With so many phonics based reading programs to choose from, how do I pick the right one?
How to choose a phonics reading program.
You've probably been looking at a variety of phonics based reading programs, trying to decide which one is right for you and your child. And indeed, you are the best person to do that.
Every child is different. What works for one might not work for another. But to help you with your search, here is a list of features you might want to consider as you figure out which phonics based reading program is right for you.
Every child is different. What works for one might not work for another. But to help you with your search, here is a list of features you might want to consider as you figure out which phonics based reading program is right for you.
Compare phonics reading programs:
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Clarity. Are you easily able to tell from the company's website how it works? If you can't tell from a company's website what to expect, that may be an indicator that the program will be confusing, too.
Platform. Does the phonics based reading program you are looking at consist of hard copy materials? Is it downloadable? Is it online? An online reading program is the only platform that will allow you to access the program from your desktop, laptop or tablet—no matter where you go. Format. Does the phonics based reading program you are considering rely on your child playing games? At first glance, that might sound like fun. But what happens when your child gets tired of the game? It's drudgery to force a child keep playing the same game—over and over—until he or she understands reading concepts that take a LOT of repetition to learn. Games are great supplementary activities, but they don't tend to sequentially address each building block of the process. |
Time. You're busy and small children have short attention spans. You might want to consider a phonics based reading program that has lessons that take no more than 5 minutes. (We're the only ones who offer that, so we're definitely biased! )
Easy to Use. Teaching reading is actually quite simple and straight forward. Any phonics based reading program you use should reflect that. If you can't tell from the description of a program how it works, you may find the program to be confusing as well. Price. Teach Your Child to Read™ is one of the lowest-cost products on the market. At $35 for a one year subscription, you will be paying only 9.5 cents a day to teach your child to read. |
