Friday, June 22, 2012

Reading Eggs Review

Description: Description: LogoI try to help my kids keep their brains in tip-top shape during the summer months. So far I've been slacking a little, but they have started their summer workbooks, and Lucy has been working hard on an Online Learn to Read program called Reading Eggs.

If you've had a kindergartener in the past decade or so, you are well aware that kindergarten is a whole new ball game these days. By the end of the year, Lucy had some pretty good basic reading skills under her belt. The last thing I want is for her to lose that over the summer. What I want is for her reading ability to increase while she's on hiatus. For this reason, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review the Reading Eggs program.

Reading Eggs is designed for children 3-7 years of age. A 12-month subscription costs $75, which works out to only $1.40 per week. There is also a 6-month subscription available. If you're unsure whether Reading Eggs is right for your child, you can sign up for a FREE 14-day trial, and no credit card is required. 

Here's a brief rundown of how Reading Eggs works once you've registered your child:

  1. Sign in with your username and password.
  2. On the next page you will see your child's name and current lesson. Click Start Reading, right under the lesson number.
  3. Click Enter on the left side, under Reading Eggs.
  4. Click My Lessons.
  5. At this point, you will be taken to whichever map your child is currently on, where you can choose the next lesson for your child. It is set up like a colorful board game with 10 lessons on each map. When each lesson is complete a new egg hatches, revealing an animal or character. At the end of each map, there is a short quiz and your child earns a "diploma" before moving onto the next map.
  6. Earn eggs along the way for use in other activities on the website!
Besides the maps with the reading lessons, Reading Eggs offers other fun activities too. On the left side of the page you will see a menu with other options, for example the Playroom,  Reggie's Shop (where your child can "spend" accumulated eggs), the Arcade (where your child can "spend" her eggs on playing games), and Driving Tests, where your child can take reading tests. Some options are locked until a certain number of lessons have been completed - another incentive for your child to keep working!

The best thing about Reading Eggs, hands down, is that Lucy loves it! It's fun. There are no arguments when I tell her it's time for her to do her lessons. In fact, I would like her to do one lesson a day - but she usually goes beyond that and does two or three. Furthermore, it is very user friendly. I don't have to sit with her and go through each question with her. With her limited computer knowledge, Lucy is able to get through her lessons with very little help from me. I sign her in and open the first lesson for her, and she takes off from there. This is nice because she wants to be independent, and Reading Eggs helps her feel that she is.

Lucy is currently on map 5, out of 12. So far she is really motivated and enjoying herself quite a bit! Making learning fun is so important, especially for kids just starting their academic careers. I am very happy with Reading Eggs, and I highly recommend it! I've noticed that Lucy seems much more confident in her reading since she started the program. If you're looking for something to help your child continue learning during the summer months, or complement school lessons during the academic year, check out Reading Eggs!

I received a trial membership to Reading Eggs. All opinions are my own.

No comments: