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Sunday, April 20th
Time 4 Learning is a learn to read program and a whole homeschool curriculum. It is expensive, especially if you are really only looking for a reading program. No matter what you choose, whether an after school supplement or a full comprehensive program, the price is the same. Time 4 Learning offers great help in navigating homeschool requirements and making sure parents meet them. However, we did not appreciate having to complete personal information to get a price. We also did not like the inclusion of crass humor that kids would likely imitate. We also found it unacceptable to have a lack of quality control in the editing department, as spelling and grammatical errors have been found in the reading program. We think this program may be a solution if you really need help with the paperwork of homeschooling, or if you lack confidence in your ability to meet scope and sequence requirements. But, be warned - you are not guaranteed a fixed price for more than a month at a time, and you may face a hard-to-navigate parent dashboard and kids may experience glitches in the program. For all these reasons, we can only feel comfortable giving Time 4 Learning a low rating.
When Duolingo's ABC learn to read program first launched in 2020, it was a pretty basic, bare bones app short on features and somewhat repetitive. Parents would get frustrated at the lack of features and complain. The company listened to user feedback and transformed this basic little app into a simple yet powerful learn to read program. With offline play capability, consistent rewards for play, and educator-backed games and other activities, as well as it being a free app with absolutely zero ads or in-app purchases, Duolingo's ABC learn to read program has impressed us. We wish they had a desktop version, but we can't help but be pleased with the vast improvements they've made in the app in a short amount of time.
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