I've known the value of Reading Eggs as a technology-based reading program since Lil' Sis first used it a few years ago, so of course I am pleased to write this review about it. While I will share about Reading Eggs with you, the majority of our recent time has been spent on the next level, called Reading Eggspress, so my review will focus on that. Nonetheless, if you have a young child that is still building foundational reading skills, I encourage you to follow the banner-link at the bottom of this post to read reviews from other homeschool parents who have tried the program as well, many of whom have younger children than I and have been more focused on Reading Eggs itself.
You can also take advantage of a generous offer from the company and get a free 4 week trial to try the program for yourself! (This offer expires on November 30, 2017.) About Reading Eggs
Reading Eggs is a comprehensive, secular, research-based reading program for kids between the ages of two through thirteen. It is well-established and has an aim of making reading lessons and practice fun. It can be accessed online, via a computer, or on most iPad or Android devices (check for compatibility specifics and requirements). The title "Reading Eggs" seems to be used both as a reference to the company and in naming a specific level designed for ages 3-7. However, they also offer Reading Eggs Junior for ages 2-4 and Reading Eggspress for ages 7-13. They even offer a math program, called MathSeeds, for ages 3-9!
Within these levels are a plethora of lessons, games, activities, animations, and e-books to read. Five aspects are emphasized during this reading program that the company believes are necessary for success: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and fluency.
There is a placement test available or a child can start from the beginning. Once they begin, the child starts on a "map" with something skin to stepping stones going across the screen and their avatar character standing on the map. They are guided through the program one lesson and one step at a time, adding new skills to their repertoire, reviewing, and building on what they learn. I'm not sure about the Junior level, but in the levels Lil' Sis used, the student can earn awards and rewards (golden eggs) which can be redeemed for games and special items. At the Reading Eggspress level, they also collect trophies and digital "trading cards" with various themes.
Our Experience
A few weeks ago, we received a six-month subscription to all of the Reading Eggs levels, including Reading Eggspress and MathSeeds. Lil' Sis (now seven years old and in second grade) was so excited to get started (again) that she practically begged me to let her begin! We had previously utilized this program for her and she had been missing it since we took a break for a bit.
When I first saw Reading Eggs (years ago), I thought it was a pretty basic (yet good), simple, and straightforward app (which is how we first used it), but the more we've used it, the more depth and breadth I have come to notice. I wish I had spent some time to acquaint myself with the program's features from the beginning. I realize now that even though we've almost always appreciated Reading Eggs, my daughter could have benefited even more. A few weeks ago, when we started using Reading Eggspress, I did take the time to explore features more fully. I thought things were good before. Now, I'm even more impressed! So speaking from my experience, I would recommend that anyone getting a new trial or subscription go to the bonus materials and look over the Parent User Guide and take full advantage of what Reading Eggs has to offer! I particularly liked the homeschool guides (or "homeschool program of work") because it provides an "at a glance" way to see everything that is covered by the program and breaks it down into weeks. I also like how they have a printable worksheet/activity sheet option because some kids really do better with paper and pencil. Lil' Sis loves the online format, but it's nice to mix things up and use a worksheet now and then too. Lil' Sis enjoys learning and she's always excited to use the computer or iPad apps as a part of her education. She was progressing at a steady pace with phonics and reading skills throughout kindergarten and then first grade , but it was not flowing or easy at first. Then we found that the most effective tool to boost her ability, increase her confidence, and improve her fluency was Reading Eggs! No kidding, this kid learned more about reading, more quickly, than any other method we've tried.
Since we'd used Reading Eggs before but hadn't done so in awhile, I had Lil' Sis take the placement test. Though she answered every question correctly, it still placed her at the beginning of the last "map" (or step/stage) of the Reading Eggs program that is designed for kids ages 3-7, so she began there. Perhaps it is meant to give her a bit of review, but she found it very easy now. The only small issue we encountered here was that the program referred to e-books that it assumed she'd already read and she was expected to do activities that somewhat relied on knowledge of those books (asking about characters or plots in the story). Since she didn't do the earlier steps on the map anytime recently, she hadn't read those books. It was a minor annoyance for her, but she used educated guesses and was not penalized if she got those answers wrong.
Once my daughter started Reading Eggspress, she was thrilled. She adores the system of lessons and earning eggs and digital trading cards. She looks forward to using her earnings at the in-program mall wherein she can "purchase" digital items and decor for her in-program apartment. All of these aspects provide motivation and excitement that keep her going back for more. She's happy to read books and complete lessons in order to advance, see her progress, and get more rewards!
She literally asks to work on reading every day, multiple times a day, and will stay on the program for twice as long as expected just because she's having fun. At first, I was uncertain if the rewards and games would be too much of a distraction, but it seems that it is well balanced for my daughter and I notice she is doing a lot of reading in the process. She seems challenged and is enjoying the process. She also dabbles in MathSeeds a bit, but her level is above that which is covered by the program. Still, it's a good review and since it has a similar format as Reading Eggs, she doesn't complain. Final Thoughts
With everything that Reading Eggs offers, I would definitely recommend it to others who are looking for a complete online reading program or a very strong supplement.
Of course, nothing is one-size fits all when it comes to education and what works for one child may not work for another (as I often see even among my two school-age kids). But it's worth considering and, especially with a free trial, it's worth giving it a try to see how it goes.
Don't forget that there are lots more reviews from other Homeschool Review Crew families, many of whom had children in the younger/earlier levels of Reading Eggs. Just click on the banner-link below and peruse them to get all the juicy details of others' opinions. And as mentioned at the top of this post, you can also take advantage of a generous offer from the company and get a free 4 week trial to try the program for yourself! (This offer expires on November 30, 2017.)
If you'd like to learn more about Reading Eggs, you can visit their website or find them on social media at Facebook, Instagram (handle): readingeggs, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube!
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorI'm a homeschooling mom of three, enjoying our time in Hawaii and hoping to share some of that experience with you, including ideas, reviews, resources, and information. Archives
November 2017
Categories
All
|