Customer Reviews

Curious George Learns Phonics

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

3/16/2001:
I wanted to teach my just turned five-year-old daughter how to read, but her current selection of books and educational software was just not meeting the challenge. Sure, the Winnie the Pooh, Blue's Clues, My Personal Tutor software, etc did an excellent job of motivating her and teaching her the alphabet. She really enjoyed all the Dr. Seuss and Winnie the Pooh books, but all these resources were just not cutting it in regards to getting her to read by herself. After extensive trial and error this is what I found work for my daughter.

I found Reader Rabbit's Complete Learn to Read System and Curious George Learns Phonics invaluable at teaching her to sound out her words all by herself. One small note on Curious George Learns Phonics, my daughter did not like the software. It actually made her work for once, so I usually had to be nearby to answer any questions. I would recommend using Reader Rabbit for a few days before introducing Curious George.

After about a week or so I began using the flash cards included in Reader Rabbit to have my daughter memorize beginning words. I would also have her write the words in her notebook. I particularly found helpful the list with Reader Rabbit on which order I should have her learn her words.

When I felt she should probably be ready to read very easy sentences I had her start out with Bob Books First! Level A, Set 1, although I would highly, highly recommend the entire set. Bob Books seemed to be the only books easy enough for my daughter to read by herself and progress at a reasonable rate. She loves the books!...

I have some final thoughts. Firstly, the Reader Rabbit and Bob Books are fine quality products but are a bit overpriced in my estimation. They are STILL well worth the investment. Secondly, you would think there would be some product or resource out there to help teach your child to read. I needed not generalities but a highly specific course of actions. I was quite disappointed in that respect, but I would be interested if such a product or resource exists.

Updated 11/28/2002:
It's been two years now and it is time to teach my son to read. Apparently, Reader Rabbit Complete Learn to Read System is no longer in production. That is too bad. It is very good educational software.

Still, Curious George Learns Phonics is the sleeper education software in existence. It's not perfect and the kiddies tend not to like it. However, it is challenging and teaches them phonemic awareness very well.

I have tried "Teach your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons" due to several recommendations from individuals reading my reviews. I used it with my son and I didn't like it. Subsequently I was informed from first grade teachers (my daughter's included) and my education courses that apparently research shows that coded words (Distar conventions, e.g. e with a line over it, double oo, like the pronunciation key of a dictionary) teaches kiddies to read best. I discovered this first hand when my daughter brought home her homework to code some words. I didn't have a clue how to help her. Maybe it's just a case that daddy isn't smart enough to help his daughter.

I found myself already using some of the techniques from "Teach your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons" that I had discovered by trial and error worked with my kiddies. In any case, I still haven't used the book.

I have finally found a set of books to use after the Bob Books are all used up. I found the kiddies needed a little more structured practice before they where off reading whatever we have around the house. It is the "Now I'm Reading" series by Nora Gaydos. ...

This CD lacks the color and the adventure of the Reader Rabbit CDs, but it makes up for thru it's phonics drills. It's one after another with little talking which is why my children burn out on it fast. I don't see that as a bad thing, tho, as children learn in quick bursts and then like a break from the drill-like phonic questions. Which is probably why they can play Reader Rabbit games for hours because it's less ceribral and more game-orientated.

I love Reader Rabbit, and thank god for it, but I like this CD, too. I 'make' my 4 and 5 year old play it a little bit every day and it improves their phonics and then they can play Reader Rabbit afterward as a reward. *G*

Worth the money. Helpful. Not a CD you regret buying if better reading and phonics is your goal. But not a CD the kids will be begging to play 24/7.

This game is very poor compared to Reader Rabbit's Learn to read with Phonics or I can read with Phonics. I already had those two games but I read the following comments and thought I should get this one too. Not so! The games in here are ridiculous, teach very little phonics or reading, are difficult to master, and are all a waste. For those who like curious George, this game hardly ever shows George at all. I think the Reader Rabbits games are 1000% superior in every area in teaching kids phonics and reading. Skip this product, stick with Reader Rabbit, and you won't be stuck with it like I am.

George is great for both boys and girls and the circus is a huge hit so there you have their attention!! The secret is to keep this as your one and only game at least for a good couple of months before you start buying the easy, fun entertainment-only games like Blues Clues etc.. That will give them a chance to love this game because it does make them think and you have to be there to help when they first start off. I don't think it is slow at all, the narration is just right and there is plenty of help from the ringmaster of the circus, kids just need to be told to click on his icon to get clues. Great for my 4 yr old that learns phonics in her Montessori pre-school. Tons of sweet stories about circus animals for them to just listen to when they are tired of the phonics. I love this!!

This was a big disappointment. I will address the points in order:
1) Crude Technology: The things runs in a small DOS Like window and kinda screws with the ways Windows is supposed to work. BUT THE WORST PART IS THE WAITING. Every time a scene starts you have to wait and wait before you can use the mouse. When ever the software talks to the kid you have to wait. Finally when the software completes it current display or audio task it will accept keyboard or mouse input. Thus make a wrong choice and you are stuck waiting so long to be able to try again that the kid looses interest. Its like it was written with only one programing thread.
2) The waiting described about and the lengthy narratives make it an exercise in patience for both parent and child.
3) George the monkey is really not a part of any game! He is shown in the segments leading up to the games but as I recall, he is not featured in the games themselves. A big jip! The environment is very lean in that there is not much to explore. In contrast Reader Rabbit has lots of really fun stuff to click on and watch beyond the current game itself. Thus my son lost interest in this George title pretty quickly.