Hooked on Phonics
Has anyone used this for their children? I am particularly interested in the "Learn to Read" editions. My son turned 3 in July, he knows how to count, knows his ABCs and can recognize the letters of the alphabet. He has really taken a greater interest in reading lately, and I'm thinking he may be close to putting everything together and may be ready to begin learning to read soon. I can teach my kids the ABCs, how to count, colors and shapes, and even math, but I am by no means a real teacher, and teaching a child the proper way to learn to read is a bit intimidating for me. So, any opinions on Hooked on Phonics? Thanks!!
~ jessica (CandleMom)
Hooked on Phonics-Love it.
Jessica,
I have used the hooked on phonics with my kids. It is sortta costly but gave me good directions on getting started. It starts with the basics of abc, and knowing the sounds. Then it moves into putting sounds together . Ex. you know the a sound, you know the t sound put it together = AT, then they add the connsinets like b+at=bat, c+at=cat, s+at=sat. After you get several of the same kind of words the kids have a short book to read which gives them confidents in reading and then a sticker to place on their chart to show that they have accomplished something. I really love the reading hooked on phonics. Its a great investment. Phonics is not tough enough in the public schools and this is a great addition to any learning.
Have you ever seen a hooked on phonics kit ?
If not I have one you could look at to see what I am talking about.
Kim
What level did you start with?
Kim - I was reading online reviews and some were saying the first series were not advanced enough if your child already knows their abc's, etc. We have been working on basic letter sounds, but I'm wondering if we should start with the first learn to read series, or go with the next level? Someone else also told me the first series does alot of rhyming, which we actually haven't worked a ton on, but I did see on HOP website, you can buy just the rhyming workbook for less than $4.
I have never actually seen the kit...I've been looking for it at the library every time I'm there, to see if it would be worth us investing in, and also to see what level to buy, but the first level is always gone. I'm thinking we may wait till after Christmas to start something like this at home, so maybe before I buy it, I'll take a look at yours :) Thanks for the offer!!
hooked on phonics
Jessica,
The series I have has a couple of extra things in it for the time I bought it(mine is about 6 years old now). I did not find that if one knew their abcs and sounds that it wasn't enough. The first few pages are for abc recongizing them with and without a picture of a item that starts with that letter A = apple type thing. My oldest was way past this point and we did these few pages once, to make sure she knew them and moved on to the next section. I believe that the at was the first group of words. I found the system very easy to use. There is a tape that goes with the lessons as you move through them. We did not use the tape. And then I don't think that we have even used boxes 4 and 5 because once the kids get to this reading level they are moving at their own clip and reading books outside this series. My oldest daughter is in 5 grade and is reading at a 9th grade level with ease of comprehension. My 3rd grader can read at a 5-6 grade level and comprehend without any trouble. We try to stay in the 4th grade level due to content in most cases. I was really impressed with this kit. I was relutent to purchase it due to the price, but I had some sort of satisfaction guarentee type thing. I never returned and have talked a couple of other friends into purchasing the product as their children were struggling a bit in reading at school (lack of phonics) and my girlfriends loved it and were happy with it too. I had thoughts about selling it but I think I will hang on to it for future grandkids thats how happy I am with it. Please feel free to give me a holler if you want to see it. Its worth it.
Kim
(maybe I should be selling hooked on phonics !)
hooked on phonics
You really need to start with level one. It is the level that starts to put sounds together. After each sound is hooked with another to make words it gives you a short story made with those words to ready in the workbook, then it gives the kids a "book" to read and a sticker to accomplish making thier way through their chart. Then at the end of three or four of these it gives you a bit bigger book to read using all the words that you have learned. I really don't see how you could skip level one. If you skip level one then the kids would already know how to read. It is the basic of reading with the vowel sounds and putting them with considents. The first level also has a pack of "sight" words with flash cards... like the words the, said, when, what
let me know if you have any other question I can answer. Its a nice kit
Kim
which kit?
Kim - Is this comparable to the kit you have?
http://hooked-on-phonics.com/NEW_br_Learn_to_Read_8212_Pr_P207.cfm
kit ?
Jessica I will have to double check when I am feeling a bit better. I have been down with a fever of 102.
Kim
ps. link is nice!
thanks!
If you could, when you get a spare minute, check out HOP website and check out their current products and tell me what you think. I'm torn :) I hate to pay $100 for the one program if he's already mastered it. I read a review, on Amazon I think, that said it was nothing more than some flash cards...we already have that! That's why I was wondering about going straight to the Kinder kit, rather than PreK.
Hope you are feeling better soon! Just a fever? Cold, flu?? Yuck :(
Learn to read kinder. - 2nd
Jessica,
It appears as the one that we have must be the kingergarten-2nd grade learn to read. I remember mine costing a bit over 200.00 at the time. Ours was considered to be the DELUXE at the time. I would have to go back and check to see what it has in it for cd's --I don't remember as we mainly used the chart/books/cards/workbooks. I know it had a cassette tape for each level too.
IMO.... I would not waste your money on the kindergarten sets especially if your son knows abc's. The next biggest thing would be knowing the sounds each letter makes so that he can start putting the sounds together to make the words. In my kit it dedicates a few pages to this and you review and review until you have it down pat before you move on to the next lesson. Very easy to follow. I guess this is why I didn't find my money wasted because I jumped into the next level... I don't believe they had the kind. kit a few years ago. The short books that they have that accomplish the first words are great the kids feel like they are making progress fast and learning to read.
Again, it sounds as if we live close to the same side of town. The kit that I have was a bit more costly than the kindergarten kit but well worth it. Let me know if you would want to see it. I know I hesitated and hesitated and was glad i did it when i saw how fast my daughter learned to read (she was learning in school but this really helped her quickley.) We would work on it a couple of weeks and put it down and then go back to it and things would seem to click for her then.
Kim
ps... feeling better! thank goodnes. It was a fever and chills, no sinus. Still ran a fever last night of about 100.00 but not as achey this morning ---I have to keep up with three kids and hubby-farm and pt work too -hate being sick everything falls behind and I was behind to begin with this week as I did treats for all three kids's classrooms-also had at least one of the three kids home this week with it !
thanks
I am gonna have to just take a peek at your set, it's too hard to decide :) Thanks!
Hooked On Phonics on Sale at Big Lots
I saw it in their special Wednesday ad that came out yesterday for $30. It said Pre-K and Kindergarten levels I think. I am not sure what it included and I am sure that there are varying levels with more or less learning tools included.