[Headsprout question]

You just have to wait and see.

 

I think that most kids who do all 80 lessons of Headsprout will be able to read on a 2nd grade level. HS doesn't actually teach all the way up to that level, but most kids will be able to intuit the missing pieces.

 

My youngest did HS all the way to the end. It made a tremendous difference for her. She was reading on an early 1st grade level by the end of HS, but she wasn't able to intuit anything about reading. If it wasn't explicitly taught, it wasn't learned. Most kids don't have to have everything explicitly taught.

 

If you're interested in a good computer-based followup program, Funnix level 2 starts right where Headsprout leaves off. At the end of Funnix 2, your dd should absolutely be reading at 2nd grade level. Most kids will be able to go straight from Headsprout to reading books without further instruction though.

 

I stand corrected! It was Funnix 2 that was a good follow-up computer program! ;)

[Moving with Math? Why doesn't anyone talk about this one?]

Thanks all. I guess it's the price. Finding a math program for my dyslexic, yet math minded 13 year old is driving me crazy!

 

Lisa

[Dyslexia or too early to tell?]

The funny thing is we just installed Brainware Safari this morning! Ds was extremely frustrated. I can't believe that this is for younger kids! Of course, because of the dyslexia, it was difficult for him to read/understand the directions. I had to help him through it.

 

I have two questions for you.

 

Does the program specify which tasks are difficult for them? I know it tells you which level they have passed, but it would be helpful to know which they are struggling with specifically. He did NOT meet many of the challenges, yet that is not reflected anywhere.

 

Do you have a system regarding the order or number of games your son is supposed to play? If it were up to my son, he would play the games that he find easiest!!

 

Thanks!

 

Lisa

[All About Spelling]

Thanks Renae for sharing your experience. I have a dyslexic 13 year old and am just starting to homeschool.

 

To the OP, my son is going to be tutored in Barton, starting next week. I have no experience with AAS, but I've heard some good things.

 

Check out these links, if you haven't already. Susan Barton has some great info...

 

http://www.dys-add.com/

 

http://www.bartonreading.com/

[Headsprout question]

My 6 year old daughter is only on episode 10 and still LOVES it. I did sign up for all 80. Who knows if the love will last that long!

 

The PP is right about the program "saying" it ends at a 2nd grade level. I've heard others say it's not that high. I would wait and not plan yet.

 

I think I heard some people go into ETC after Headsprout. I guess the possibilities are endless. Search old threads; you'll find more info!

 

Enjoy Headsprout - it is adorable!

[Dyslexia or too early to tell?]

You have given me hope, Laurie. I have a 13 year old son who is dyslexic. I sure hope he improves. Dh overcame his reading struggles, but his terrible handwriting and math computation skills linger on! :D

 

Ds recently took the WISC IV and it showed low scores in working memory and processing speed, which sure doesn't help matters (no signs of add). Laurie, if you have any wisdom, please pass it on. Right now, ds is doing Earobics, listening to audiobooks and is starting with a Barton tutor next week. His fluency and comprehension is lousy; I will implement Lindamood-Bell's Visualizing/Verbalizing, myself, in the fall, after he gets some Barton under his belt. He'll also use Read Naturally.

 

To the OP, I sure wish I had started this process years ago. I knew something was not right. DS had speech problems and couldn't recognize his letters until he was almost 7. Sure signs indeed. The book that Laurie recommends is wonderful. Read and read some more. Even if it's not dyslexia, maybe you're in tune with some other issue.

 

Phono Graphix is probably a perfect place to start. For under $20, you can really start to be in charge of what needs to be done. I got a tutor for a few months. It helped, but just wasn't eplicit enough for my older son.

 

Good luck to you. Just the fact that you are in tune with your son's abilities and needs means he'll be just fine, in the end!

 

Lisa

[Moving with Math? Why doesn't anyone talk about this one?]

Cathy Duffy has this as one of her top 100 picks and yet I haven't seen it discussed here. Anyone have experience with this?

 

Thanks! :)

[looking for online math enrichment - like headsprout for reading]

Bumping for you (and me, too)!

[Headsprout/Reading Eggs - too repetitive and boring for 6 year old?]

I see you already made your choice, but I just wanted to comment in case others are also deciding between the two.

 

Though I haven't used it, I suspect Headsprout is a better choice for a slightly older child who has already started to read.

 

ReadingEggs only includes short vowel words at the moment, along with some sight words. They'll soon be adding long vowel lessons. However, if the past is any guide, they only add 10 or so lessons every 2 months. For reference, my daughter was going through at least 2-5 lessons a day when she was using ReadingEggs.

 

Thank you for adding your personal experience. My daughter is on her 8th lesson of Headsprout and it is fabulous. So far it is not challenging, but it is seriously captivating. And the repetition is not painful at all! The graphics and characters seem much more varied than those in Reading Eggs.

 

Thanks for all of your help. I don't regret spending the money at all!

[Anyone choose curriculum based on Cathy Duffy's styles?]

I would recommend borrowing it from your library first or using Interlibrary Loan :)

 

In the meantime you can look at this (if you can open pdf files).

 

 

Exactly what I needed!! Thank you! My son is a sociable sue, with a little wiggly willie thrown in!

[Headsprout/Reading Eggs - too repetitive and boring for 6 year old?]

Thank you! I ordered Headsprout - she is sooo excited!!

 

Now, if only they had something similar for my 13 year old son who is dyslexic!

[Headsprout/Reading Eggs - too repetitive and boring for 6 year old?]

I think Reading Eggs is a great program, but (so far) it is really geared towards younger children and/ or beginning readers. Reading Eggs moves fairly slowly, which is perfect for my four year old, but might not be ideal for an already reading 6 year old.

 

Headsprout starts at the beginning, but it moves quicker and takes you pretty far. Mid second grade level, they claim, although my daughter needed more decoding practice afterwards. The activities ARE somewhat repetitive, because repetition is important to learning. But they build in variety with the different "worlds." Space world, jungle world, under the sea world, etc.

 

It's hard to tell her reading level from the Biscuit books, because they tend to be fairly predictable in their format, and the pictures tell a lot of the story. So she could either be a pretty fluent reader, or she could have pretty rudimentary skills and be good at context clues and reading pictures. Which are important skills, but you want to get the decoding down first.

 

I know Headsprout is more expensive. And while it is fun, it is still WORK, especially at the higher levels. It takes energy, and it is somewhat difficult, by sheer virtue of leanrnng new things. I had to sit right with my daughter as she did the lessons, and talk up the stickers and provide lots of encouragement AS she went through the lesson. She went through it at 4.5, almost five, however. We did some other small rewards. There were sometimes when she just couldn't keep up with the speed demanded, using the mouse, and so we would take turns. She would start, when it was slower, and as it speeded up I might take a turn with the mouse. It worked pretty well.

 

Yea, I guess Biscuit was a poor example! I was trying to think of a popular series. She can also read Clifford books with a fair amount of ease. Some words she needs to sound out, but she does it well.

 

I may stick with Headsprout, especially with the Co-op's discount. I really want her to have the basics covered.

 

Thank you all for your responses.

[Headsprout/Reading Eggs - too repetitive and boring for 6 year old?]

Hi there! My (just turned) 6 year old can read a little bit. She can read books like Biscuit fluently. I signed up for Headsprout and Reading Eggs' free trials to see which one we liked best. After 5-10 minutes, she says she's bored. Each page/each game looks and sounds the same. I'm assuming each level us just a repeat of the previous one. And you work on the same sounds for sooo long.

 

Is one more "interesting" than the other? Any other online suggestions out there, for her level? I wanted a fun, interactive online "game" that was systematic and teaches phonemic awareness as well.

 

Thanks!