Explode the Code vs The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading
The sharpest difference is parent involvement: Explode the Code is light, The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading is parent-taught. Four more separate them, so this is not a close pairing.
At a glance
Explode the Code
Grades PreK-4
Owners report it suits
Independent workersThe Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading
Grades PreK-5
Owners report it suits
Advanced/giftedBoth are reported to suit Struggling learners.
Skip to who fitsWhere they differ
| Attribute | Explode the Code | The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading |
|---|---|---|
Parent involvement
?How much the parent is present and teaching. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:
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Independence
?How much the child can do alone. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:
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| Approach | Blended | Mastery |
| Format | Workbook | Textbook |
| Used as | Supplement | Spine |
| Best for Tags show where owners consistently report a good fit. They are not exclusions. | Independent workersStruggling learners | Advanced/giftedStruggling learners |
| Method | TraditionalEclecticSynthetic phonicsOrton-Gillingham | TraditionalClassicalSynthetic phonics |
| Grades | PreK-4 | PreK-5 |
Solid tags are unique to that program. Muted tags are carried by both.
Where they match
- Rigorboth on grade
- Prep loadboth open-and-go
- Screen timeboth fully offline
- Time commitmentboth 15 to 25 min
- Faith contentboth None
How each one plays by grade
Explode the Code
Grades PreK-4
The primers suit PreK and K for letter formation and phonemic awareness. Books 1 to 8 span roughly grades 1 to 3, placed by a free placement test.
The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading
Grades PreK-5
Covers concepts from kindergarten through roughly fourth or fifth grade. Many families pause partway once early reading is solid, then return for the advanced lessons.
Cost
| Cost item | Explode the Code | The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$10/workbook, $40-80/yr | $32-40 (both books) |
| Consumable | Yes | No |
| Per child / year | ~$30-70/child | ~$35 once, ~$10-15/child-year over the years it takes |
What parents report
Explode the Code
Consistently praised
- Kids can work the pages mostly on their own
- Large print and light pages do not overwhelm
- The silly sentences and art make kids laugh
- Workbooks are cheap, around ten dollars each
- Easy to slot in as extra phonics practice
Reported as challenges
- It is a supplement, not a full reading program alone
- Lots of writing frustrates kids not ready to write
- The many books and half-books get confusing to sort
- Plain black and white pages do not grab every kid
The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading
Consistently praised
- Fully scripted, so any parent can teach it
- Inexpensive for how thorough it is
- Takes a child from letter sounds to advanced words
- Built-in review keeps skills from slipping
- No spelling or writing mixed in, lessons stay focused
Reported as challenges
- The scripting gets repetitive and predictable
- Text-heavy with no color or games
- It can take a few years to finish
- Some kids need phonics readers added for practice
Who Explode the Code fits
Works best as phonics practice alongside a main reading program like The Ordinary Parent's Guide or All About Reading, and for kids who like workbooks they can do on their own. Families wanting a single complete reading spine, or something screen-based, will need a different program.
Read the full Explode the Code entry Check price EPS LearningWho The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading fits
Suits parents who want a thorough, low-cost phonics spine they can open and teach, including remedial work with an older child who missed phonics. Families wanting hands-on activities or a colorful all-in-one kit should keep looking. It's frequently paired with Explode the Code for written practice.
Read the full The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading entry Check price Well-Trained Mind PressSome links on this site are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes how a curriculum is described or scored.
Still deciding?
Explode the Code compared with
The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading compared with
Descriptions aggregate what homeschool parents consistently report across public community sources together with each publisher's own materials. Prices and editions change over time. Both entries last reviewed July 2026.