Customer Reviews

Learn to Read Second Grade Complete - Amazon Exclusive Edition

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It's not fancy, it's not pretty, but Hooked on Phonics works. What you are really paying for here is a tried and true method of learning to read. I had one person yap at me, "I would not have my child learn to read by breaking words up like that." Well, perhaps she didn't have a child who could benefit from Hooked on Phonics, but I have had students who could only seem to learn to read by using this method. Essentially what it boils down to is that parents and teachers we have a choice as to how we want our children to learn to read. For one student I had it seemed to be the only way I could reach her.

There are four or more methods used to teach reading and using phonics alone or a combination of one or more methods can be used. I must admit I was always a fanatic about phonics and one time even added the old fashioned "Dolch Sight Words" to accompany this method (220 basic words). Mind you, this was just one method I used with certain students. The way you choose to teach your child is a choice, especially if you are homeschooling. The children who are ready to work at the level this material affords are between the ages of five and a half and seven. Some parents, caretakers and teachers may have already been using this program and will simply need to review their first grade materials. This is the time when your emergent reader will turn into a confident one!

The materials that accompany this kit are listed and I won't repeat them. I feel each parent should do a little homework before deciding which method to use. For example many choose a combination of Phonics and Whole Language. What I liked about this kit was that everything is set up in two boxes and a "Quick Start Guide" that tells you how to go about your job. The workbook "walks you through each lesson and lets you know when to use the DVD and the storybooks." The lessons are progressive and with the mastery of each lesson there is a set of stars included that can be placed in the corner of the workbook as a reward. It is a "not to worry" kit because everything is already in place except the student(s) and the teacher.

Each book included has been carefully developed using this method and is "correlated to national and state academic standards." For example, when you are told to have your child read a particular book there will be discussion questions for you to use. It can't get much easier with this step-by-step guide. Each book has a sewn binding, which does strengthen the book, but if you are going to use this in a classroom more than a few times I'd suggest laminating them or at least reinforcing the bindings with clear packing tape. The DVDs are only in paper sleeves and jewel cases might be in order. Those are the only suggestions that I can think of concerning this set because if you've read this far you have probably already made up your mind and are ready to add the set to your cart (you should). The student I was talking about that couldn't be reached? Well, one day when we were working, she started to scream. "I CAN READ!" That she could and she was the most memorable student I ever had. She learned to read with Hooked on Phonics!

Having used Hooked on Phonics in the past with our older children, I was eager to try out these new Amazon exclusive editions. Just like the older sets, they are fantastic at teaching kids to read, but they are also much easier to use. With the old sets, there were lots of cards and tapes to keep track of, but with the new sets, there are two DVDs that take the place of all the flash cards and tapes, two workbooks and eight storybooks divided into two levels. The 9x12x1-1/2 inch storage boxes are so much easier to pack up and put away after a lesson.

It's easy to set up...just pop in a dvd and watch it with your child, or if they're older, they could do it themselves. I think though, that a lot of the success depends on the parent participation and encouragement. After the DVD lesson, time is spent in the workbook reinforcing the new sounds and reading short stories. Once a lesson is mastered, it's time to move on to the next.

My three, almost four, year old daughter is now using the Kindergarten set. She enjoys the DVD lesson and calls out the sounds along with the narrator. Taking it slow, at just a few minutes a day, seems to work for her and hold her interest.

My thirteen year old son learned to read using Hooked on Phonics when he was just three. He was an avid reader by the time he was five, and was able to skip a grade once he started to school. All the teachers wanted to know what I had done to prepare him for kindergarten because they were amazed that he could read so well, and the only method we'd used was Hooked on Phonics. I'm hoping the new program works as well for my daughter as the original one worked for my son.

I have taught all my seven children to read and was intrigued by this reading program in one box.

The child listens to the DVD lesson on the computer and then interacts by reading the word on the screen which first time through is read to the student and then second time through time is given to give the student time to read and then is soon followed by the computer again reading the word.
For example, if the student is learning the long 'a' sound a colorful letter 'a' appears and then a beginning sound and ending sound appear in a differing color to accentuate what is new. The word then morphs into all black on a white background as you would see it on a page in a book. The letter being learned remains while the beginning and ending sound change again.

Animated children appear before and after a lesson to add a little entertainment.

When the student is done with the interactive computer part, he moves on to the workbook page which accompanies the oral lesson. Using his finger as a guide, the student reads the words practiced in the workbook. The student does not do written work in the book but uses it for reading the words on a real piece of paper. The word reading is followed by little stories that reinforce all the words learned.

A page of star stickers is included to stick on the pages as they are mastered.

Also included are eight little books that progress in difficulty with the vocabulary learned to that point.

The one addition to this great program that I would make is to give the student lined paper and a pencil to practice spelling the new words.

I like that the student can sit and do the computer DVD on his own while you, the teacher, are busy with other students. I think it is imperative that you sit with the student when the workbook is being read to gauge progress. If it seems the student is hesitant, they can easily go back and watch the same lesson again and again until it is mastered.

This is the last entry in Hooked on Phonics' Learn to Read series. It features two levels, roughly corresponding to the fall and spring semester of the 2nd grade -- although all over web you see parents proudly talk about their kindergarteners or even pre-Kers doing this course!

While I believe a program like this isn't necessary for all kids, some kids do benefit from additional help, and the product combines visuals, practice, and a little gaming to prod the kids along. This course is too advanced for my boy, but he enjoys the experience. (But then, he enjoys all DVDs!) He was much slower than his age peers in language development, so I hope when the time comes, this program will help him learn to read and gain confidence in himself.

The storybooks are fun to read, and the workbooks make the kids practice. The best part about the program is, it's engaging and can actually motivate kids. The worst part? At this price it can really use more content materials, especially at this 2nd grade level.

I remember having an old (it was even old then) vinyl Phonics record, perhaps one of the Listen and Learn With Phonics series, as a young child and thought it was fun. To this day I still remember "a e i o u some sugar" which I first heard on that record. A lot has changed since then. We've come a long way in audio formats, and then video, and now computer, Internet and mobile technology, but in its own time, that old record and the accompanying book helped me learn.

In much the same way, these Hooked on Phonics lessons seem largely stuck in the 80's to early 90's from a technology standpoint, but they're still very useful under the right circumstances. Technology has passed them by and there are plenty of PC, Smartphone, and *-pad applications, and even toys that are much more advanced and interactive these days, but learning to read is still mostly about books, and a printed page can present that just as well as an OLED screen can; some would argue even better.

The story books that came with this set were a hit. They're entertaining and well laid out. The videos seemed a little dry, and less interesting than something like Between the Lions on PBS or similar, but they do complement the lessons pretty well.

For an average reader in Second grade, I think most of these lessons would be too basic; covering topics and words the child has most likely already mastered. That can lead to boredom with the lessons, but still some interest in the books.

For a struggling reader at or near Second grade, this set could be very helpful. They need all the on-on-one help and encouragement they can get to catch up and get excited about reading, and if having a set like this helps parents to be more involved in their children's reading, and learning to read, that alone is very valuable. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the set to such parents, if they can easily afford the expense. If money is tight, I'm not sure the value for the money is really there though, considering all the other options available including free web sites (accessed at the library if necessary), educational programs on PBS, and a huge selection of inexpensive or free-to-borrow age-appropriate books and workbooks.

Overall these are a good, if slightly below typical grade level, option. They're consistent, well thought out, and at least moderately entertaining for the target audience. A good 3.5+ stars, especially if the prices come down a bit.

I really like Hooked on Phonics and I have used the K-1 grade set on 3 children with great success, so much so that from there they took right off into reading just about anything. The third child, however, needed more and so I bought this thinking it would be just like the the K-1 I bought 3 years ago just more advanced. This set contained DVD's (very dull) instead of CD's. I did like that the workbook had larger type as I do not think young children should strain their eyes. So I don't know if it's just that I have fell in love with the old way to accept the new but, even so it doesn't change the fact that the DVD's are slow and boring. I choose not to work with it but if you feel that you need it as a guide supplement with Bob Books and Explode the Code 2 and 3.
Good Luck!

We love these programs: well written, colorful picture books and workbooks, CD's, direction for the parents and of course, stickers. Where were these when I was tot?

We have the Kindergarten(see my other review) and 1st Grade editions which our 3 and 6 year olds use and enjoy. In this edition, they also feature different stories for the workbook than the readers.

We homeschool, and our kids excel at reading(children learn different things at different rates unique to themselves). I recommend the program for regular schoolers, too, for extra practice, as long as its fun and not forced- lots and lots of variety and options sure make learning easier.

I teach special education at the high school level and I am forever searching for a program to get my students to read. Until now I've had hit and miss luck with reading programs. Most being too easy or too difficult or too embarassing for high school students to use. This is the first program that has excited my students without looking like "baby" work. The DVDs are engaging and my students are always eager to participate. I have a group of very reluctant readers and LEARN TO READ is proving a huge success. We are working on the Long Vowel sounds and most of the kiddos are picking it up after repeated viewings and attempts. My Assistant Principal came into my classroom for an observation last week and I used a lesson from LEARN TO READ. The administrator was impressed with the program and the student's reactions to it. She is going to buy it for her grandchildren for Christmas. Of all the reading programs I have used this is the best one so far. I'll be looking for a 3rd grade program with more advanced lessons when we finish this one.

My son has really enjoyed using this program and it has helped him with reading and giving him a desire to read. He now is asking for chapter books and is almost through with his first book. I highly recommend this reading program to anyone that has the need for increased speed, word comprehension, and fluency.

The DVDs support the fundamental reading program and add depth to the entire package while keying in on the basic concept of reading is fun.

This is a nice easy to use kit and it provides a nice structure.
Watch a video, do some exercises, read a book.

Apparently I am in the minority, but the video was pretty lame...
My 1st grader was really excited about the program and loves books.
While the program is helping with new words, she isn't too excited about the long repitious nature of the video and picks up the new words much quicker than they are presented so we do a lot of fast forwarding. I understand that the video needs to be available for all levels, but I think they need some improvement here to capture the attention of the kids watching it so they want to do the next video. Instead I hold the books captive until they prework is done...

You get a cute intro then it is just words on the the screen being read many times, then they come up again with a pause between the words for the child to read.

I suppose this is the phonics only program, but it seems to me that AFTER you present the word you want the child to learn you could then present the word in context. I believe this would help bond the word in the brain by association, help learn what the word means, and most keep the video entertaining.

Still a decent price for a couple houers of tutoring and a set of starter books.