling. My daughter enjoys using it and we will carry on using it.”Lisa, Co-op Member |
The Dyslexia specialist told me, that my son would never be able to spell or understand Phonics. With Explode the code he is finally understanding how it works, even if he is still way below grade level, I can see so much improvement. Doing work on paper, that is most of the time overloaded with work is hard for him, this goes from one problem to the next and makes it easy for him to see. My kids like to work on the computer, so it is almost a reward to get to do Explode the Code. We had some problems in the beginning with the program getting stuck, but after doing recomended updates it works great.”Monika Grant, Co-op Member |
Explode the Code online has been a great tool for my child. It is interactive and holds my child's attention. I recommend this program for anyone working with phonics! Thanks Explode the Code!”Lori, Co-op Member |
My daughter and I love Explode the Code online. She looks forward to phonics everyday. She's excited to get the butterflies or paper airplanes and bummed out when she gets lady bugs or bumblebees. I like how it has her repeat things when she doesn't do so well. It's better than a workbook, because you don't have to erase and they can truly learn for mastery. I also like that I can change where I want her to work, if necessary.”D. Jacques, Co-op Member |
Before seeing Explode-the-Code on Homeschool Buyers Co-op I was alread researching it for my daughter. I have a 9 year old who has always struggled with reading. I was impressed with what I read on-line regarding Explode-the-Code. It has been extremely effective. I can't believe how much her reading has improved in such a short time. She also has a slight speech problem she has gone to therapy for in the past. With explode the code other adults have commented on how her speech has improved. I would highly recommend explode the code.
(It also keeps a record for you of your child's progress of skills that is great.)”Lara Proctor, Co-op Member |
My ds8 loves this program. He loves the feedback he gets after each section and tries hard to get the paper airplane (the highest grade you can get). He will play this for hours if I would let him! He loves the workbooks and this combines very nicely with those or replaces them. They are almost identical to the workbook pages in content and ability. The only thing the online program doesn't have is handwriting (of course). I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a fun and educational phonics program.”T. Maynard, Co-op Member |
It is a wonderful program that is fast paced and simple to use. My daughter loves it and has improved greatly since using it. The grading system is unique and readily visible to see how the student is doing. Very professional and thought out well.”Dan Inverso, Co-op Member |
I have two children currently using Explode the Code online. One is 5 and the other 6 and they both really like the program. They look forward to earning "butterflies" or "airplanes" and are motivated to reach the goal of 5 or 10 butterflies and/or airplanes for the day. They also like the games portion of the site - when they work on enough units for the day, they can play online games. I like the product because I can keep track of their progress, set the goals, decide what days they are allowed to play the online games, and I can print certificates after they successfully complete a book. I like it better than the ETC books because they can redo a unit that they struggle with over and over again until they have the skills to successfully pass it. I also like to be able to track how much time is spent working on certain skills. The site is very user friendly, even for my 5 year old who is still struggling with the basics of reading. I would recommend this program as a great supplement to whatever reading program is already being done at home!”Kathrine, Co-op Member |
We love Explode The Code! It is engaging with it's colorful format and voices used to help explain and instruct. It is very easy to follow for the child as well as for the parent. I highly recommend it!”A. Coppedge, Co-op Member |
My daughter had hit a plateau with reading and within three days of using Explode the code online her reading skills began to advance again. Thank you!”Laura S, Co-op Member |
I have two children using explode the code online. They are ages 7 and 5. They both love using explode the code. They also love the "Fun" button that appears after they have completed their lessons. I love that I can track their progress and trouble areas. I also like that I can establish the rules for when the "Fun" button will appear.”Jenn C., Co-op Member |
I only have good to say about the Explode-The-Code online program. I have a struggling reader who is using it along with the Explode The Code workbooks. It gives her a wonderful opportunity to work at her phonics and reading independently which is a rarity for her because of her reading struggles. I've always used and liked Explode The Code books - this is just a wonderful extension. Thank you! Thank you!”Heidi B., Co-op Member |
We hit a brick wall with another phonics program, but Explode the Code Online revived our 7-yr-old son's interest in learning to read. We are happy to be making progress again!”Amy, Co-op Member |
It works great for my reluctant reader, keeps him going and he likes it better than the books. I still can't quite figure out how to find out what he needs to work on most - the chart that it constructs is not very clear.”Carola, Co-op Member |
Explode the Code Online has allowed my 5-year-old to complete many more activities than she has completed through the traditional workbooks. After a month of using Explode the Code Online she has finished Book 1 and has started Book 2. I love that I can can easily track her progress and she loves trying to earn butterflies and paper airplanes.”Laura, Co-op Member |
I wasn't sure about ordering ETC. My daughter had used the books back in 1st grade and I didn't care much for them because they didn't make sense. This computer program however is WONDERFUL!! I have found that she is raring to go every morning which as a homeschool mom, this is a real treat! :) I'm so tickled to have ordered this product!”HLT McDermott, Co-op Member |
My son doesn't enjoy phonics work, but he loves Explode the Code! The site is so entertaining that even my 3 year old wants to try it out!”Tracy J., Co-op Member |
I struggled to find a phonics program that my son would enjoy and learn from. We tried many different products and each one he hated. Then came Explode-the-code online through Homeschool Buyers Co-op! He LOVES it! No more phonics-time struggles. He enjoys "playing" his phonics "game" and it has really boosted his confidence. His reading skill have already improved in the short time we've been using it.
I love that through the parent/teacher login I can clearly see how much time he spends working on it, how he's doing, and where he needs review. I'm telling everyone I know about this product! We love it!”Heather M., Co-op Member |
My 5-year old son loves using this website. He does it for 10-15 minutes per day and after only 2 weeks I'm seeing an improvement in his reading speed and the length of words and sentences he can read. I'm very impressed and it's so easy to use! We can stop at any point, and when we go back, just pick it right back up where we left off. Even my 3-year old son is interested in it and watches the whole time that my older son is working.”Bonnie, Co-op Member |
We have been using ETC Online for a few weeks now and we love it! I wish I had checked into it last year. I love how it moves along at the kids' pace, getting more difficult or easier based on their performance, until they have mastered the material. The activities are interesting and seem to be just the right length to keep their attention. I also like the variety of the lessons. I highly recommend it.”Sherrie L., Co-op Member |
My daughter really enjoys working for jets and butterflys and learns phonics in the process with no prompting from us at all. We love ETC!”T. Smith, Co-op Member |
ETC Online was a wonderful revelation to us. I have twins, and my five year-old son was thriving with traditional ETC, just as my older children had. My five year-old daughter, though, froze when confronted with her ETC book. As a firm believer in ETC's methodology, I wanted her to use it! When I saw that the Co-op offered a great price on ETC Online, I decided to try it. Now both of my twins are doing wonderfully with their respective versions of ETC.
If you have a child who is ready for phonics, but perhaps is not yet ready to write independently, ETC Online is a wonderful option. The price is amazingly affordable, and I can't recommend it highly enough!”L. Delgado, Ph.D., Co-op Member |
My boys love playing the "game" and seeing how many butterflies they can get. It is like they don't even realize they are learning. We enjoy it.”Angie, Co-op Member |
I purchased the ETC program for my 6 year old son. He is making visible progress, and I like that the computer gives him feedback as to how well he did an the unit. The 'teacher' page has been very informative. I can easily track my son's progress and see where his weaknesses are. I am VERY happy with this purchase.”K.P., Co-op Member |
I have been very pleased with ETC online. My daughter is enjoying learning. I love the reward system. I would recommend this product to other families. ”Mrs. Wilhite, Co-op Member |
I bought 2 student accounts for ETC Online, one for my 5yr old son and one for my 10yr old son.
My 10 year old needed extra help with phonics and I was also hoping to improve his spelling as well. He is doing well with the ETC program. He likes doing the lessons and is motivated to get the "airplane" at the end of a lesson (airplanes mean you got all the questions right and in an amount of time that was above average).
I thought this would also be a great addition for my 5yr old as a supplement to our phonics work, but it didn't turn out so well. He quickly hit lessons that were too advanced and I felt it didn't really "teach" the concepts as well as I had hoped. Mostly he advanced by memorizing the lessons pictures since he was getting kicked back in lessons quite a bit. He LOVES ETC and thinks the lessons are a ton of fun, but we have put it on hold a bit until we get a bit farther along in reading.
I found you really do need to have a basic reading ability to get very far with the program. I do not feel you can use it to teach your child phonics or reading without using anything else. In my opinion, this program is better suited for children in 1st grade and up.”Tiffany B., Co-op Member |
Explode the Code has been an increadible boost for my 2nd grader. His ability to 'de-code' words has enabled him to read and spell beyond his grade level. We also had an emergency trip back to my homeland of Australia. Imagine my delight (and his disappointment) that he could continue his lessons over there. NONE of his other schooling came over! Thank You. , Co-op Member
”Anne L., Co-op Member |
We absolutely love it!!!!!!!!!!!!! Our 4year old was reading simple words such as sat, bat etc.., He is now reading alost everything and is spelling 3-5 letter words.”Richard P Scheiderman, Co-op Member |
We have been a subscriber to ETC Online now for almost two years. I HIGHLY recommend this program, especially if you are working with a dyslexic child. Its adaptive nature compensates for my son's good and bad days and its cummulative nature is constantly reinforcing learned concepts. It's nice to have a program that doesn't just move forward once a child attains an acceptable score. ETC will return to any topic if the child later shows a weakness in that area.
It maintains a historical graph report that encourages my son to keep moving forward by showing him the extreme progress he has made over time.
The staff at ETC Online are very helpful and accomodating also. They went out of their way to make sure that my son's subscription was not interrupted and that his historical data was transfered to his new account when we renewed our subscription through a different charter school.
My charter school pays for our subscription, but I would easily pay the full price out of pocket for the annual subscription if they did not. To have the same program available at a mere $35/year from the Co-op is an amazing opportunity that should not be missed.”Susan S., Co-op Member |
Our son who is 4 (almost 5) has been using Explode The Code for a little over a month now and he absolutely loves it. We had tried several reading curriculum for him before, but it seemed like some moved way to fast, and others too slow. Explode the Code is great because it paces itself based on how the child is performing so it's never too fast or slow. For us it is also better than a written curriculum since my son is working above his grade level (he was aching to learn to read). Most reading curriculums have a written portion and his muscle development was not up to the level of writing needed in some of them, but since Explode the Code Online involves typing, he is able to complete all of the tasks without that being an issue.
I'd highly recommend the curriculum, we really enjoy it.”Charlene Hertzberg, Co-op Member |
I struggled my first year of teaching my son to read. I jumped between 2 programs that I wasn't sure of. I saw ETC online through Homeschool Buyers Co-op and thought I would buy it for the summer months as I tried to figure out a good program. He loves it and I love it! We read a book together and he whizzed through without the slow sounding out of every word. I let him play every day for 15 minutes. In just a month of playing he has learned more than I tried to teach him!! We will definitely continue playing through first grade!!”C. Duhm, Co-op Member |
My son loved Explode the Code as a work book so when I learned about the computer version we decided to try it. My son really enjoys it - even when it is hard! We have made it a regular part of our school day and I can see mastery in all of the areas he is working on (he is 7). We hightly recommend it. We will continue to use it. I have told many families about it.”kb5kids, Co-op Member |
My eight year old daughter has really enjoyed the online version of Explode-The -Code. I had used the workbooks with my older son, so I knew the program really helps students with reading and spelling. I like the online version because it saves me time--I don't have to check the workbooks because the program does it for me. We plan to continue using it.”Leslie, Co-op Member |
We had adopted a young boy from a West African country who was around 6-8 yrs old and had never had any schooling. He was having great difficulty in forming his letters, recalling sounds, and of course attaching the correct phonetic sounds to the letters. As a current homeschooling mother, and a former 2nd grade teacher, I understand how important the phonetic process is to learning to read. I have always used the Explode the Code workbooks for my children during their early years, but when I found this program through the Homeschool Buyers Coop, I thought it would benefit our son since he could hear the sound, repeat it back, key it in, and visualize the process. It worked!! He not only started forming his letters and sounds, but he is now reading and I give the credit to this online program. We will be renewing our subscription. Thank you for carrying this product...it was and is well worth it!”Denise H. in SC, Co-op Member |
Getting my boys to enjoy anything language related has been a struggle, so I was thrilled to see ETC Online. The program is exciting for them to use and THEY ask ME if they can work on language now! I especially like that you can set the "Fun Button" to appear only after certain criteria are met. It's a great addition to our curriculum and I'm so thankful to HBC for offering it!”Brandi J., Co-op Member |
I am using the online product from ETC this year with my twins. I paid $60.00 per student for a year’s access. Anything less than $60/student would be great, but to be completely honest, it is worth more to me than what I paid. GREAT GREAT PRODUCT.
I do not usually critique products, but this one I really believe in. The features for educators/parents are great too. I am really excited that this product will be available for less, so maybe more people will have the opportunity to experience it.”Julieann B., Co-op Member |
