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Monday, June 23rd
Although it is available in the United States, Kiz Phonics primarily markets its learn to read program to China, Hong Kong, India, and Europe. The platform was developed by both native and non-native English-speaking education and digital experts and would be a fantastic learn to read program for children from bilingual homes or children who speak a language other than English. This learn to read program has a robust social media presence and a massive number of resources in its members area. Kiz Phonics not only provides lessons, workbooks, and activities for kids, but also offers numerous time-saving resources for teachers. The subscription plan is simple and a decent value, and Kiz Phonics even offers a refund if you aren't satisfied with your membership within the first 24 hours. Although the huge app library (with free "lite” versions available) is not available in North America, the rest of the features of this learn to read program are robust enough to earn Kiz Phonics a #2 ranking on our list.
Phonics in Motion takes an innovative and whole body/mind approach to teaching reading. Children retain knowledge by associating motions with word sounds, writing, and spelling. Reviews from teachers in public schools have nothing but effusive praise for the program, and students really love it. Phonics in Motion is science-backed, and there is a bit of training and learning teachers/parents need to do in order to properly execute the program. Parents will also need to devote time interacting with their child if they want to implement the program correctly. Phonics in Motion is a bit more expensive than most programs out there, and there is no refund policy and an unclear cancellation policy, although the website states you can cancel anytime. It is also not very clear whether or not the subscription is automatically renewed. Social media presence is pretty but not updated often. Phonics in Motion is a brilliant innovation in teaching children to read, but because of the cost in time and money, we can only give it an average rating for now.
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