Learning to Read with Hooked on Phonics

I have to admit, I was always a little annoyed by the Hooked On Phonics television commercials. When my son became interested in learning to read, though, I looked at several reading programs in a homeschooling store. Hooked On Phonics looked like a good system, so I decided to give it a try-and I am glad I did!

The particular kit we are using is the Hooked OnPhonics Learn to Read Kindergarten Deluxe program. It includes audio CDs, flash cards, a workbook, 24 books, a CD-ROM, and a My Reading Adventure poster with stickers. The program is designed to teach basic phonics skills to kids ages 4-6.

I have found Hooked On Phonics to be a methodical and enjoyable program. It starts with the basics of letter identification, then moves to associating one sound with each letter. After letters and sounds are mastered, the child begins learning to blend the sounds to form words. The visual flashcards and workbook along with the audio CDs allow children to see and hear letters, sounds, and words as they practice them.

You can work at your child's pace, spending as much or as little time as needed on each section. As with homeschooling in general, we stop when we are ready to stop for the day. We repeat lessons on subsequent days until the phonics skills are mastered. The phonics workbook includes teaching pages and short stories. It tells you when it is time to read the next book, which uses the words that have been practiced up to that point. As a reward, your child can put a sticker on the My Reading Adventure poster after successfully reading each story. My son is always excited when he reads a story without any help and gets his next sticker!

The Hooked On Phonics CD-ROM has fun computer activities and games that supplement the workbook. These games allow your child to independently practice the phonics skills that have been acquired. An added benefit is the development of computer and mouse skills.

The only drawback that I have seen to the Hooked On Phonics program is that children can get bored with the drill pages in the workbook. While reading stories is entertaining, just reading lists of words for practice is not as much fun. My recommendation for dealing with this problem is to take frequent breaks, stop working when your child begins to show signs of frustration, and get your creative juices flowing. You can take the word lists provided and make up your own games and activities for practicing the words, then go back to the workbook and the stories. There are also some game suggestions throughout the workbook, which are helpful.

There is nothing like teaching your own child to read. I will never forget the way my son jumped up and hugged me after he read the first story in his workbook! Hooked On Phonics provides a great way to teach phonics and learn to read. All the materials are there, along with easy to understand instructions. I highly recommend joining your child on a learning to read adventure with Hooked On Phonics.