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Message |
    
algebra2
Citizen
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 1731
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 11:23 am: | 
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anyone ever buy this program? I have a friend who did and had very good results. Any comments? It's pretty expensive .... |
Duncan
Citizen
Username: Duncanrogers
Post Number: 1668
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 11:31 am: |
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I loved Letterman's gag commercial.
Hooked on Phonics??
I can help.
Then on to a 12 step program ad.
"The truth is always a compound of two half- truths, and you never reach it, because there is always something more to say."-- Tom Stoppard
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Yossarian
Citizen
Username: Yossarian
Post Number: 170
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 12:28 pm: |
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I don't know about hoked on phonics, but I've been using this excellent book:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0913063029/qid=1079630694/sr=1-2/r ef=sr_1_2/103-7372692-5643862?v=glance&s=books
with my 5.5 year old and it's great. She has really made progress. I highly recommend it. Just look at the reviews on Amazon. |
gemini
Citizen
Username: Gemini
Post Number: 296
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 12:30 pm: |
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If you have time to sit with your child or have tutor, a great book is 100 easy lessons to teach your child to read (wording might be off, but it'll come up on amazon)
My son learned to read at 4 with a weekly lesson from this book. |
C Bataille
Citizen
Username: Nakaille
Post Number: 1679
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 12:55 pm: |
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algebra2:
 I am embarrassed to confess here that I actually bought HOP several years ago. I have an almost untouched version I would be happy to sell you at discount. BUT, I cannot recommend it. My kid had phonics work in preschool so I figured it would be a very easy and enjoyable way for her to move into reading in kindergarten. Wrong. She HATED it. And after a couple of months of trying to interest in her in it I had to stop. She had done a couple of steps in the series but was at risk for being turned off to reading altogether. Honestly. And you can bet that with the investment I made I really tried to find ways to make it work for her.
The stories are so boring. The graphics are essentially stick figures. And talk about drill and kill! Whew! I finally knew what that meant. Unfortunately the computer program was no better than the actual books and workbook. Worse actually because you can't skip ahead to try to find something more interesting. The game makes you go through all 50 repetitions before you can go to the next little step.
BTW, my kid, now in second grade, is an excellent reader/writer. I just wish I'd spent that money on something else. Like maybe her college fund. She has enjoyed lots of other computer programs like Reader Rabbit, Carmen Sandiego, Magic School Bus, etc.
But, as I said, I'll be happy to sell you a nearly new version if you're still interested. PL me if you want.
Cathy
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algebra2
Citizen
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 1732
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 1:02 pm: |
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Thanks for you input! I'm going to look for a Reader Rabbit CD and check out the two books mentioned above. My son is 4 and loves to have stories read to him, sometimes he's a bit of a loner and since both my husband and I are big readers I thought we should get him reading. I'd love for him to enjoy books as much as we do. |
C Bataille
Citizen
Username: Nakaille
Post Number: 1680
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 1:09 pm: |
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He will, alg. Just keep reading to him and let him see you enjoying your reading. And if he likes the Arthur cartoon they've got good CDs, too. You can try them out at the library. At 4 we were making at least weekly trips to the library and doing all their (evening) activities as well. Just keep it fun! (Reading Blaster did nothing for us.)
Shucks, now I won't be able to unload that Hooked on Phonics on you! 
Cathy |
algebra2
Citizen
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 1733
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 1:15 pm: |
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"Shucks, now I won't be able to unload that Hooked on Phonics on you!"
You didn't do too good a job selling it!
My one gripe with the CD games at the Library is that my son just wants to play them and I'm not sure he gets much from them. He just clicks on the pictures. Also, I wish the computers at the library were in a back room, I would love to go to the library and look at books instead we end up playing on the computer. |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 504
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 1:28 pm: |
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HOP -- both my son's classroom teacher and spech teacher looked at me in horror (almost) when I asked if it was worth it/ would help him!
(NOT)
Apparently there is a very good program out there -- but it costs $1000's -- really designed for psychologists, learning centers, etc. (sorry, don't know the name anymore)
I also recommend Reader Rabbitt -- my son, in 2nd grade, still cannot read beyond an early kindergarten level -- and this program has helped a bit.
He loves books -- technical guides, high school science books with pictures, etc -- to figure out how things work. Unfortunately reading the letters and words are a huge challenge for him :-(
Good luck -- Pete
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Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 487
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 1:46 pm: |
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My daughter liked the "Bob Books" -- link on amazon below. I have no clue what category they fit in, but she enjoyed them, their little stories, their funky little line drawings. She also really enjoyed Reader Rabbit.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0439145449/qid=1079635400/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2 _1/002-0304767-4533679 |
shh
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 996
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 2:12 pm: |
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I have found that if my girls are interested in a specific topic, they will spend lots of time reading/looking through books to learn about it. They've been obsessed with Ancient Egypt for a really long time, and constantly take out books to learn each detail. They also love art and my husband got them a book on Picasso. This morning I found my second grader doing her "Night Write" (we have a deal that she can do it in the AM) by discussing how she and Picasso have similar styles and she went through the book and copied down the names of her favorite works. Her creativity level is really up there. It doesn't worry me—the fact she's not too advanced in reading/writing—because she has a passion for learning and I believe her skills will follow.
If you let him follow his interests that's a great way for him to learn to read and write.
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sportsnut
Citizen
Username: Sportsnut
Post Number: 1016
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 2:17 pm: |
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"My one gripe with the CD games at the Library is that my son just wants to play them and I'm not sure he gets much from them. He just clicks on the pictures."
Alg - you'd be surprised what they pick up. Our son has a boatload of computer games - most of the Reader Rabbit, Pajama Sam, you name it. Two nights ago at dinner he started rattling off the days of the week in Spanish and when I asked him where he learned it he told me from the computer. Sometimes we worry about how much time he spends on the computer - it is a lot - but he has progressed from those early games to more complex ones like Rollercoaster Tycoon (part of a series that he loves). His creativity and the use of his imagination have gone through the roof. He talks about being a builder and recently as he and I walked past Central Park he was laying out his plans for what he would have done in the park.
My son loves to read. Sometimes he asks for new books rather than toys. This past weekend he asked me for some more of the "Little Critter" series of books:
(http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/102-5662344-0121739)
They are inexpensive, funny and he easily identifies with the main character. Keep reading to him, just don't force it, as Cathy says he'll come around in his own time.
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suzanneng
Citizen
Username: Suzanneng
Post Number: 85
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 11:49 pm: |
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peteglider - your son is also one of my biggest borrowers of origami books . I've got several boys that are constantly asking for origami books as well as the Lee Ames' "Draw 50 ..." series. |
happyman
Citizen
Username: Happyman
Post Number: 124
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 9:03 am: |
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Peter-
Are you thinking of Earobics? |
C Bataille
Citizen
Username: Nakaille
Post Number: 1682
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 2:44 pm: |
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Algebra2, I guess you missed my .
For your son's sake I'm glad you decided against HOP. Happy reading!
Cathy |
algebra2
Citizen
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 1743
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 2:46 pm: |
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I got it! my sarcasm doesn't "read" well over the internet! |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 505
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 2:49 pm: |
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yes! Earobics! thx |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 506
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 2:54 pm: |
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suzanne -- yes he LOVES any book where he can visually understand something -- origami - he loves making the shapes -- but also science or mechanical books (we have a couple of those books with the fold-out cutaways of ships, buildings, etc.)-- thanks! -- pete |
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