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Homeschool Success |
Making Reading Fun™ Reviews
Review : Making Reading Fun™ Making Reading Fun™ is an interactive CD-Rom set that is designed for parents to use with their children. This program is well designed and innovative in its approach to literacy learning. The program lays a foundation for preschool children as well as supports the learning of emergent and struggling readers. It is a remarkable way to engage parents and their children in shared literacy activities. Each CD-Rom presents an interactive book from which videos, printable materials, and fun exercises are designed. This present an excellent approach to balanced reading for young children. Along with the CD-Rom, the actual trade book is included. The format of interactive reading followed by skill exercises encourages a balance between skills and text reading. Also, there is a balance between narrative (stories) and expository (informational) texts. Books chosen for young children often reflect only stories; however, young children like expository text and often learn expository text earlier than stories. The use of expository text for emergent literacy is an asset of the program. One of the main assets of the program is that all activities are designed to encourage parent-child interactions around literacy events. The Video and “Tips” for parents help parents gain confidence in working with their child during literacy experiences. Both the parent and child can use the videos as they become familiar with the content of the target book. We highly recommend viewing the video and discussing it before reading the book. Viewing a video uses multi-modes of learning to activate the young child’s experiences related to the topic. Further, discussing the video will increase the parent-child interactions that, in turn, promote the language development of the child. The books that were chosen for the interactive reading include enriching content and are presented in an interactive CD-Rom that holds the interest of the child. The pictures in the books and on-screen are colorful and support the child’s reading. The books presented on screen highlight the words as they are read, thus helping the child with directionality, tracking and sight word recognition. Additionally, pages can be easily re-read to reinforce word learning and then, the parent or child can click and move on. Using the highlighting, the parent and young child can easily listen and read the book together joining in shared literacy. This is a marvelous way to engage parents and their children in shared literacy activities. As children listen to the book, they will begin to understand book language, another important aspect of emergent literacy. Printable materials that can be used to extend the lesson concepts accompany each book. Some of the printable pages are Rebus books where pictures and words are combined to convey a story. Young children can easily read these books along with their parents. Since these are printable pages, the child can read and reread the text handling the book in whatever manner is comfortable. Book handling is another aspect of emergent literacy and this allows the child to play with a book while developing book knowledge (front of the book, how to turn pages, etc.). Other printable pages are useful in extending skill development in young children such as letter knowledge, sound segmentation, and sound blending as well as concepts related to the target book. These printable pages are coordinated with the fun exercises. Fun exercises offer a variety of activities and interesting extensions of thematic concepts. Additional assets of the program include: ¨ The program can be used on both PC and Mac computers. ¨ Pages can be re-read before proceeding to next page. ¨ Repetition of words or phrases in the program reinforces reading concepts. ¨ Accommodates different learning styles, e.g., audio, visual, and kinesthetic with a discussion on how to adapt to the child’s individual learning style. ¨ Concepts are presented that help build connections to, with, between, and among people and objects in everyday life. ¨ Instructions for parents help build parents’ self confidence in assisting their child. ¨ The program can be used for emergent struggling readers. ¨ Several books would help international students with learning practical English language. ¨ Book 6 offers two levels of reading, one for child and one for adult. ¨ Fun Exercises for Book 5 offers excellent segmentation & blending activities. ¨ The book 12 worksheet offers unique method for identifying & using parts of a book. ¨ Using index of books in looking up words is interesting preparation for child’s later use of dictionary and other reference books. ¨ Research in reading as well as rationale for approaches are discussed in the video. ¨ Lesson 11 videos are informative, educational, with supporting photos and content. In using the program in the Reading and Math Center. We would recommend the following adaptations and suggestions for parents. ü Be sure to read all instructions and guidelines before using
the materials. It would be helpful to ü When the rate of speech is too rapid for the young reader, the page can be repeated by clicking the reread button. ü It is important for the parent to be involved in skill lessons. ü If cursor is moved over an icon before the speaking ends, there may be overlapping talk. In other words, don’t click too soon when you want to advance to the next frame. ü To prevent talk from overlapping, move mouse or click another button after narrative is finished. ü Clicking the dialogue bubbles allows your child to hear un-jumbled words from the conversation. ü Some interactive lessons require the child to drag pictures or words to the spaces or lines provided. If the spaces are not large enough for the length of the word, point out and emphasize the importance of allowing adequate space between words when writing. If it is difficult to how to drag image or word to correct location, the adult may have to learn with trial and error, as there are not explicit instructions. ü Listen carefully to directions and follow them explicitly, e.g., “click here” for printable to get readable copies. ü Be aware that several printable pages may be needed for one activity. Read carefully to know which pages go together. ü Blue highlighting of words on computer monitor with the words being read may not be synchronized. ü Language and spelling is advanced and may require adaptation to child’s skill level. ü In lesson 7, it might be helpful to separate blends and digraphs for the beginner. ü Because numerous new concepts are sometime introduced in one lesson, lessons may have to be divided into chunks. Finally, the format of text reading both on the computer and in the book has held the interest of young struggling readers in the tutoring program. More importantly, the skills lessons demonstrate to the college student the appropriate skills needed for an emergent reader. Some first graders are not reading yet, and come to the Reading and Math Center to improve their literacy. It is difficult to find appropriate short skill activities for these readers; however, this program provides high quality skill activities. The balance between interactive reading and skill lessons provides a good model for the college student. First grade teachers could also benefit from using this program to experience the balance between shared reading and skill lessons.
Practical Homeschooling, May/June 2001: Make Reading Fun The interactive storybooks match the Usborne books exactly. Just click a button and the story is read to you. As each word is read it changes colors so you can follow along. This is the equivalent of a finger pointing under the word. I have to say that 'interactive' is a bit of a stretch. On some pages you can click on a picture and it will tell you its name; other pages however do not have this option. The learning exercises consist of various phonics activities. There are at least two types of activities per book and they are varied and interesting. The exercises for each book vary but work on such skills as vowel sounds, sequencing, word endings, puzzles, blends, letter sounds, word recognition, and vocabulary building. One problem with the learning exercises is that if you click on the wrong answer nothing happens. You just keep clicking on items until you find the right answer. This may be confusing to some children who don't know they have the wrong answer. The printable activities are ideal for the homeschool family because they reinforce what is learned in the games and book. If you need to reinforce a particular skill just print up one of the workbook activities. Here are the books included with each module. Module 1 Ages 2-4 Who's Making That Noise? First Words The Stephen Cartwright ABC Module 2 Ages 3-5 Silly Sheep Dog Usborne Farmyard Tales Alphabet Book First 100 Words Module 3 Ages 4-6 The Clumsy Crocodile The Usborne Book of Everyday Words My Town Module 4 Ages 5-8 Word Detective Puzzle Jungle What's Inside You If you would like a supplemental reading program that contains actual learning activities and not just pointless games then Make Reading Fun is for you!
KidsLikeOurs.com, March 2001: Make Reading Fun! Module 2 Includes parent/teacher information -Program Overview, Schematic and Printable Activities Table of Contents plus Activity Instructions, Thematic Unit Ideas, Lesson Outline, Checklist of Skills and Certificate of Completion specific to each CD-ROM title. Child activities on CD-ROM within this module -3 Interactive Storybooks, 7 Fun Exercises, 6 Help Videos, 41 Printable Activities (with 22 instructional helps for parents). SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: Windows 95 or 98; Pentium 166; 16 MB RAM; 8X CD-ROM drive; sound card; web browser recommended (for maximum image quality on printable activity materials.) Mac OS 7.5.1 or higher; Power Macintosh; 16 MB RAM; CD-ROM drive; sound card; web browser required for viewing videos and accessing printable materials. This program includes Macromedia Flash and Adobe Acrobat Reader & Installer necessary for software performance. There is a lot to this package so I will go through each book/CD-ROM set one at a time. The first set includes a book titled Usborne Farmyard Tales Alphabet Book and it's companion CD-ROM. I really like how the book is set up. To illustrate it let's take the letter "j". In the upper left-hand corner is the upper and lowercase "j". At the bottom of the page there is the alphabet with the letter "j" highlighted. Above that are two sentences (the last on being a question about finding something in the picture) that have some of the words starting with the letter "j". Those words have the "j" (upper or lowercase) highlighted on them. And finally taking up most of the page is a very cute and colorful scene that relates to the sentences. This book also has a little duck hidden on every page for your child to find (MaryJo loves that) and at the back of the book has pictures of everyday objects with their names below them that they can go back in the book and find. It also has a big colorful alphabet on the last page. The CD-ROM is divided into 4 sections. They are: 1. The computer version of the above book that is read to your child and has lots of things for them to click on (which really adds to the fun). 2. Games. This is where your child can practice putting letters in alphabetical order, matching upper and lowercase letters, and also play a vowel sound game. They all have different levels so they can be challenged no matter where they are. 3. Help Videos. There is one that explains to parents how to use the program (and gives ideas for games and activities to learn letter sounds and words), one that teaches a alphabet game, and one with a class that sings the alphabet song and holds up the letters as they go. MaryJo loves that, she has sung along with them many times. 4. Printable activities. There are too many to mention but some of the things that can be printed are: information for parents, letter writing practice worksheets for kids, flash cards, card games, dot-to-dots, mazes and so much more including a certificate to give your child when they have finished the first CD-ROM. MaryJo really enjoys practicing writing her letters. She is starting kindergarten next year so it is nice knowing that she will be ready. The second set includes a book titled The First Hundred Words and it's companion CD-ROM. The book has a small sentence (such as "In the living room" or "Getting dressed") at the top left-hand corner of each two-page spread. Underneath that is a big picture filled with fun things to look at. Underneath that are people, animals, or everyday objects with their name under them (for example on the first two-page spread it has a picture of a baby with "baby" written underneath it). The child can then "read" the word baby and find the baby in the big picture above it. On average there are about 7 objects to find on each two-page spread. Some other fun things about this book are that you can find the duck on each two-page spread and the back of the book has matching and counting activities. The CD-ROM is divided into 4 sections. They are: 1. The computer version of the above book is a lot of fun. It takes each word one at a time and gives a sentence for it and then asks your child to click on that picture. MaryJo loves it because it will only highlight the correct picture so she never gets it wrong. There is also a lot of encouragement form the narrator. 2. Games. There are two games. One with word endings and one with vowel sounds. 3. Help Video. There is one that explains to parents how to use the program with this book. 4. Printable activities. Again there are too many to mention but some of the things that can be printed are: lists of sight words, a card game, sentences to go along with the story, and so much more including a certificate to give your child when they have finished the second CD-ROM. The third and final set includes a book titled The Silly Sheepdog and it's companion CD-ROM. This book also has a small sentence (such as "This is Apple Tree Farm") at the top of each page. Underneath there is a picture and underneath that there are a few more sentences. It is designed so that your child can read the simpler sentences at the top and you can read the ones at the bottom. Again there is a duck to find on each page. The CD-ROM is divided into 4 sections. They are: 1. Children can read along in their book with the narrator. The pictures are animated and your child gets to click on the duck in each page. 2. Games. There are two games. One with long vowels and one that has your child sort long and short vowels. 3. Help Video. There are two that explain to parents how to use the program with this book and how to extend their love for reading. 4. Printable activities. Again there are too many to mention but some of the things that can be printed are: a chores calendar, pages to make their own stories, characters for puppet shows, and lots of games as well as many other things including a certificate to give your child when they have finished the third CD-ROM. This reading package is AWESOME!!! Think about the value that you
are getting when you buy this for your child. Not only do you get
three high quality books (which we all know can be expensive) but
their companion CD-ROMs are packed with enough fun and learning
to keep them entertained and learning for years. In an age where
just one CD-ROM can cost half as much as this kit does, this package
is something you shouldn't pass up!! Remember too that it can be
passed down to your younger children (I am planning to do the same
when Eric (2 and 1/2) is a little older). |
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