Here is what one viewer wrote about Happy Cheetahs Approach and the company said it is right on in its description of how the program works I have been asked many times whether the Happy Cheetah Reading System is phonics based or sight word based. I know it gets a lot of slack for being sight word based, and not teaching phonics, so I thought I would finally come clear up my opinions on the subject to help other moms make better decisions about whether the program will work for them. The first thing I would like to clear up, is that this program is largely phonics based. In the first book, the "Getting Ready" prep-level book, you primarily work on phonics and not reading skill. While this sounds counterintuitive, let me explain more. Section 1 works on handwriting of uppercase letters, primarily, with a little bit of work on sounds. This means your child is learning the letters, but also learning them through visual, auditory, and kinesthetic means. The instructions primarily at this point, focus on handwriting, with all kinds of activities to incorporate motion into the handwriting practice, such as air writing, dry erase, writing on one line, writing on two lines, copying, free writing, letter writing instruction (B goes "down, bounce, bounce"), as well as a very short, fun activity. In other words, your child is learning how to write what they will be reading, so when they come to reading, then can also learn it by more than one method, seeing the words. They can now also be able to write the words they are going to learn. Section 2 is handwriting of lowercase letters, and working those letters into muscle memory. The letters start to be arranged into more of a "handwriting without tears" style, with the letters being groups by motions, while still providing a lot of practice and activities. Section 3 has your child begin to write words. But, rather than needing to be able to read the words they are going to write, you tell them the words they are going to write, and they use the limited phonics skills you have taught them to try to see the letter sounds and patterns in the words. They don't need to be able to read what they are writing, because that isn't the skill at all. The skill, rather, is to trace and practice writing skills while getting introduced to the idea that letters and their sounds make words. It isn't until you get to section 4 of the Prep-level book that you even begin to start introducing the idea of how sounds build words, and you do that through pure phonics. Your child is given letter boxes, and each box corresponds to one phonics sound. Putting those sounds together builds words. Other activities, reminiscent to me of some of the activities in Explode the Code, but with better pictures 🙂 help to reinforce the letter sounds at the beginning, middle, and end of words. While children are introduced to blends such as -ss and -ck, they aren't expected to be able to write with them on their own yet, and are offered support in building, writing, and reading simple CVC and sometimes more complex words. In other words, it's all phonics based. Section 5 is learning how to write numerals, so it is a complete handwriting program in addition to being a complete phonics and reading program. So, while this is getting long, let's move on to Book 1, Cub Starting. While this is actually the second book in the series, it is called book 1. And if you jump in here, it might look like a sight word book. Because what it does from the beginning is have you read books to your children, and point to the words as you read. However, with the exception of words that are often taught as sight words, your child would have already learned how to write and build these words in the Prep Book. Except for words like "this" and "I," your child should be able to read these words based on phonics alone, just like in all other reading programs. Book 1 expands on the prep book, and has your child also doing other activities, (again, these remind me of the activities in the Explode the Code books as well as the Handwriting Without Tears and other handwriting books), they also use letter tiles (similar to those in All About Spelling and All About Reading) to keep building and writing the words they are now able to read phonetically. As well as the sight words they are exposed to. So, again, a largely phonics based program. That being said, a major difference between this and other reading programs is that while your child is taught to read, write, and spell words using a phonetic base, they aren't taught the rules as such. Instead, they are exposed to the pattern repeatedly (now bringing in some aspects of programs like Sequential Spelling and Phonetic Zoo) and being exposed to them repeatedly helps them to see the rule in action, without learning the exact rule by name and rote memorization. Exercises are built in to help your child learn things like suffixes, vowel blends, and more. But, at this stage, your child is fully supported in everything and not expected to be able to read and write things they aren't ready for. Faster readers will fly through these books rather easily, but if you suddenly find yourself with a child who struggles with reading or has a processing disorder or needs extra support, that's all built right in for you, and you can help your child over those hurdles, and help them to be less of a hurdle in the first place. But, again, except for words that just don't follow the rules, the program depends on phonics to help your child read, write, and build the words. We haven't gotten to books 2-4 yet, so I can add more when we do, but so far, book 2 looks to be more of book 1, but they begin to expect your child to write easier words on their own while providing support still for any words with complexity. But, by the end of book 1, your child will be reading and writing words like yellow, potatoes, and vegetables, either on their own or with assistance, depending on their ability, and through phonics be able to sound out many of these words. The reason it looks like a sight word program is because you read the stories to your children the first time through, before they are expected to read and write them on their own. However, while that might be a key ingredient in a sight word program, you could not do this program at this pace based on sight words alone. There are simply too many and they are not repeated or drilled often enough to stick in the memory without a phonetic background to help the child. So, to answer more questions I have been asked frequently: Would I recommend this to parents of children with dyslexic children. Yes! There are key helps from many programs built right in, and children are taught to read in a systematic way that helps them to overcome many key reading and writing issues without having to memorize a lot of rules. I wish I had this for my oldest. Is this a Sight Word Program? No. There are some sight words, but that is with any program, and those words are not taught as sight words, but simply words your child can learn to read through repeated exposure. Can children who don't have dyslexia use this program? Yes! I think this would be a simple and easy program to use (reminiscent again of Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons in that it is all-in-one without the need for other books, but based much more on the other tried-and-true programs I listed above). I think this would be a great reading/phonics/handwriting program for any beginning reader, and it wouldn't be too easy for a faster reader or too hard for many struggling readers.

This was a great overview of these curriculums, thank you! I am deciding between the two and was happy to find your video.

Just the video i was looking for! great review

This is an excellent break down of both programs!

Very informative! Thank You! 👏🏽

Such a great review thank you so much

This is really informative. I am always wondering what I will use for Naomi. Honestly I have always looked at All About Reading, but I am beginning to realize that it may or may not work. It’s good to know that their are options. And honestly Happy Cheetah Reading is looking good.

Great information! ❤️

This was very helpful thank you! Looking forward to seeing the video of a sample lesson with your daughter.

I agree, once you teach a child to read, you can’t keep him from learning! You make both of these sound like such awesome curriculum!

Both of these look great!

This was very informative.

It's so what works best for the kid you are working with I have found because what works for one it will not work for another, so true!

Great comparison! I’m wondering if you’d think combining the curriculum would work, or just confuse the child? We have been working through AAR with my 6 (almost 7) y/o son slowly all year. We are halfway though and are starting to struggle with Fluency Sheet anxiety and difficulty mastering the flash cards. Much like Science Mama, I feel like I need to add to it. I’ve been looking into Abeka Language/Reading (as she does) but all the moving parts and this busy season of life, I’m not sure I’m confident in executing it all…. Happy Cheetah appeals to me for its simplicity and all in one LA components…thinking of using HC as our main curriculum and adding in one AAR lesson a week… is this something you think would work? Gratitude for all your videos and value you share 🙌🏼✨

I’ve thought about taking my 4 year old (know letter sounds but is not ready to blend and read) into All About Reading PreReader, than Happy Cheetah Prep. I’ve also considered buying just the phonics games from IEW PALs program.

Thank you for this video! Could you do an update on your experience with Happy Cheetah? From another of your videos it sounds like you've stopped using it. Was it not working? We are just about to switch to it, but now I'm nervous. We are half way through AAR level 2 and have sort of hit a wall. Cumbersome rules and not seeing fluency develop, but now I'm wondering if we should stick with it. Thank you!

I had been thinking about all about reading for my daughter. She’s definitely ready but struggling

Which are best for struggle reader? How to get them to love reading? Any reafing tips for homeschool Moms to teach?

Do you think you could use Happy Cheetah pre reading and then go into AAR level 1? I love AAR, but didn’t love their pre reading as much. So I’m wondering if I could start with Happy Cheetah in K and then move to AAR 1 in 1st for my next child.

Have you done the pre-reading for All about reading? How is that one? Thanks for this video!

I stumbled upon your video because I’ve been using AAR Level 1 with my daughter. She just turned 5 in January. We started it in August. We are halfway through and she has so many review cards and struggles to sound out the words. She knows what sounds the letter make but doesn’t sound them out. I’m looking for another option. I’m not sure what to do. Thanks for any advice!

What size binder would you recommend to keep the All About Reading material in?

I have a 7 1/2 year old (2nd grade), she seems on level for age in reading and not a struggling reader but I've been tempted to get her the happy cheetah level 4 for her language arts. I like the format and how it has reading writing and spelling all in one. But would this keep her on course with a 2 nd grade curriculum or would it be too easy ?

You said you use both curriculums. Why do you use AAR with some and HAPPY cheetah for the others? What made you decide to use something different?

Cheers Reading is almost exactly like the McGuffey Reader Method

I know I watched this before and know you use both with different kids, but I’m curious would you consider using them both together?

2nd generation homeschooler? So you were homeschoolers? Did you like it? I need homeschool help.

how many inches is the binder

I have a 13 year old son with special needs. We are using All About Reading Level 1 He can finally sound out Cvc and cvcc words but he does not have fluency. It’s literally sounding out each and 3very word. He has a very few words he knows, we are around lesson 22 now. We have gone very slow. Part of me likes the look of happy cheetah but part doesn’t want to risk change, it’s so hard to know what to do. He likes the AAR app but the tiles stressed hm out and he spent more time trying to make tiles perfect. If I did happy cheetah I’d still use the AAR APP LOL

Bottom line as someone who has bought many Phonics programs and just tried the first level of Happy Cheetah for $170 I am not happy. This is mainly sight words with very little phonics instruction if at all. Time and again phonics is shown to be the best way to learn how to read. The British school system teaches 44 phonemes. They have a literacy rate with children that is far superior because of this.