Since I had a huge bag of Zoo Phonics stuff just sitting on the counter waiting for me to take the time to look through (I had previously just ignored it when it arrived in the mail, since 100 Easy Lessons was going so well), I decided to just take a peek.
It's hokey. It's childish. It's silly. It's borderline ridiculous. Which, of course, explains why Eliot took to it like a fish to water. We have been using it for a week, and he knows all of the sounds, all of the animals, and all of the signals that go with them.
Zoo Phonics, according to the website, is the only phonics system that integrates a kinesthetic element to the phonics learning system. Each animal-letter hybrid has an alliterative name, reinforcing the letter's phonic value, and a body movement. So, when I show Eliot the Olive Octopus card, he finds his matching card in his deck, waves his arms like an octopus, and says the short o sound.
Best of all, he thinks this is all gerat fun, and asks to play 2-4 times a day, a "game" that now takes about 10 mionutes, since he now has all of the alphabet cards. That's 40 minutes of phonics in one day. And he thinks it's just a fantastic animal game.
We stuck the included poster on the front door out of desperation (couldn't get my scotch tape to stick to the walls) and now we practice as we are coming in and going out.
I know this program is for young kids, because even Ivy can do about a half-dozen of the signals and sounds already.
The result? His 100 Easy Lessons are truly back to being easy lessons. I actually really like the combination of these two programs, and I introduced Eliot to the zoo phonics alphabet cards in the order they were presented in 100 Easy Lessons, and not in the alphabetic order recommended by Zoo Phonics.
What I like-
Very appropriate for pre-schoolers
Involves the child's auditory, visual, and physical skills, a must for a wiggly little boy.
What I dislike
It can be expensive (they do offer a basic package for about $40 though)
I would have liked laminated cards or more durable cardstock
Not a lot of direction on where to go after your kid has mastered the basics. Luckily, I know a pre-school teacher who is a pro Zoo phonics teacher. :-)
Nigel Nightowl himself
5 comments:
I bet H wishes you lived next to her...Heck I wish you lived next to me!
I used this with my oldest who struggled a bit with reading. I think coordinating sounds and pictures and movements helped solidify it in his brain. I actually just found the poster I see hanging up behind your son. It made me smile.
I can't wait to move closer to home!
Today we spent a chunk of the day learning Zoo phonics Go Fish, so we're adding a card game to the mix as well. lol. It's getting crazy over here. It's like a school or something... only fun.
I actually LOVE the 100 easy lessons. I started the book with my first son when he was 3 and am doing it with my 2nd (he's 4, I would have started earlier but we had a baby and I can't teach and take care of a baby) I am actually considering doing it with my 21mo, not that I think she will be reading like the boys but that should help with language development (though she is already talking on a 3yo level)
Hi Olya,
100 Easy lessons really is AMAZING in its simplicity and effectiveness. It's great! I think of myself as using 100 Easy Lessons as the primary reading "class" in our house (We have a dedicated 15 minute time, right after the little one goes for her nap, when we do this together), and zoo phonics is the fun reinforcer (We do it multiple times a day, whenever my son wants to "play" zoo phonics)
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