Hooked On Phonics vs Homer for September 2023

Item: Hooked On Phonics vs Homer
Rating: 5
Author: Top Consumer Reviews

Friday, September 22nd

2023 Learn to Read Program Reviews

Hooked On Phonics

$12.99 per month plus $2.99 shipping
100% guarantee
Uses an app, books and workbooks
Bonus subjects to expand on reading
Four step approach to teaching

Top Consumer Reviews Best-In-Class Blue Ribbon Award

Hooked on Phonics has a strong focus on teaching children to read, with additional programs for spelling and math. They offer the first month trial for just $1 and you can cancel at any time. Your membership includes access to the app, workbooks to guide your child, 2 or 3 books to reinforce what was taught, questions to discuss about the book to assist with reading comprehension, stickers to use as a reward and suggestions on extension work. Due to its proven success and being an effective program to teach children to read, we have awarded Hooked on Phonics with our first place ranking.

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Homer

$9.99 per month or $119.88 per year
74% reading score increase
Bonus app with Sesame Street characters

Homer is a learn to read website with a paid membership for up to four children. The company is difficult to get in contact with should a problem arise, which can be frustrating. Homer earns a less than satisfactory rating due to it not teaching children how to read: it is more of a game that can assist in reinforcing reading skills.

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The 12 Best Learn to Read Programs

Hooked On Phonics

Reading Eggs

Time 4 Learning

Scholar Within

K5 Learning

Reading Raven

Kiz Phonics

ABC Mouse

Homer

Duolingo

Phonics In Motion

Reading Kingdom

What's the Best Program to Help a Child Learn to Read?

The most common tools used to teach literacy to children are phonics and sight words. Phonics tends to be an easier skill for children as they are able to sound out the letters to create a word. Sight words can be trickier because they are words that just need memorized as they do not follow the rules when it comes to reading the English language.

Learn to read programs can be helpful for children as they tend to be game-based. Children love to play games and they do not necessarily realize they are learning. When looking at a learn to read program, you can expect it to offer some type of fun activity for children to do. Some programs go above and beyond this with other school subjects being covered or worksheets to print out.

Continue reading below

What are the best Learn to Read Programs

Learn to Read Program FAQ

What ages are reading programs intended for?

All ages can use these programs. Programs and courses have material suitable for all ages to use. Whether it is Pre-K, Elementary, middle school, high school levels, or adults there are programs that can help anyone learn and improve their reading skills.

Are the courses fast paced or self- paced?

Most learn to read programs are self-paced and allow the customer to learn the material at their own time. On average each course can take about 20 minutes to a couple of hours depending on the length of the material given. For most effective learning, it is recommended to plan out the courses ahead of time, and to review course material, when available.

How much does it cost?

Depending on the company and type of course, the cost can range anywhere from $49.99 to $199.99. Monthly plans can range from $6.99 to $30 per month. Having additional students on one course plan, with some companies, can reduce the cost per month.

What levels of learning are there?

Depending on the company you consider, there are typically multiple levels of learning from beginner to expert. Most companies organize difficulty with the age of the student. Courses are typically divided into the following structured categories: Pre-K, Elementary, middle school, or high school levels. Keep in mind, several companies only go up to 8th grade, rather than offering levels for high-school students. Be sure to read the details before selecting a plan.

Is the course reading material provided?

Yes, depending on the type of plan you choose. Be sure to read the details of any course you intend to purchase.

Is there a customer satisfaction guarantee?

Of course, companies offer several different learn to read programs and are committed to customer satisfaction. Some companies even offer a free 2-week trial (no commitment), 30 days from the date of delivery to request a full refund, 14-day money-back guarantee, and more.

How do children learn to read?

Kids learn to read when they can identify individual or combinations of letters. Next, they connect those letters to sounds (talking and listening). Having a good program that has systematic teaching about phonics is key for a child to being able to learn how to read. Phonics is a method of teaching a person to read by correlating sounds with individual or combinations of letters.

What normal age do kids learn to read?

On average, most children begin to read around the age of 6 or 7 years old. Some children even learn as early as 4 years of age. As a bit of advice, keep in mind that even if your child has a head start in learning how to read, his or her peers may eventually catch up - and that's ok.

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Also, spelling can be an important part of learning to read. This helps children find patterns in words and how to read multiple that follow the same rule. An example is if you can spell light and know that the "gh" is silent, then you can read might, tight, and so on.

As you consider different learn to read programs, there are a few key aspects you'll find to be most important:

Price. How much does the learn to read program cost? Does it offer a good value for the money?
Age range. Is the program suitable for the age of the child(ren) you want to help with their reading progress?
Teaching method. Does it follow a phonics-based or sight word-based approach? Is there another way it teaches?
Reviews. What are parents and educators saying about this program? Does it have a positive or negative reputation?
Spelling program. Does it include a program to teach spelling to your child(ren)?
Full program or supplemental. Does the program offer a full reading curriculum (like a homeschool curriculum)? Is it simply to be used with other programs as a reinforcement?

To help your child learn to read, TopConsumerReviews.com has evaluated and ranked the top programs available today. We're confident that this information will make it easy and even fun!