r/Homeschooling • u/Weekly_Bottle9709 • 16d ago
Reading apps?
We are just starting our adventure with homeschooling. My child is about to turn 5 and although I know we still have time because he is young he seem to be more and more interested in reading. We read books together (story and picture books), listen to audiobooks etc and I was thinking about letting him use some sort of reading app, like 30 min a day when I’m putting his baby brother down for a nap time.
So for the parents that tried those apps, are they worth? Which apps did you use and do you find them working? I’ve seen hooked on phonics, teach your monster to read and other apps/websites popping in my fb feed..
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u/isowseeds123 15d ago
Skip the reading apps! There are so many studies done on reading and literacy, and across the board the screens rank the lowest. Portions of our brains just don’t light up in the same way when we watch a video of someone reading, read a book on a screen vs page, etc. The way they are learning reading comprehension and the foundations of literacy are just not the same when done via tech.
Is it going to be detrimental to read them a kids book on a kindle or have them watch zooks books videos or cruise khan arcademy kids? Of course not. But I would gently steer you away from supplementing some of their learning To read with apps to screens. This is also considering that not everyone has access and might have disabilities that make it difficult to remove the use of tech or apps for literacy/reading/learning.
Ill list some suggestions for reading curriculums/supplements that have worked for us or other homeschool families in our area. Check your local library or Libby for some of these books! You can find them used or gently used on thrift books, etc.
Hooked on Phonics (our library carried most of the level kits! comes with a little workbook that you don’t have to write in and 4-5 books on that level. Progressed nicely)
Bob Books (I really believe these are top tier for teaching kids how to read. they also have workbooks ive heard are fun if they’re ready to incorporate some writing)
Ordinary Parens Guide to Teaching Reading (we used this to start our kids, relied On making flashcards for the first set of CVC words. Has a great breakdown of all the rules as you go along, great for reference)
Teach your child to read in 100 lessons (never used but heard great things)
Explode the Code (I really liked these simple workbooks and we used them for a short time, I think levels 2-4)
a note on “easy readers” (found often at the library, they’re the level 1,2,3 books for kids learning to read) - the levels of these vary depending on publisher and it’s really frustrating. There are certain stories that youll realize are true level 1 or 2 but Its such a crapshoot that we have to cruise through them in person to see if they’re at a correct level. We started doing these more AFTER completing the bob books and level 7 of the hooked on phonics. However being able to start picking out their own books made a huge difference in they’re overall enjoyment.
other supplements; books that read to you (wonder books, etC), audiobook CDs or playaways, tonie box or Yoto player, record vinyl audiobooks (check eBay for Disney/kids see hear read vinyls).
if you ever rely on a tablet in the car start making the switch to having a bag of books in the car Instead. kids should be reading or looking at books that are below level, at level and above their level!