any input on the Phonics Game?

[MelindaKiah]

A local store has it on for a very, very good price (store closing) but I'd like to know if anyone has any input, good or bad, on this. My daughter is having a hard time with reading.

Thanks

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

My son hated it. We later found out at age 6 that he was severely dyslexic. It seems like a good program for teaching phonemic awareness. Our game cost around $150.00.

I feel that children need to use phonics but sometimes it just comes down to memorization. There are a lot of words in the English language that "don't play fair." You just have to know them. For example the word "OF" is pronounced "UV".

For children with reading difficulties it is the repetition that makes the difference.

I feel for ya.

Lori

 

[Karel]

First, how old is your daughter and is she getting extra help through school?

While I don't think it hurts to try almost anything when learning to read, I think it's important to find the cause of the problem. If she's young, just reading books together every night could be enough. She might be sight word reader as opposed to being a phonics kid. If she's older, there's a lot of good basic skills programs, like reading recovery (I think that's what it's called) that can help her.

If she really has some learning problem, I don't think a phonics game is going to help.

OTH, it never hurts to practice sounds. You have to decide how much use you'll get out of it for the money. Will you sit down everyday and work on it or will you let her go through it herself?

 

[MelindaKiah]

We do read books every night. Several, in fact. We work with her constantly. She gets help in school as well. She is 10 and it just isn't happening for her for some reason. We live in such a rural, tiny community that there are so few resources available. I'd love to have her tested for dyslexia, etc but there isn't anywhere around here that can help us. It's frustrating for her and for us because we are unable to help her.

 

[FreshTressa]

We have it. I got it at a garage sale. The kids didn't like it that much, but it was okay.

I do really like a book called reading rescue 123. You might want to get a copy from your library and check it out.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

Melinda,

Your public school can test your daughter for learning disabilities. You can talk to the school counselor and do a parent referral. Your daughter doesn't have to go to that public school to be tested. It is your right as a tax payer. They will do a psychological and an achievement test. This will tell you if she has a learning disability. There is an excellent book by Dr. Mel Levine on learning disabilities. It is called All Kinds of Minds. He also has a web site by the same name.

Lori

 

[Cindy B]

Another great method is Wilson. I assist in a classroom where all the students have reading disabilities of some sort.

We have been using the Wilson reading system, and its been great.. I have seen improvement since the beginning of the year with these students using Wilson.

We have also been using Spellography, and they like that as well.

You may be able to get books at the library regarding Wilson or Spellography. You could also get materials at a teacher's store, or educational store.. or even Ebay.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

Cindy B.,

My son uses the Wilson Language Program at his school. He goes to a private school for children with learning differences. The teachers really like Wilson. It is the first year that they have used this program.

Lori

 

[MelindaKiah]

Thanks guys!!

I have talked to the school, but here in Nova Scotia, the school doesn't have the resources to do the testing. I have to try to find someone who does it and pay for it myself. Which I will gladly do, if I can find someone. *sigh*

I'll see if I can find the Wilson system mentioned on here.

Thanks again.

Melinda

 

[Cindy B]

Originally posted by pirateofthecarolinas
Cindy B.,

My son uses the Wilson Language Program at his school. He goes to a private school for children with learning differences. The teachers really like Wilson. It is the first year that they have used this program.

Lori

I like Wilson.. its complicated to teach at first, but once you get the hang of it.. its good.

I feel that the students have gotten a great grasp of phonics with Wilson... and using Wilson looks good on my resume!

Its Barbara A. Wilson if that helps.

 

[janette]

My youngest is dyslexic, the public schools here do the testing but she was tested first by a private school.

Without testing it will be hard to find a method that works. Here is a website with things to look for, I found this one easy to read and helpful. Bright Solutions for Dyslexia There are other learning differences that can be much the same as dyslexia and even within dyslexia each child is a little different.

Does the school have any suggestions for testing? The Scottish Rite organization provides free testing in some areas of the US but I'm not sure they are active in other countries.

 

[jvas]

Always wondered why they spell Phonics with a "ph" and not an "f"

 

[Cindy B]

Originally posted by jvas
Always wondered why they spell Phonics with a "ph" and not an "f"

You know my sutdents said the same thing...

Basically, how it was explained to me (I'm the aide and a teaching student) ... is that the vowel in the word determines the spelling.

Ph= phonics... note the long o sound
f= fonics .. note that if you used the f sound it would be a short o sound, it would sound like (funics)


I may not be explaining it correctly.. but here it is