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VanessaVH
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| Posted: July 29 2008 at 3:22pm | IP Logged
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I have been looking at the zoo phonics program for my 3 yo son. It looks really neat; it incorporates music, visual cues, kinetic movment and games to inspire learning. They say you can start with it as early as 2, and my 3yo is showing interest, asking what letters or words are on things.
The down side is the cost: 145-245, depending on what "extras" you want. This is quite an expense. I think it would be good to use for multiple children though (I also have a 1yo and another on the way)which would make it more cost effective.
Has anyone here used it? Did you like or dislike it and why? I would really love some more input before making such a large purchase. This is really the first big area I am addressing. The only things I have so far are Elizabeth Foss' book and a few other Charlotte Mason ones, but I haven't bought any other "manipulatives" or student books.....
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Aug 01 2008 at 8:55am | IP Logged
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Vanessa -
Bumping this and hoping someone out there can offer an opinion for you...
Adding a link to Zoo Phonics for you.
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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Keepmehome
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| Posted: Aug 04 2008 at 11:36am | IP Logged
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I have never posted on here before: I hope I don't offend anybody here. I have recently researched the benefits and disadvantages of teaching reading to young children. I homeschool my four children and I run a family daycare. Independent research has indicated quite strongly that pushing younger children to learn academics is not in their best interest. Children gain so much more from playing and investigating how things work and go together on their own terms. The younger kids here will shout out, "I made an "D." And it could very well be a "D", but most often the directionality issues come into play and there is no benefit in correcting a child that young. More often it becomes a negetive experience if a child is asked to do it "right." Your child would benefit more just by being read to every day and learning the dynamics of "left to right" and what is the front and back of a book and top, bottom. Children who are asked to work on academics at young ages are normally ahead of their peers in kindergarten, but by the end of 1st they will have lost their advantage. The down side is that these children tend to develop behavior problems that intensify as they progress in school.
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VanessaVH
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| Posted: Aug 11 2008 at 2:25pm | IP Logged
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Sorry for not replying sooner. I was unable to log in for a few weeks for some reason....
I am not offended Keepmehome. I am not planning to teach "reading" yet but wanted to know what direction we are heading so that I can start to present the letter sounds the same way we will continue with, if that makes sense. I don't intend to push him at all, but he is asking what letters are and can point out 2 or 3 and I want to have the materials available to him when the interest is there.
I also have the time to do the research right now, and probably will not have time again for a while after #3 is born this winter, so I am hoping to purchase most of my preschool stuff now so that I won't have to feel rushed next year.
I have talked to another mom, who used it last year with her then 4 or 5 year old and she really liked it for mastering the letter sounds, although she went on to sing spell read & write for the blends and onto real books after that, skipping the readers from both programs. So I am thinking I will purchase the basic pack, without the readers and so forth and just play the music and games for something fun to do. I will post a review after we use it
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SylviaB
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| Posted: Sept 12 2008 at 1:53pm | IP Logged
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Vanessa,
How do you like this program?
I am using Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons and it is getting awfully boring for us. I am looking for alternatives.
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Keepmehome
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| Posted: Sept 12 2008 at 2:22pm | IP Logged
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I recently came across a book by Peggy Kaye, specifically, "Games for Reading". I have used a lot of her ideas and reading has taken a turn for the better. I did "100 easy lessons" with three of my children. One child is reading two grades above grade level, the other two are struggling, not because of the program though. Both of the other two I recently discovered are dyslexic. The oldest is working through the Barton Program and doing very well, the younger who is almost seven is not. I started playing games with her that I found in this and other books by Peggy Kaye. Reading has become more interesting and fun for her instead of drugery. One way to spice up 100 easy lessons is to do it two days a week and play games using the words she has read in "100 Easy Lessons" and some sight words. Your child may enjoy the text lessons if she experiences more immediate success with it.
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VanessaVH
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| Posted: Sept 12 2008 at 9:02pm | IP Logged
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Sylvia, we received it about 2 weeks ago. He LOVES listening to the music. He can tell me about 5 letter sounds now, but not in order. He is not too interested in the motions or flashcards. I am not pushing much, but I intend to present 1 letter flash card and motion a week and see how it goes.
I recomend the basic pack unless you really want their readers. I bought the $20 font disk that allows to make whatever words you want with the animal/letters. I am using it for coloring sheets now, and will use it to make blends flash cards later instead of buying the advanced package that included those. I hope that helps!
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4Real Forums : Language Arts Come Alive
Topic: Zoo Phonics Use? Like/Dislike?
