article: ready to read round-up continued

Alphabet Recognition
Every young child will need to get acquainted with the unique shapes and names of each letter of the alphabet. Of course, the ability to recognize and name letters is an important precursor to reading. One of the best titles to help children make this acquaintance is found in the value-added bundle, JumpStart Preschool-1st Grade Learning Playground. This bundle includes three software titles, one of which (JumpStart ABCs) focuses on alphabet recognition skills. To buy this title, click here: JumpStart Preschool-1st Grade Learning Playground

Alphabet Express is a solid program that focuses on alphabet recognition and beginning sounds, with coloring pages featuring the letters of the alphabet, dot-to-dot activities for alphabet sequencing practice, and animations that reinforce letters.

Many all-purpose preschool and Kindergarten titles contain activities that help children reinforce basic alphabet skills within a broader curricular setting, such as JumpStart Advanced Kindergarten, Reader Rabbit Kindergarten, and Disney's Learning Preschool. 

Letter Sounds and Small Words
One of the huge benefits of a multimedia approach to learning letter sounds is the repeated combination of sight and sound to reinforce learning.

A standout early phonics program is JumpStart Phonics. It does a fabulous job of introducing and reinforcing letter sounds in playful ways, with an option for kids to interact with the program by speaking into their microphone. Children earn badges as they play both exploration and directed activities at Camp Read-Alot. Speech recognition is a sometimes frustrating and imperfect technology, but the program can be played with the microphone set to "off." This lively program contains a variety of skill-building games, with a favorite activity that has children building three-letter words errorlessly — errorlessly because once a beginning letter has been selected, the program offers limited choices for the middle and ending letters, thereby guaranteeing success. Very clever! To buy this CD-ROM, click here: Jumpstart Phonics 2003

Reading Blaster Ages 4-6 (previously Reading Blaster Kindergarten) is a good choice for children who enjoy easy to master arcade-style games. Kids build short words, work with alphabetic sequencing, and more.

Words All Around Us
An important step in the learn to read process involves the awareness that words are all around us and that they have relevance and power. A child who is ready to read may be just like Mat the Mouse in Reader Rabbit Learn To Read With Phonics! Preschool-Kindergarten — aware that words are everywhere — on signs, in books, even in toy catalogues and birthday cards. Parents can help children make sense of the world of words by pointing to words in books as they read, writing words their child dictates to them, and providing simple and repetitive early readers.

A well-designed software title, Blue's Reading Time Activities, is helpful for this stage. It does not specifically train children to recognize letters and letter sounds. Rather, it exposes children to a large number of words, successfully driving home the message that words are everywhere, and they are fun!

Ready to Read
Some signs of reading readiness include the ability to hear, and distinguish between, individual letter sounds, as well as a strong awareness of text — understanding that the text of a story is always the same, and that, for example, "cat" reads only one way. Children showing an interest in text and stringing together sounds to create words will benefit from software titles that help take them a step beyond the basics.

Parents turning to software for early reading training with consistent results should look for a title that uses a systematic approach — one that incorporates a variety of exercises and one that features lessons that build upon previous ones. These programs will be most effective when parents are willing to support and reinforce learning, and help pace their child's learning.

Learn-to-Read Software Systems
In our search for an outstanding learn-to-read software system, we looked for a balanced approach, not only in method (combining whole language and phonics) and variety (work with letters and words in context as well as in isolation), but also in presentation. Children use a number of different strategies to tackle reading new words — whether they use pictures cues, or sound out and blend letters together to form words. This is why too much emphasis on any one approach can be less effective.

Repetition is an essential element in any early reading system, but an effective software program will mix things up with activities that vary enough to maintain interest but that don't change so much as to overwhelm budding readers. A sensory assault will distract — and subtract — from the learning process through over-stimulation. On the other end of the spectrum, a dreary or static format/presentation will only be successful at equating learning to read with a chore. Too many rewards can be distracting, and too little will not do the trick when persuading a child to learn is in order. An excessive reward system can numb a child and take away from the joy, sending the message that learning to read is not a reward in and of itself. So, it is refreshing to find software titles that reward children with storybooks instead of virtual prizes. Here, as in life, learning to read is the reward!

Finding just the right balance is difficult, but Reader Rabbit Learn to Read with Phonics Preschool-Kindergarten comes the closest.

Reader Rabbit's Learn to Read with Phonics Preschool-Kindergarten incorporates both letter sounds and sight words. It provides meaningful context to newly learned words through its carefully sequenced storybooks. Repetition is provided, without too much of it to bore children. Still, children may need a little extra nudge to keep with the program, and parents will definitely need to intervene to help pace their child's learning. It is possible, for example, for a child to determinedly work toward the goal of finishing the game relying on a certain amount of guesswork, without taking the time to absorb new words.

With this special program, parents can easily follow their child's progress. The program is laid out in a very logical fashion that conveys a sense of organization and, at the same time, manageability. JumpStart Phonics is lively but both parents and children may not come away from it with a sense of tangible progress, organized. While some other titles offer speech recognition (note that RR allows children to record and play back their voices, but does not recognize speech), this technology can be tricky and imperfect — you might find yourself cringing when you observe your child correctly reading a word and the program does not recognize this accomplishment. Therefore, speech recognition shouldn't be a major deciding factor when choosing a reading program.

Reader Rabbit's Learn to Read with Phonics Preschool-Kindergarten quite handily has an option to play the program in a free-play mode. This is especially helpful if parents observe their child is either not ready for, or not responding well to, the directed approach. (To buy, click here: Reader Rabbit Learn To Read With Phonics! Preschool-Kindergarten)

Let's Go Read is another respectable choice. Well thought out in both approach and presentation, this program's educational content is exhaustive. This title becomes tiresome, however, for children who know most of their alphabet and letter sounds. This title is now available along with other quality reading programs in: Achieve! Phonics, Reading & Writing Grades 1-3.

For children particularly enamored of Clifford the Big Red Dog, the learn-to-read program, Clifford Reading, may be a good choice. It is systematic, yet still manages to feel open-ended. Notable is an activity in which kids make their own words (or at least try to do so). Books are earned as kids progress through the activities, and some of the decodable words in these stories sound themselves out. Though well put together, it is not quite as comprehensive a program as Reader Rabbit. Emphasis is on phonics, and although some sight words are included, children may not work with these consistently or often enough to really absorb them.

Ideal for children just starting to build simple words is Clifford Phonics. This title is fun and educational at the same time. A gentle pace and solid free-play activities, as well as a likable theme, are this program's strengths. Although appropriate for any emergent reader, this game is especially useful for children who are reluctant to go further simply because it is pressure-free and encouraging.

With any learn-to-read software system, pacing a child is crucial. Be sure to keep sessions brief. Few children will be able to pace themselves and back up their learning without help from their parents, and getting involved will be an important key to success with these systems.

Strategies to Extend Learning Beyond the Computer
Learning to read requires a certain amount of perseverance as well as time to take in and reflect upon newly learned skills, such as letter sounds and sight words. Reinforcement away from the computer is thus essential. Allow time for your child to digest new lessons and let her see and use these new skills in the context of the "real world" for maximum effectiveness and absorption. Families can find activities that will be best for them. In our household, one of the most powerful tools for reading and writing is our whiteboard easel. Our children are drawn to the easel throughout the day, especially since it is in a prominent place — the living room (a family room will do well too)! We used the Reader Rabbit Learn to Read with Phonics Preschool-Kindergarten program with my youngest child, and every time she learned a set of new sight words, we created our own personalized messages and word games on the whiteboard. Because we chose the words she had just learned, and personalized them into meaningful — and oftentimes silly — messages, this activity has been one of the most powerful methods for reinforcing her software reading lessons. Other ideas include:

• Setting aside time family reading time, where children select books to read to the family. Young readers will be proud to share their early successes with the written word.
• Designating a small basket as a child's special book bin. She can gradually fill her basket with books she is practicing to read or has mastered.
• Creating homemade flashcards featuring the new words a child is learning in his software program, and playing simple games with these.
• Helping your child create homemade storybooks that incorporate new words, and your child's illustrations.

Some favorite early readers include Bob Books and Brand New Readers — two series that offer sharply different approaches to early reading! Both succeed at building confidence in fledgling readers, in different ways. 

Other Notable Early Reading Systems
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons offers tips, strategies and a progressive learn-to-read system together in one thick book.

The Reading Lesson is a system that can be purchased in book-only format, or book and CD-ROM set. This is a sensible program that progresses gradually and emphasizes phonics strategies.

Every child responds to reading challenges differently. You may need to experiment both with software programs and early readers before arriving at the system that is most effective and rewarding for your child. Too many products and systems, however, will be overwhelming, so it's a good idea to consider your child's character and select products accordingly. Software won't completely replace traditional methods of teaching children to read, but it can be an exciting and rewarding tool when used in conjunction with these approaches.