thundersweet Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 I am looking for something fun to teach my 4yo to read. He's already reading by sight so I think now is a good time to start. I started him with Phonics Pathways and he's not really interested. lol He told me he was "done with words." He is great with the computer and iPad so I think something online would suit him better. Any recommendations? We have the starfall app on the iPad. He occasionally plays with it but it's too easy to get ahead of himself. I would prefer something that goes in order and doesn't let the child get ahead of himself. I hope that makes sense. Thanks, Sandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathie in VA Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 I haven't used this but it might be what you are looking for... Explode the Code Online version https://www.explodethecode.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genny Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 Readingeggs was fun and taught phonics with my older 2. I plan to start my soon to be 4 year old on it in a few months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susankhan Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 I would no say this is FUN per say however it WORKS! It is the ONLY program that worked for my daughter. http://spencerlearning.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmasc Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 I haven't personally used this, but my friend has taught two to read with Funnix. She's had great success with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 I loathed ETC Online, so I don't recommend that. I'd just let him play around with Starfall and maybe Reading Eggs. But don't assume that will be how he learns to read. I think most kids need a teacher that isn't the computer for this as well. He's really young and he's saying he's not ready. It's okay to relax and let him not be ready and not worry too much if something goes in order exactly at this stage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nature girl Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 I loathed ETC Online, so I don't recommend that. I'd just let him play around with Starfall and maybe Reading Eggs. But don't assume that will be how he learns to read. I think most kids need a teacher that isn't the computer for this as well. He's really young and he's saying he's not ready. It's okay to relax and let him not be ready and not worry too much if something goes in order exactly at this stage. Completely agree with this...There are programs that are much more fun than Phonics Pathways which, although I've heard it's wonderfully effective, looks impossibly boring to do for more than a few minutes a day. We had a lot of luck with Progressive Phonics (free), which we actually read online so that I think it felt to my DD like a computer program, which was appealing to her since I limit her media time so much. She had fun sharing the reading and ramped up quite quickly with it. You also might want to take a look at LOE Foundations, AAR and PAL, all of which include games to make the process much more enjoyable for kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel TX Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 My 4 year old likes to play on the iPad too. The phonogram app from Logic of English is not a full program, but for $3 it's a good way to learn and practice the phonograms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Strawberry Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 Funnix did for my 8yo what Starfall and ETC couldn't. Now we are using Progressive Phonics, which is free online, but not computer based. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thundersweet Posted August 3, 2014 Author Share Posted August 3, 2014 Thanks y'all!! I'll take a look at these and see what I think. I'm not in any big hurry but it would be nice to have something he can do while I'm busy with my 4th grader. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyerin Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 Teach Your Monster to Read is free and really good. It moved too fast for my dyslexic kid, but he LOVED it until it got too hard. I think my kids who don't struggle with reading would have done well with it, though. I didn't try anything online with them, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thundersweet Posted August 3, 2014 Author Share Posted August 3, 2014 Crafty....this looks fantastic! Thank you!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethB Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 The only one that I think doesn't use too many sight words or encourage guessing in other ways is Read, Write, Type. Both my children could use it on their own after a few minutes training at age 4. http://www.talkingfingers.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Girlofhope Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 Reading eggs has been fantastic for us! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syllieann Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 Reading bear is really nice...and free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MotherOfBoys Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 We just tried that Teach Your Monster to Read link above. My 6 yr old played for the past two hours. He loves it. We started in level 1 because they suggested it. Level one was too easy but we all gathered to help choose what the monster should wear or eat. I learned that my son likes to see what happens when he gets one wrong and doesn't care. I HATE THAT! :cursing: But I did a good job of not saying anything because the little brother gets to hear the sounds again for his learning when this happens. We made it to level two now and land number 3 I think when dh came home and made them go to bed. My 4yr old was promised that he could create a monster tomorrow. THANK YOU! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Korrale Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 Reading Bear is free. The programs by Red apple are very comprehensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thundersweet Posted August 4, 2014 Author Share Posted August 4, 2014 Mother, I think it looks awesome! This just screams my child's name. lol I'm planning to try sometime soon with him. He already knows his letters and sounds so level I will likely be too easy but what kid doesn't love adorable monsters??? Thanks to the poster that recommended it. Sandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SierraNevada Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 I don't think anyone mentioned Starfall yet. It was free years ago and DS loved it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mswin15 Posted August 5, 2014 Share Posted August 5, 2014 I don't recommend ETC online at all. We have used Headsprout for 3 kids and it is great. I started my daughter on it when she was 4 because of a recommendation from a friend who is a reading specialist. This was before I started down the classical education path so I now I kind of cringe when my 5 year old son sits down at the computer to do it but it has worked so well for my other two that I want to use it for him too. I also really like the LOE phonics app. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SewingMom2many Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 Teach Your Monster to Read is free and really good. It moved too fast for my dyslexic kid, but he LOVED it until it got too hard. I think my kids who don't struggle with reading would have done well with it, though. I didn't try anything online with them, though. Thank you for this link! My kids have been playing on there every second I let them since I signed them up yesterday lol. My 4 yo keeps running over and telling me how to spell words :) Honestly, I haven't paid that much attention to how it's teaching but they are definitely getting something out of it which is great. Besides Teach Your Monster to Read, my kids have enjoyed Reading Eggs and Starfall (the paid version) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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