hooked on phonics- KINDERGARTEN

[hillary116]

I have noticed there are several homeschoolers here- so please help me:)
I am homeschooling my now 4 year old twins for preschool and saw the Hooked on Kindergarten Complete Kit in a store for about $50- I have googled it but I am not sure it is really any good. Any experience out there with the series? I want to teach them to read, do some simple math etc. My son can write all his letters/numbers, and has good word recognition with common words and family names. My daughter can write maybe half the alphabet but gets frustrated easily. She can read some common words and all family names. So is this what we need? It would be in addition to the art/science/reading we already do together.

Thank you again for your help.

[skaterbabscpst]

We're going to use Explode the Code for Joy next year - one of the things I like about it is that each book is relatively inexpensive. ($7 or $8 I think.)

http://www.lovetolearn.net/catalog/index.lasso?page=hits&keyword=explode+the+code


That said, you really don't HAVE to do formal instruction yet. Joy taught herself to read using the Leapfrog "Letter Factory" DVD, www.starfall.com and the "Between the Lions" tv show on PBS. We are going to start formal phonics instruction in September (again, using Explode the Code), but she will actually start in book three. There is a preschool version of ETC (http://www.lovetolearn.net/catalog/detail/explode%20the%20code/13)if your twins aren't ready to read yet.

[CelticLabyrinth]

I would do a few things (for free!) first before spending money on anything

1.) Starfall.com is super fun, and really a great early reading program. It has free printable books, or you can buy from them. The first part focuses on letter sounds, the second part on early reading.

2.) Super Why and Word World are both shows on PBS which do a really good job of teaching pre-reading and early reading skills.

3.) See what your library has- Bob Books are great, and there is a book called "Teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons". I don't suggest following that book to a T unless you have a child who likes it, but it has some great suggestions for teaching reading. Also, typical readers are great once a child has a basic understanding of phonics.

[skaterbabscpst]

Yep! If you have a DVR I'd suggest recording "Between The Lions" and just watching those. You would be surprised how quickly a child advances with that show! There is also a book out by the creators of Between the Lions called "The Between the Lions Book for Parents" that's pretty good. It does assume your child attends school, but otherwise it has some great resources listed.

Here's one of my fav youtube videos from BTL:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yqcZRjSGKI

[hillary116]

Thank you! We have not seen much of Between the Lions- I will record it. They like Super Why a lot, so we will keep that up. I checked out the Starfall site- that is GREAT! :thumbsup: I can't believe it is all free. We will definitely use that. I'll check out the library too. Where does everyone learn about these type of sites and books? Is there a home school fourm?

[skaterbabscpst]

There are LOTS of homeschool forums. Your best bet is to hit your library and start reading books on home education philosphies. Many times the authors will have websites and message boards dedicated to the philosophy they recommend.

For example, we're doing a combination of classical (The Well-Trained Mind) and waldorf-inspired (Oak Meadow) with our kids next year, so I like visiting the boards for the Well Trained Mind.

The Mothering.com board has a home-education forum as well. There are lots of Yahoo groups for homeschooling - look for groups in your geographical area as well as groups that follow the philosophy that you think will fit your family best.

[tjham]

I love Between the Lions! I wish it was on more than once a week! :love:

My 3 1/2 yr old grandson and 7 1/2 yr old granddaughter love it equally!

Can't. hold. on. much. longer...

[skaterbabscpst]

It's only on once a week where you are?! Wow - we get it every weekday. PM me - we DVR and then burn to DVD all the episodes.

[ketchupqueen]

For your daughter's writing, I most heartily recommend Handwriting Without Tears.

It has been wonderful for our daughter's printing.

[papooses]

We love Handwriting Without Tears -- our public school PreK & Kindy classes use it, too.

Starfall *is* awesome :D When we were (are? every summer) homeschooling, we were eclectic -- I'm still finding free resources/printables/games to use even though kiddo has been in public school over a year :thumbsup: Actually, I'm beginning to prepare to homeschool again this summer (instead of camp) & will be creating an easy list of our favorite links ... feel free to PM me if you'd like a copy :)



However, re: the original question . . . we did use Hooked on Phonics for Kindergarten homeschool. Our local Barnes & Noble gave me a Teacher's discount card for the whole year (20% off). My kid LOVED it & insisted on the grade 1 version last summer as well as the grade 2 version for this summer. I think what she likes about it is that she's basically in control. She puts the disc in, does her thing & decides when she's had enough. So, really, she likes that I'm not the one controlling the lesson :p

[vamom]

We prefer zoo phonics to hook ed on phonics. My ds has delays and is a kinestetic learner, and zoo phonics has really appealed to him. They have a whole curruculum. I got mine from ebay cheap.

That said, ds has just become interested in the computer and starfall.com has been so amazing for him. He also really loves in between the lions, super why, wordgirl, and word world. He also learns alot of math concepts from cyberchase and math monsters on pbs.

[hillary116]

I'll check out Zoo Phonics too.
Math Monsters- that is a new one for me. I will have to look that up. Thanks! :)

[papooses]

I've always wanted to try Zoo Phonics because I've heard it's better for kinesthetic learners....

Re: Between the Lions, etc. -- somewhere in the PBS website are printable lesson plans to match the episodes :) Most publishers' websites have some freeby lesson plans or book guides, etc.

[hillary116]

The Zoo Phonics looks very cute.
I looked up Math Monsters on PBS, and couldn't find it. Does it go by any other name?