Guys, these workbooks are pretty cool!
They are full-blown color-FULL (which I LOVE!). The animation is not cheesy, and very easy on the eyes. Once I started paging through it, I didn't want to put it down! Every page is captivating and looks like so much fun I had to fight the urge to pull out some crayons and a pencil and do the book work myself (No Cassie! This is for the kids...). The binding is extremely durable and will definitely uphold an entire year of instruction... even instruction of an extremely hyperactive little guy!
Elias enjoyed being tasked to his Reading Skills for First Grade book just as much as playing the games and doing the lesson on the computer. And that's saying a LOT for a modern technologically inclined 5-year-old boy!
This book covers lessons 61-120 which are on maps 7-12 if you're familiar with how the Reading Eggs website goes. If not, please read my previous review here. This website and program is functional for ages 2-13! That's pretty amazing to me and fantastic for a mom of a large family. In fact, during my review I opened a trial run for my oldest girl just to glance at the instruction she would receive at her level and I was impressed!
Anyways... the book...
Each lesson has four pages that cover the five pillars of reading success: phonological and phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. At the conclusion of each Map (every 10 lessons), there is a review, a Map Quiz, a Map certificate, and a Fun Spot. When the book is completed there is also a First Grade Check and End of the Year Certificate.
Since the work book encourages the student to use ReadingEggs.com to reinforce what is learned, we did! My son struggled doing the online lessons himself for the first few weeks. I thought it was something I could sit him down in front of and just let him play, however, I learned over the last couple weeks that he really needed me to sit down and instruct him on how to maneuver through the activities. He had trouble sounding out some of the bigger words, wouldn't listen to the directions fully, or couldn't quite operate the touchpad mouse on our laptop well enough and would just quit the lesson switching to the other things the site has to offer.
After the first couple weeks, I was amazed at how much his ability to follow directions, read sight words and comprehend what he was reading exploded!
More on that later...
I was having Elias do the workbook before completing the lesson online. I realized later that the book recommends the child starting with the Reading Egg Map lesson online prior to beginning the workbook. We did this two weeks and I noticed he comprehended the concepts being taught much quicker with this approach.
Typically I am partial to "old-fashioned" ways of learning via text books and such, but I am amazed at how much my son's reading ability skyrocketed over the last few weeks! The most obvious change being his ability to recognize words (sight words) without needing to sound them out. He had exclusively received phonic training up until this point and apparently was lacking in this area! I had no idea!
Can You Use the Workbook Apart From the Online Subscription?
In short, yes... BUT you're really missing out on SO MUCH!
The online aspect makes reading feel like a treat. The maps remind me of playing Mario on Nintendo. Advancing to the next level and the next level proceeding to conquering the boss at the end of the map allowing admission onto the next map was so thrilling and addicting as a child! As I watch my son strive to move to the next level, I can't believe how much he is learning and growing! His face is just priceless as he fills in the little button at the bottom of that lesson's page...
After having spent the last few weeks in this Reading Program that's unlike anything I've ever dealt with, I am a little torn in the deepest part of my heart. I like my "old-fashioned" way of instructing, but this program seems to work so successfully for my boy! It was the use of 200 Essential Reading Skills for First Grade in correlation with the Reading Eggs online program that really changed my mind.
Like nothing I've seen before.
Recommend?
Absolutely! I recommend this very much! If I could rate this, it would get a 4.5 out of 5. It's incredible and I can't think of much more that would need improvement.
As far as for a large family, I can't afford to put all of my children on this program. Don't get me wrong, the price is NOT outrageous for what this program and site has to offer! It's truly amazing how successful my son has been with it. I think the price is spot on and fair, just adds up to be a lot for a family of 6 children.
I know a few of my readers and friends were interested in this review and were looking to try Reading Eggs with their kids! I have TWO offers exclusively for my readers:
(1) 4 Weeks FREE TRAIL of ReadingEggs.com. Simply click this link: https://readingeggs.com/
(2) 10% off your purchase of the workbook! Use promo code WK10JAT98LC
I really believe that a few committed weeks of using this program will GUARANTEE RESULTS! I've seen it twice now using this program. Even more so with this workbook. My husband and I are discussing sticking with Reading Eggs for the whole year with our Kindergartener since we've seen so much growth in him!
Let me know in the comments below how it's worked for you and your family!
Also read some reviews from my crew members by clicking on the banner below!
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