28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Where was this when I was teaching my children to read?!, October 9, 2009
This review is from: Learn to Read Pre-K Complete - Amazon Exclusive Edition (Hardcover)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
As a mom and former homeschooler, I highly recommend Hooked on Phonics to all parents, whether you are homeschooling or not. It's easy-to-use, fun for the kids and their parents; and, most important of all, it's effective.
It's effective because it's based on phonics. The Pre-K program teaches letter and sound recognition, as well as an introduction to blending. The instructions are so simple that anyone can do it.
I especially like how all the senses are utilized, making it effective for children with all learning styles.
The kit comes with a workbook that provides step-by-step instructions, a DVD, reading books, stickers for rewards, flash cards and access to additional online materials.
Some of the activities:
1. Sing the Alphabet song and songs for each letter. Some of these are really cute, some just ok.
2. Watch how a letter is formed and then trace the shape of the letter in the workbook.
3. Color the letter.
4. Say the name of the picture beginning with the letter.
5. Three hands-on activities to reinforce the letter such as making the letter P out of ten pieces of popcorn and then eating it up.
6. Review lessons in the workbook include matching rhyming words, matching sounds with images, flash card activities, and circling the letters. The flash cards are printed on quality paper and should hold up well for all of your children.
7. After your child has completed the lesson, he earns a star sticker for his workbook page.
The online activities include: More songs (some more interesting than others) that reinforce learning, worksheets (only one in which the child circles the correct picture), and a board-game-like record of your child's progress. You will want to supplement with more worksheets, but these can be found free online. Do a search for "phonics and worksheets."
The DVD contains songs to review the letters and sounds learned. This is a contemporary version of the alphabet song, as well as other songs for each letter of the alphabet. The animations are colorful and fun. I especially like how blending was explained on the DVD by moving the letters closer together as the sounds were spoken.
After you complete all the lessons, there are books to read to and with your child. For example: In "The Letter Hunt," your child can read the letters he has learned while you read the rest of the story. These books are excellent review and will increase fluency. Some of the illustrations were better than the others, but all were satisfactory.
There is an extra CD in the Amazon pack called, Fun in Motion. It includes animated videos that teach about trucks, cars, trains, planes and boats. Fun stories, cute animations, interesting sound effects will keep your preschooler interested.
The only reason this product may not work is your child's reading readiness, which is different for every child. I suggest that you try it; but, if your child gets frustrated, stop and pick it up again later. When he or she is ready, this is an extremely effective tool.
Your best buy is to buy the entire PreK-2nd grade set; however, if you can't afford that, the ability to buy one set at a time makes it easy to purchase as you need them.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not My Kids' Favorite, January 11, 2010
This review is from: Learn to Read Pre-K Complete - Amazon Exclusive Edition (Hardcover)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
After several weeks of trying to get my children engaged enough to write a review, I realized the lack of engagement is a review in itself. The books are fun, but not their favorite. The flash cards and DVDs only hold their attention for a few seconds. The worksheets are the best part. They are very similar to what my daughter brings home from school, and working hand over hand, she actually gets through one before losing interest.
If your children are more the studious type (one of my nieces comes to mind), this system might be ideal for them, or in a more classroom-like setting. If they're the kind that never want to sit still, I find something like the
Leap Frog - Letter Factory videos to be much better suited.
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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An amazing reading starter - my child loves it., September 22, 2009
This review is from: Learn to Read Pre-K Complete - Amazon Exclusive Edition (Hardcover)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
Just got this for my 3 1/2 year old and he is loving every bit of it.
He already knew the alphabet and can count to 20, but still has trouble with the phonics of certain letters. When he started opening books and "reading" based off what he's heard been read to him and the pictures, we knew it was time to get him reading - he wants to read! I ordered about a dozen "learn to read" books like
Oliver (I Can Read Book 1) and
I See, You Saw (My First I Can Read), but this package incorporates the "how-to" learn and makes it fun. Together with the stand-alone books, I think reading will be as fun as learning the alphabet was (lots of smiles...and lots of repeating with the smiles.)
The DVD includes bright-colored animation and easy-to-sing-along songs that allow to sing along - while making the phonetic sounds. One of the "extras" is the alphabet; saying it, making the sound of the letter, and then a word with the letter. The first time my child watched it, he was repeating all the sounds that were on the video.
The flashcards were also fun, but perhaps a bit easy. (We've used a lot of flashcards.) Same goes for the workbook, but we've gone through so many workbooks (he loves them) that it's somewhat expected. Other workbooks, such as
Brain Quest Workbook: Pre-K provide more activities, but they aren't nearly as integrated with a "lesson" as this kit provides (flashcards, books, DVD.)
Overall, this feels like a very high quality reading/phonics kit for Pre-K. It's my first experience with "Hooked on Phonics," but with how my child has responded thus far, it seems like his next step - reading - is going to be a very fun journey for him. After going through the first 2 lessons of "Level 1," along with the Extras and having my child say "watch that one again" (and proceeding to watch them over and over, all interactively), you can't go wrong with this kit.
One thing that wasn't quite clear when ordering (maybe I skipped something), but there are a few "age levels" (this one being Pre-K), and with each of those, there is a Level 1 and Level 2. This package contains *both* Level 1 and Level 2.
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