The 5 Best Programs to Teach Your Child to Read: Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, Reading Eggs, Teach Your Monster to Read, and Hooked on Phonics Reviews
by Mary Follin
The best programs to teach your child to read.
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Reading Eggs, Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, Teach Your Monster to Read, and Hooked on Phonics are among the 5 best programs to teach your child to read. And yes, we feel Teach Your Child to Read™ is also an excellent choice! Since we have what we think is a great program, you might be wondering why I'm reviewing these OTHER programs, too.
Good question! The simple answer is, our goal is for all children to learn to read. Every child is different, and every family is different. The best reading program for kids is the one that works for YOUR child, and you are the best person to decide which one that is. No single program will work for every child, which is why it's so critical that parents evaluate each reading program, take advantage of free trials, and let your child weigh in. As you read the 5 reviews below, you'll start getting a sense of which one will work for your family.
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Check out 'ASK MOM' in Fredericksburg Parent & Family magazine for parenting advice!
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What About Phonics?
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Please note that the programs in this review rely mostly on phonics instruction. Most children learn phonics easily, even at a very young age. And if you have an older child who is struggling to learn to read, there's tremendous value in using a systematic, phonics-based program. A lot of older students who never mastered the art of reading may have missed out on pure phonics instruction, and it's never too late to teach it. You may be pleasantly surprised how quickly a struggling reader can gain reading competency once they learn the 'code' of the English language.
Over the years, many different methods for teaching reading have been tested, but science continues to tell us that phonics is the best way for children to learn to read. Please enjoy my review below of Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, Reading Eggs, Teach Your Monster to Read, and Hooked on Phonics. And of course, Teach Your Child to Read™ is in there, too! |
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Reading Program Reviews of The 5 Best Programs to Teach Your Child to Read: Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, Reading Eggs, Teach Your Monster to Read, and Hooked on Phonics
1) Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
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Published in 1986 by Siegfried Englemann and Phyllis Haddox, Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons empowered parents to believe they could teach their children to read at home. Simple and straight-forward, this can't-miss little book takes you through the process of teaching your child to read with phonics.
That said, Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons has an academic 'feel' to it, and your child might be used to a more exciting way of learning. But if you feel confident in your own creativity, most parents can easily learn how to teach phonics from this book. Lessons do not involve tools, flashcards, or storybooks—just you and your child. The book promises you will see results if you can spend 20 minutes per day with your child. With only 100 lessons you will be surprised at how competent your child can be after working through this step-by-step program. And indeed, you will see results in 20 minutes a day—at first. But as the concepts become more advanced, the lessons get longer. Older children might not mind this, but the little ones may begin to squirm. And for some children, even the 20-minute lessons are too long. Does Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons use phonics to teach reading? Absolutely. This little book gets an A+ from us for its commitment to using a systematic, phonics-based approach. CAVEAT: Because of the length of the lessons, this book may be more effective for children who don't mind sitting still for longer periods of time. |
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2) Reading Eggs
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We feel Reading Eggs is one of the most comprehensive programs on the market. With over a hundred activities to choose from, your child will have plenty to do! Reading Eggs addresses the learning needs of children ages 2-13 and covers all aspects of learning to read: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and fluency.
The program is not designed to be a one-on-one experience between you and your child, but if your child is an independent learner, that may be okay. I like that the lessons are 15 minutes or less, but for some children, that still may be a little long. The program also comes with a parent dashboard so you can track your child's progress. Perhaps the biggest concern about Reading Eggs for some parents is the amount of time spent on-screen to keep the learning going. This type of learning has a passive quality to it, and while learning through entertainment can work, it doesn't quite exercise the 'engaged learning' muscle. Does Reading Eggs use phonics to teach reading? That depends. While most children can learn the phonetic code from Reading Eggs, many words that could be sounded out are presented before the sounds have been taught, which might lead to confusion—or guessing—for your child. If you are looking for a strictly systematic approach for teaching phonics, this may not be the program for you. CAVEAT: If you want to be involved in teaching your child to read, you will have to figure out to insert yourself, as the program is designed for children to use on their own. And because the introduction of phonetic concepts is not always sequential, there may be a degree of confusion for some children as they work through the program. |
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3) Teach Your Monster to Read
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How can you not love free? Teach Your Monster to Read is a series of well-crafted games designed to take your child through the first two years of learning how to read—pre-K and kindergarten. Please check this one out! While this may not be the full reading program you're looking for, these simple (and fun) games will support any other path you choose to take. Teach Your Monster to Read is made possible by the generosity of the Usborne family foundation in support of developing early literacy.
Side note: the games are not always self-explanatory, and some agile mouse-action is required. You will most likely need to stay involved as your little one plays the games. Does Teach Your Monster to Read take a phonics-based approach? This program definitely teaches the 'sounds' of letters and helps children decipher the phonetic code. However, games are not presented in any type of sequence, so it may be challenging to make sure all prior sounds and blends have been memorized before starting a new game. For this reason, the program is a better supplemental activity than a primary tool for teaching a child to read. CAVEAT: Please don't expect this program to teach your child to read. The games are delightful supplements to a phonics-based approach to teaching reading, but your child will probably not be willing to play the games as many times as it takes to actually learn the sounds by heart. The games will, however, offer a fresh approach that supports whatever program you are using. Variety is a good thing, and Teach Your Monster to Read can offer a bit of that for your child during the process of learning how to read. |
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4) Hooked on Phonics
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If you're teaching multiple children at once, Hooked on Phonics may be the program for you. A hybrid of digital and 'through the mail,' Hooked on Phonics has materials that specifically address all levels of reading skills. The program was first introduced to the market in 1987 and continues to be a tool that families use to teach their children to read. And as the name implies, the program takes a phonics-based approach, which I whole-heartedly applaud.
If you have a preference for teaching the old-fashioned way, you might like this program. Many of the learning materials come to your child through the mail. (What child doesn't like to receive mail?), so lessons can be spread out on the kitchen table. But there are online options as well, so you get to choose which style you are most comfortable with. That said, it can be a little confusing to consider your options and determine what skill level is right for your child. Does Hooked on Phonics use a phonics-based approach to teach reading? Yes! CAVEAT: Hooked on Phonics is designed for children to use on their own, but some children appear to have difficulty figuring out what they're supposed do in some areas of the program. And if you're trying to reduce your child's screen time, this style of instruction may be a concern for you. Also, some of the lessons aren't as engaging as the others, which can make your child resistant to tackling the less exciting ones. And finally, many of the lessons are 20 minutes in length, so this program might work better for children who can sit still for longer periods of time. |
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5) Teach Your Child to Read™
If your child is between the ages of 3 and 6 (or even older if your child is struggling with reading), you might want to consider Teach Your Child to Read™. Our program was designed for short attention spans and busy parents (lessons are only 5 minutes), and the program guides you step-by-step through the process of teaching your child to read. It's so easy to use, all you need is a few minutes to review lesson one, and you'll be ready to get started.
How is This Program Different From the Others?
Easy online phonics program
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We particularly like the last one, only 6 STEPS. Many of the other programs are somewhat complicated to figure out what to do, what's been learned, and where to go next. Our program takes a sequential approach, so you'll always know what's been covered and where you are. And because the program is so linear, your child will get to the reading part fairly quickly. (In STEP 2, your child will actually start sounding out beginning words.)
It's pretty exciting to see how quickly your child learns to read! On the flip side, some parents are concerned about 'pushing' their children into learning too early or too fast. Even though our program works quickly for most children, we think it's important to be judicious about how quickly you introduce reading concepts to your child. Children learn best at their own pace, and some will naturally move faster than others. Our program is designed to offer a time of shared closeness between you and your child—just a few minutes a day—so your child never feels pushed into learning. If your child wants to buzz straight through in a few months, great! But if he or she needs to take more time, that's okay, too. By introducing reading concepts in 5-minute micro-lessons, you'll be able to tune in to how your child is progressing at all times. You'll easily be able to identify when you can keep up your pace or slow down—even take an extended break—so your child will never feel rushed. Free Trials of the 5 Best Reading Programs for KidsIt's hard to grasp how a program works until you actually try it, which is why a free trial is so important. And I encourage you to try them all! Reading Eggs and Teach Your Child to Read™ have free trials, and Hooked on Phonics allows you to try the program for 30 days for $1. You can even 'test drive' Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons by reviewing the sample pages on Amazon. And of course, Teach Your Monster to Read is completely free.
While there are a lot of tremendous resources out there, I feel that none of them is as simple and easy to use as Teach Your Child to Read™. But regardless of which program you choose, I applaud you for going on this learning journey with your child. Please reach out to us and tell us how it goes! |
Reading Programs for Kindergartners and First GradersSince the ages 5-7 offer a sweet spot for teaching children to read, the programs reviewed here are reading programs for kindergartners, 1st graders, and struggling readers up to age 8 and beyond. Some of these reading programs can be used with preschool children as well, especially if it's clear your 3 or 4-year-old child is ready to learn. (Age ranges are simply suggestions; you know your child better than anyone else!)
When working with a much older child (or even an adult), if your student is willing to engage with remedial tools, the programs in this review can be effective for anyone who wishes to learn to read or improve their reading skills. |
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One of the 5 Best Programs to Teach Your Child to Read!
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Founder and creator Mary Follin started her career as a systems engineer with IBM. She's worked in product development, market research, and more recently provides marketing consulting to professional services firms. Beyond creating Teach Your Child to Read™, she is also the author of Ethyr, winner of the the Moonbeam Children's Book Award and the Gertrude Warner Book Award. Mary is also author, with Erika Guerrero, of the advice column ASK MOM, featured in Fredericksburg Parent & Family magazine and winner of a 2021 Parenting Media Association award.
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