Reading Kingdom REVIEW

Little Bug absolutely LOVES books so any programs that can help her learn to read are right up our alley.  We were excited to have a chance to review Reading Kingdom.  We received a one-year subscription to the program.  It is an online reading program that uses a unique technique that incorporates 6 skills necessary for successful reading and writing (sequencing, motor skills, sounds, meaning, grammar, and comprehension).  It has an intuitive aspect to it that adjusts to your child's skill level.  You will need to have an internet connection to use the program.  It will work on any device that has an internet connection (i.e. tablet, desktop computer, etc.).  It works with Windows, Mac, iPad, Android, or Chromebooks.  If you use a tablet it will ask/remind you to keep it in portrait mode.

The books in the online program contain 5 levels with 6 books at each level for a total of 30 books by the end of the program.  The program is geared for PreK to 3rd grade (ages 4-10) and will teach them to read and write at a 3rd-grade level once completed (begin with Lexile level 80 and end with Lexile level 750).  There is a pretest that is highly suggested to not skip over.  It makes sure that your child is placed at an appropriate level. You always have control through your dashboard to adjust lessons by moving backward or forward as necessary.  I also just learned that I can change a setting to make sure she repeats a lesson she needs help on before she is allowed to move forward.  I just changed that so that we are not getting behind on her learned skills.  There are also tutorials to teach your child to become familiar with the keyboard and mouse.  These will be critical skills for this curriculum because your child will need to enter letters and type words.

Sample progress chart to show what is accomplished
and what needs some work or improvement

For us, it was easier for Little Bug to use the tablet because her hands are so small and she was having a lot of difficulties maneuvering the mouse.  I should probably buy one of those kid-friendly ones so she can practice her computer skills.  When using the tablet there is an onscreen keyboard to use so she is still learning some keyboarding skills as far as learning where letters and keys are.

Each lesson takes Little Bug about 15 minutes or so to complete.  She really does enjoy the lessons but sometimes she does still get a little frustrated.  She is very strong-willed and doesn't like when the lady "helps" her or instructs her what she needs to do.  We are currently using this every day so she completes 4-5 lessons per week as long as we don't miss a day.  In the above video, she seems to have great trouble spelling "walk."  When I asked her how to spell "walk" about an hour after her lesson she quickly spouted out the correct spelling.  I was pleased!  I think she struggles a little and we do need to go back and repeat a few lessons but I can see great progress in her.  And to be clear she is still in PreK and will not technically be Kindergarten age till this fall (but we have done a lot of Kindergarten work this past year).

One of the beginning lessons

Fun games to teach spelling and keyboarding

As your child advances through the lessons, the program adjusts as necessary so that your child does not become frustrated or overwhelmed with the material.  The reports show you areas where your child might need help or to go back and review a section if necessary. The program HIGHLY recommends that you use it at least 4 days per week.  They also do not recommend doing more than two sessions at a time or per day since it is counterproductive to the way the program works.
In addition to the online program, you can also access additional help from the Resources tab (on the website from your desktop computer).  Some of the resources available are:

• Links to educational kid activities
• Tutorials on how to use the program
• Links to suggested apps
• Sample Lessons
• Learning Tips (excellent section!)
• Worksheets you can download to print out

Sample printable worksheets available

We have really enjoyed this program and I must admit that when we started I was pretty skeptical.  I was pretty sure this was probably not the program for us and that perhaps she might be struggling a little.  As we progress I am more impressed and look forward to seeing what our end results will be.  The fact that she enjoys and looks forward to her lessons is a big plus! We recommend that you take a serious look at Reading Kingdom for your K-3 student.  If you have a struggling learner or a child on the autism spectrum they also have ASD Reading that might be just what you need!  They both have a FREE 30-day trial and then the option to sign up to pay monthly or yearly.

You can connect with Reading Kingdom on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, and INSTAGRAM.
Please take the time to check out what my fellow Crew members have to say about Reading Kingdom and ASD Reading.

New Chicken Playhouse

The girls (and boys) in the 4H pen are really enjoying their new playhouse!  I knew I needed to get more stuff in their run to shake things up a bit and deter boredom.  They also desperately needed more shade and shelter (all they have is under their tiny coop).

I wanted to hit some yard sales to find them a playhouse when I realized that Little Bug's house was pretty much falling apart.  We get wicked winds during storms around here and it has just seen better days.  Sam (my oldest) helped me disassemble, then reassemble the playhouse in the 4H pen.  The feathered dinos were not impressed at first!

By the next day, they were all hanging out and playing all over it.  I put a 2 x 6 board across the window ledges to use as a roost and they are just loving it.  They especially love to fly to the top of the house and just check everything out from a higher vantage point.  When it gets hotter in the middle of the day they hang out in and around it where it is cooler and shady.  So glad we did that!

What fun additions have you done with your chicken yard?

Weigl Publishers Interactive Media-Enhanced Books REVIEW

Little Bug can't get enough of books so when we had the chance to review some digital books from Weigl Publishers we, of course, said, "Yes!"  We received 3 PDF books with codes to access media-enhanced content that included: Glaciers from the series "Earth's Water" (published under their imprint Lightbox and intended for a grades 3-6 interest range), A Lion's World belonging to their “EyeDiscover" series (intended for a K-2 interest range), and There Once Was a Cowpoke Who Swallowed an Ant (a fiction title, intended for a K-2 interest range).  These titles are all available in hardback (the code and link to the digital content are included in each book).  We received the PDF files for purposes of review.
All books came with an individual code that you then enter into the given website to access the digital book with extra media-enhanced content.  The PDF files were simple to download and the code links were just as easy to access.  To access the digital interactive content you will need an internet connection.  You purchase the book with the special code and the code gives you full access to the books online digital content.  It is not a subscription.


Her absolute favorite was There Once Was a Cowpoke Who Swallowed an Ant because it, of course, reminded her of her other absolute favorite series with similar titles (The Little Old Lady ones)!  This title is an AV2 Fictional Readalong.  The silly cowpoke swallows all sorts of crazy things to try to take care of the fire ant he swallows in the beginning.  It ends with him getting rid of all the critters he swallows and collapsing in his bed all wore out.  It has a fun, rhyming pattern that young kids really like.  My little one always giggles at these silly type of stories.  The graphics are great and add to the fun. I really like that it can read the story to her to help her with her reading skills (the sentences are highlighted as the story is read).  She is only 5 and should be in PreK but I have been doing a lot of Kindergarten work with her.  

Sample of other titles and categories available at AV2 books.

There are currently over 1800 AV2 books that include books in science, social studies, language arts, visual arts and sports.  The media-enhanced books work with computers, laptops, tablets, and whiteboards.

Easy navigation

Her next favorite one of the 3 books was A Lion's World.  It has short sentences and is a great beginner book for her to be working on.  I absolutely LOVE that it has a summation at the end of the book that lists the sight words and content words used and where they can be found.

She really enjoys these books

Short, simple sentences.

Sight and Content words used and locations.

The 3rd book was Glaciers and it is geared for grades 3-6.  While it is way over Little Bug's head, she still enjoyed looking at the pictures and watching the videos.  I loved how much information was available and how deep you can go into researching this topic.  

The interactive links included videos, audio files, web links, slide shows, activities, transparencies, interactive maps, quizzes, and key words.  You can use all these tools to be as involved or uninvolved as a homeschool mom.  You can ask your older students to work on self-study or use all the resources to go over with your child while you lead and guide them through the activities.

We really liked A Lion's World, There Once Was a Cowpoke Who Swallowed an Ant, and Glaciers.  Team these books up with the digital, media-enhanced books online and you have a wonderful learning resource that is interactive and fun.  We definitely recommend these books and the many others available from Weigl Publishers.  Your learning opportunities seem endless with the vast amount of information available through their media-enhanced online tools.

Please be sure to check out the reviews on these books from my fellow Crew members to see what they have to say.

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