My oldest son is not and never has been a "reluctant reader." He had no trouble learning to read and he has loved it from day one. Now, in 3rd grade, he is reading the Chronicles of Narnia series. He loves to visit the bookstore and browse the books and choose a new book to read and gain knowledge from. He reads everything from crazy nine-year old boy stories to historical novels and everything in between. Now, I don't think I am going to be as fortunate with my 2nd son. Zach is doing well and learning how to read but it is NOT a favorite activity and he does not see the purpose in learning to read. Zach would much rather play outside or with his little sister. So, since I do have one up and coming "reluctant reader" I was eager to try
The "solution" comes in 2 parts.
365 Kid Scoop Worksheets
A full year's supply of worksheets to get your kids reading. These 365 worksheets come in packets of 5-7 pages on one topic. There are so many topics there is bound to be something your child wants to read about. I chose not to give Paul a choice on which ones he did but instead I chose for him. He would have wanted all of them printed out. Some of the topics we completed were baseball (of course), germs, Valentine's Day, bubble gum, and frost. These worksheets include puzzles, games, word searches, and so much more. They also include activities that get your child looking in the newspaper for information.
12-full color issues of Kid Scoop News Online.
These are online and are full of fun games and activities that relate to the time of year. These newspapers are full color and very attractive. You can navigate through the pages online which makes it even more fun and less like work for most kids. The puzzles and games are not online so you must print out the newspaper in order to do those. There is also an option to listen to the articles which is great if you have an auditory learner. The voice is a bit robotic but my kids enjoyed it.
I must admit that my thoughts on this product are a bit mixed. Paul loved the worksheets and they kept him entertained for long car rides, waits in doctor's offices and as "fun" work in our workboxes. They were very educational and he learned alot from them. I loved having a central theme and I would just put one packet in his last workbox and the entire packet had to be completed by the end of the week. He worked at his own pace and really enjoyed it. So, he gives the product rave reviews and is looking forward to see what topic I put in there next week!
However, to me it does not neccesarily solve the"reluctant reader problem." There is not a great deal of reading to be done in the packets. There is some, but not enough to be considered real reading (atleast in my opinion). I want my kids to want to read novels, real literature, and not just magazines or newspapers. I do think there is a place for reading periodicals, and I think that the Reluctant Reader Solution is a great "periodical" for kids. I do know that some kids just aren't going to ever enjoy reading novels and "real" literature so this is a good way to get them reading something!
So, yes, Kid Scoop's Reluctant Reader Solution is a GREAT product and a really good deal at $97 for a whole year's worth of fun, engaging and educational material. This works great in workboxes for an "extra" activity or to go along with a full unit study on a particular topic. It would also be great for kids in public or private school to keep their skills sharp over the summer or during school breaks!
They also have many other products designed to get your kids reading. You can purchase individual downloads and you can see samples online. You can also sign up for their email newsletter and get "30 knock-your-socks-off fun activities over the next 30 days so your child or student never gets bored" . There are some great ideas in there to get you and your child engaged in reading and spending time together!
One more awesome thing about Kid Scoop is they offer a 365 day money back guarantee!! I don't think you will need it though. The activities are fun and engaging and with so many topics (almost 60) there is going to be something your kids will love!
The website does not mention an age range for this product but your child/student should be able to read independently. I would think 2nd grade would be the youngest I would start this.
So, head on over to Kid Scoop and take a look at the Reluctant Reader Solution as well as all the other great products they offer.
Don't forget to take a look at what other TOS Crew Members have to say here
Disclaimer: I received this product for free in exchange for my honest opinion of the product. There was no other compensation given for the review
1 comment:
Good review!
Your blog is included in this week's Blog Walk.
God bless you!
Post a Comment