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Phonics Pathways

By Jossey-Bass (Wiley)Checked October 31, 2026No affiliate links. Programs never pay to appear. How we label

Phonics Pathways, by reading tutor Dolores G. Hiskes, is a single 288-page book that teaches reading and spelling through sounds and spelling patterns. Each pattern is introduced on its own, then built into words, syllables, phrases and sentences, and each lesson opens with step-by-step directions for the adult. It was written for kindergarten to 2nd grade beginning readers, and the publisher says it is also used with older learners.

Grades it covers

  1. PK
  2. K
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
As the publisher states it: Written for kindergarten to 2nd grade beginning readers; also used with older and adult learners.
Subjects
Reading and phonics
Grades
Written for kindergarten to 2nd grade beginning readers; also used with older and adult learners source ↗
Method
Traditional source ↗
Format
Books and workbooks source ↗
Faith label
Not labelled
Cost a year
Phonics Pathways, 10th edition: $35.00 in paperback or $21.00 as an e-book. Read on October 31, 2026; prices change. source ↗
Placement
No placement test on the publisher’s site when we checked.

What it does well

  • One inexpensive book holds the whole phonics course, so there are no level sets or yearly kits to buy.
  • Examples, word lists and practice readings are fully decodable, so a child only meets patterns already taught.
  • Each lesson starts with step-by-step directions, which helps a parent who has never taught reading.
  • The publisher says it is used with children who have learning disabilities or very short attention spans.

Watch for

  • It is a plain book with no workbook, readers or games; extra reading practice is in a separate book, Reading Pathways ($28).
  • The current edition is from 2011, and the page gives no daily lesson time or schedule.
  • Every lesson needs an adult sitting beside the child, reading the directions and listening.

It fits

A family that wants a low-cost, no-frills phonics book a parent can teach from in short sessions.

It doesn’t fit

A family that wants colourful readers, games and a scripted daily plan, or a program a child can use alone.

Visit Phonics Pathways ↗

Compare Phonics Pathways

Other programs for the same subject and grades:

  • All About Reading Pre-reading for preschool and kindergarten, then Levels 1 to 4, placed by skill rather than grade
  • Explode The Code Pre-K to 4th grade: primer books A to C, then Books 1 to 8
  • The Good and the Beautiful Preschool to 12th grade; high school has language arts and biology only
  • Hooked on Phonics Ages 3 to 8, Pre-K to 2nd grade
  • Kumon workbooks Pre-K to 8th grade across the workbook lines; Kumon Ace covers 1st to 4th grade
  • Logic of English Foundations for ages 4 to 7 (about pre-K to 2nd grade); Essentials for ages 8 to adult (about 3rd grade and up)
  • Reading Eggs Ages 2 to 13, about pre-K to 8th grade
  • Starfall Pre-K to 5th grade; math and the full grade range need a home membership

Lists it is on

What we read, and how we label

Every fact on a card was read on the publisher's own website on the date shown, and the page it came from is linked. A fact we could not confirm there is left out. Costs are for one child and one year of the main package, as the publisher's page showed them that day; prices and sales change. Method and format are the publisher's own description where it gives one. The only thing we say about religion is one label, secular or faith-based, given by the rule above; where the publisher's pages don't settle it, the card has no label.

The publisher’s pages we read on October 31, 2026:

Something wrong or out of date? Publishers and parents can send a correction and we will fix it. Publishers can send corrections, never money. All programs compared · Find your homeschool style