Hooked on Phonics Learn to Read Classroom Edition app review: teach the basics

Introduction

Hooked on Phonics Learn to Read Classroom Edition for iPhone and iPad is a great tool for teaching the connection between phonics and reading. I had my six year old daughter testing the app, and she loved reading along with the stories. The app consists of 12 units divided into letter sounds, and accompanied by three readers. She had fun, and learned quickly!

The best iPhone learning to read apps for kids

Back to Basics to Learn

Hooked on Phonics Learn to Read Classroom Edition for iPhone and iPad takes learning back to basics for new readers. This program was designed for classroom teachers to supplement their reading programs, and use interactive technology to engage their students. It is regularly $49.99, however, I scored it for free on teacher appreciation day. My tutoring students in Grades 1 through 3 have really enjoyed it, and appreciated having the technology to supplement my other programs.

The best iPad apps for learning how to read

Why go back to basics and not just jump in? Well, without the basics to build on, kids don’t know where to start! If you can think back to picking up your first book, you could barely recognize any of the letters, let alone know what sounds each made! It is very overwhelming to take this approach, and kids often shut down, refuse to try, and it gets no one nowhere, fast.

Hooked on Phonics is an old program that has been updated many times through the years. I bet if I looked around my mom’s house, I could find my box set that she got me in Grade 1! It is a tried and true method, and if you are working with older kids, I would recommend also looking at Mr Thorne Does Phonics apps as well.

 

Audio, Visual, and Verbal Learning

Hooked on Phonics Learn to Read Classroom Edition for iPhone and iPad utilizes audial, visual, and verbal learning through the singing of the phonics songs “A says ah,” through the reading of the readers, and all the while your student is watching the animations, the words highlight, and encouraged to repeat the words out loud.

The best iPhone apps for learning how to read-2021

Why is this important? Because each student learns in a different way, and it has been proven through many different studies that children who utilize multiple ways of learning at a time are more successful in learning more quickly, and also in remembering for the long term what they have learned.

 

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Uses Audio, Visual, and Verbal learning to help your child succeed
• Many sounds and sound combinations to master ensuring that your student not only sounds out the words, but recognizes sound combinations too
• Tried and true program that was founded in 1987

Cons

• Pricey, but there is a free version that allows you to only buy the units you choose to purchase or wait for teacher appreciation day and hope for another free ticket

 

Final Thoughts

Hooked on Phonics Learn to Read Classroom Edition for iPhone and iPad is the full version of the free supplement put out for students. It is pricey at $49.99, however, you can get it for free throughout the year. It is a great program that has been tried and proven many times, and I would recommend it for educators, tutors, and parents with children struggling to learn to read.