28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best way to spend time with your child teaching them to read!, October 12, 2009
This review is from: Learn to Read Kindergarten Complete - Amazon Exclusive Edition (Paperback)
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This is a progressive phonetic learning package with 2 DVDs that teach new words (and basics of how to read) in the program and a bonus DVD with animals, advise for parents on scheduling time to spend with your child(ren)without doing it all yourself!
A wonderful adjunct to teaching your child to read, expanding their vocabulary, teaching them basic words that are mostly 3 letters in length. Program 1 focuses on the first letter in the word and the 2nd program switches to changing the end of words (again mostly 3-letter words.)
3 DVDs, 2 workbooks for the two programs, and books your child can read themselves once they've learned the words in the DVD programs!
This is a cumulative learning program that focuses on learning by ear (auditory), by sight, and by writing. It is an entertaining program for kids of this age group.
There are also rewards (stickers) included, which reward you child for learning new words, and keeps it fun and rewards at the end of section are books that use the words they have learned!
The DVDs have words (other than the rhyming words) that are used every day in reading, such as he, and, the, etc.
A wonderful start for kids learning to read (I recall when my kids were young creating a lot of materials, and reviewing many work-books and readers that were cumulative - not an easy thing to do when you are doing this from scratch!)
The only things I see that I would add to the DVDs is sign language (which is being taught in many if not most schools now in the US.)
I would add a few things from real-world experiences, but this program is a great start for a beginning reader!
They even have an interactive online web site that is mentioned in the starter section of both DVDs, which shows progress, has learning games and print-outs of fun activities for your child.
The program keeps it simple for parents, is easy to put aside a half hour or so each day to learn the basic idea of reading for children that perhaps know their alphabet, or for those who don't even know that (although by Kindergarten, I would hope most children would be reading at this level at least!)
The age group it says it is designed for is fairly appropriate (says starts at age 4), although its best to teach the child when they first start showing interest, so some kids might start this at even 2 years old! (Kids CAN recognize corporate logos by age 2, and many of them, so why not turn of the TV and have them learn what they really need to know!) I would strongly suggest getting this as a baby shower gift, as when a child wants to read, THAT is the time to teach them, and they learn best this way! (Not only for reading, such as this program, but for anything!)
The parent's guide wisely cautions as well against pushing children, and allowing them time to learn! (I've seen this left out of other programs for teaching a child to read, and it needs to be there, and is in this program!)
While some kids might get bored with the repetition of the same graphics at the beginning and end of each program, it is consistent, and consistency is needed when teaching anything!
I'd recommend that the child be able to recognize letters (get the pre-school program too!) before starting this program!
I would also recommend this program for schools as well, from preschool to through Kindergarten, and older kids as an ESL, special education or program for children that have been neglected in this area.
The program does not really address learning disabilities, yet it is a reading program, but it should be mentioned that if a child is having problems with these basics, that they may need vision checked or may need to be evaluated for learning disabilities or other health problems that may get in the way of a child who wants to learn from learning!
How do you know when your child is ready to read? When they ask things like "What does that say?", when they start trying to copy letters or write them on their own, etc.
I also STRONGLY recommend that parents read books of their interest in front of their child, and even read to them out loud (even if it's a college text book!)
Kids are smarter than most people think, and parents can get lazy - thus the lowered standards in our schools, and people who want their kids to be able to make the grade later on and be successful would benefit greatly from this program - especially if you don't know where to start!
Don't forget kids need to learn math skills as well!
Bottom line, this program is a great start for the little ones!
I STRONGLY recommend this program WITH parental interaction AND a comparable math program as well as a basic science program!
GREAT for home schoolers, preschools, AND Kindergarten classes for those kids who are behind!
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