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Monday, July 14th
K5 Learning wants all kids to have a chance at education. While the company used to have an online program, it has shifted to offering supplemental worksheets to complement a learn to read program, not be one itself. There are thousands of worksheets in a well organized format for anyone to choose from - many are free - but to get an ad-free experience, parents must pay an annual subscription fee of $23.95 per year. In addition to worksheets, K5 Learning offers a very informative blog, free ebook and often offers free gifts or bonuses for subscribers. The paid version also offers free export to Google Classroom, a great shortcut for busy teachers. If for any reason you aren't satisfied with your experience, you can cancel within 7 days of signing up without being charged. While we can't recommend this as a true learn to read program, we can suggest it as a great way to help your kids retain their reading skills during holiday or summer breaks, or as a way for homeschool teachers to have a quick way to print practice worksheets to supplement their primary learn to read program.
Homer's learn to read program has all the bells and whistles - over a thousand lessons based on phonics, sight words and the alphabet, character-driven stories, personalized programs for each child, and so much more. The program has been developed by educators, and users are often positive when talking about the effectiveness of the program. However, technical glitches like crashing and freezing, slow to respond customer service, unclear auto-renewal processes, and the sometimes overwhelming amount of content make Homer a work in progress. There are other learn to read programs out there that offer a more stable software free of glitches - and with better customer service.
Choosing the best learn to read program is a daunting task because every child is unique and learns differently. But there are a few tried and true ways to narrow down your search to find a perfect program that can help a child learn to read.
While every child is unique, there are some tried and true methods to teach literacy that have stood the test of time and are pretty universal in application. These are teaching reading and literacy through a phonics emphasis (teaching letter sounds) or a sight words emphasis (teaching children to memorize common words in the English language).
Phonics tends to be easier and more helpful since children can come across an unfamiliar word and, with the help of phonics, sound it out. Sight words tend to be trickier because memorization is favored over learning. This can also be problematic in spelling, too. If children don't understand phonics, they have a more difficult time spelling unfamiliar words.
Learn to read programs can utilize these principles in tailored, customized ways that fit with the individual student, and that is where you can really decide which program is best for your child. Some learning programs focus on games while others make use of songs. Still others have a multisensory approach, which works well for children who have disabilities or problems focusing. Some programs are not just for reading but offer a comprehensive curriculum.
As you consider different learn to read programs, there are a few key aspects you'll find to be most important:
To help your child learn to read, Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated and ranked the top programs available today. We're confident that this information will make it simple and even fun to find a learn to read program that is perfect for your emerging reader!
Select any 2 Learn to Read Programs to compare them head to head