Teach 100 Easy Lessons vs The Reading Lesson

[Gwenny]

Has anyone used both? Favorite?
I've used 100 EL for 6 kids now, but have 2 to go and am wondering about changing it up.

[MelInKansas]

I used 100 EZ lessons with my oldest. With my 2nd, I started her a little bit earlier so this may be the problem, but 100 EZ lessons caused tears and frustration, and it moves too quickly for her, she's just not quite ready for how quickly it ramps up. She has gotten through 50 lessons of it, and part of me felt like I should just keep going, but because of her emotional issues and also because of other things I had read on here I went ahead and bought the Reading Lesson.

So having now used the Reading Lesson for 3 weeks, and having used 100 EZ Lessons 1 1/2 times, I do like the Reading Lesson better. It is slower, but it is in fact more thorough and there is more practice with different rules. Now, an older child or a child who is really sharp and picks it up quickly might really like 100 EZ lessons better because it doesn't spend a lot of time in the repetitious/practice parts and spends most of its time in the stories. That is one of the differences. The Reading Lesson has stories at the end of each lesson but there is a LOT of practice before they get to those (I started my DD out in lesson 6 out of 20 in TRL - not that she's not capable of going later in the book, but TRL does things in a different order so lesson 6 was the first one with phonics rules that she hadn't done yet).

The method of using both books is extremely similar. You sit down, open it up, and read what's on the page (no parent guide as to what to say to them, but I have to say once we knew what to do in 100 EZ lessons I didn't read the parent stuff anyway). "Graphics" or images in TRL a little bit less interesting, but not too bad really, again because you're only reading a few stories compared to the amount of practice with phonemes, words, and phrases, fewer pictures.

Overall, I guess if 100 EZ Lessons works for you and has worked, it seems to me like a very good book and method. But it wasn't working for us so I'm glad we found the Reading Lesson.

[my3sons]

I think these threads may help with thoughts about TRL...

TRL Comments:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=9993&p=72922#p72922
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5541

The Reading Lesson CD:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=9276

Carrie compares The Reading Lesson and Reading Made Easy
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2503

HTH as you decide what you want to do for phonics! HOD makes it easy to do whatever phonics program you feel fits your dc best!
In Christ,
Julie

[water2wine]

I tired to use 100 Easy Lessons a few times and it just was hard to get through for us. The Reading lesson on the other hand worked pretty effortlessly. I highly recommend you give The Reading Lesson a chance. It is a really great program and it works so well.

[birchbark]

I'm a happy 100EZ user but if I wanted to change things up I'd definitely go to The Reading Lesson.

[Gwenny]

Thanks everyone. I looked through the links Julie posted. (I'm glad for those who find those links, I can't find things like that). In one of them, Carrie says that the phonics is more complete in The Reading Lesson but isn't in the 100 EZ. I didn't realize that. I knew that 100 EZ was not complete and I was surprised that Carrie didn't recommend any further phonics work with her 2 choices. I just assumed that TRL was the same as 100 EZ and didn't "complete" phonics.

Nancy