Tuesday, June 27th, 2006...11:40 pm
Games For Readers
My kids don’t do well with highly structured lessons, especially when it comes to reading. But they do love to play computer games and along the way we’ve discovered a few neat resources that fall into the “learning to read” category. Best thing about these tools is that my kids ask to play with them. They are enjoyable, informative, interactive… basically a whole lot of fun to use.
Studydog
Download animated lessons which feature step-by step skill building and fun characters. The program is designed as a storyline where the child is part of the action, helping to solve problems and complete tasks to advance to the next level. Studydog used to offer a basic edition for free to everyone but they are now promoting a customizable personal edition for $50.
Fortunately, there is another option available to those who cannot afford this price. Families can register through the National Center for Family Literacy and receive what I’m assuming is the basic edition for free. The NCFL is providing single-user and classroom versions for free to parents and teachers.
Starfall
This free site has lots of neat stuff for kids to explore. Graduated steps take a child from the most basic skills to advanced reading using interactive “web books” and games. Starfall also offers writing journals that match the storybooks, which encourages kids to develop handwriting skills along with their reading. You can snag them at the free download center or have a bound copy shipped for very minimal cost. There are other products available that correspond with the online units. My kids think Starfall rocks.
Do you have a favorite program or interactive website that offers help with reading development? Please let us know by sharing it in comments section!
4 Comments
June 28th, 2006 at 8:08 am
No suggestions on learning to read games but I have some about learning math. We are a game playing family and playing cards (regular cards as soon as your kids can recognize numbers up to 10) and Yahtzee (when a bit older) had a huge influence on the development of my daughter’s number skills. Crazy 8s is a good card game to start with for number recognition.
June 28th, 2006 at 10:06 am
Hi…thanks for stopping by my blog. Great to have found a nice homeschooling community.
As for reading games have you checked out http://www.bookadventure.org/ by Sylvan Learning Center? The kids can read there own level books and take short quizzes on them and earn points. They then can turn those points in for little prizes that Sylvan has there or you can come up with your own prizes. (a friend of mine will take her son to the movies with popcorn, candy and pop if he gets enough points) They have beginner books and it might be an incentive for them to try reading harder books than they are used to. Hope it helps a bit!
Sue
July 3rd, 2006 at 11:00 pm
My kids LOVE starfall too, esp. my daughter. She’s practiced her phonics on there for years, and still likes to just play around on “her site”.
July 3rd, 2006 at 11:01 pm
Oh yeah, and here’s a recent favorite of my kids. They’re learning to type quickly, and think it’s great fun (esp. since they’re better than Dad now!).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/flash/stage1.shtml