EGM Educational Systems, LLC has introduced an inexpensive supplemental program to help with this issue.
The READS Parent/Child Reading Comprehension System is designed for students in grades 1-4, though I could see it being used loosely with younger students, as well as with older students that just need a little boost in the comprehension department. The entire system retails for just $19.95 and includes a Parent’s Manual, Question Cards ring (with 30 questions), Rewards Chart with Stickers, Magic Finger and Reading Guide Strip, and a Speedy Speller all housed in a reusable vinyl storage pouch.
This modest-looking package really packs a PUNCH! |
The Magic Finger is cute because it helps act as a pointer during reading. My son enjoyed this moreso than my daughter as he is still learning to read and needs help with tracking. The Reading Guide Strip also worked to help keep him focused on what was being read. My daughter enjoyed these items, but really only used them to re-read the material to help answer some of the questions.
The Question Cards were great. I liked that they are extremely portable. Not only can I use them to help jog my kids’ memories after reading a book, but they can be taken along on road trips, to the doctor’s office waiting room, or anywhere else where they might be reading and waiting around. This was a fun way to supplement our regular reading and the kids weren’t feeling bogged down like they were having to “do school” for me.
I loved the questions. Some of the questions were things like, “What did this story make you wonder about?” and “Tell about something you read that was interesting.” These open-ended questions were great for starting conversations. At first, my 2nd grade daughter, Grace, would look at me like I was crazy when asking the questions. She didn’t have a lot of practice in reflective reading. Once we had used this system for several different books, I could really see a change in how she was READING. Instead of reading just to finish the book, she was devouring books and also focusing on the content and forming her own questions and answers without being prompted! When I would ask her a comprehension question, it was as though she had already been thinking about it and was much more able to answer those questions.
This system would also work well as writing prompts as book report starters or for journal entries. It would also be great for using as prompts for younger children to illustrate parts of the story or reflection exercises that they could draw or write about. I could see this system being used in more ways. I could see it being used orally/verbally, written out, drawn, or even acted out for children that need to be more kinesthetic to interpret the stories. The questions are open and applicable to absolutely any reading material, so it’s super flexible and user friendly for both the parents and the students!
I loved the Speedy Speller. It is loaded with over 1,000 words, but it also contains blanks so that students are able to add their own most common words to quickly reference them at a later time. This is a great feature for students such as my daughter. She gets so upset when she misspells something and drives me bonkers asking how to spell a variety of words. This handy guide was of great use for us, and she’s filled in several of her own words now.
The Rewards Chart was a good feature, and I would certainly use it with my Kindergarten-aged son, but I felt that it was a bit distracting for my 2nd grade daughter. I preferred to focus more on increasing our conversations about what she was reading rather than making it such a rewarding experience. That may sound cruel, but we actually have several different reward systems going on right now in our household, and I didn’t want to add one more! However, I could see doing it for my son because he needs the extra encouragement to get going with his reading. My daughter is already very much excited about independent reading and doesn’t require the extra boost. The reward chart is very colorful and exciting, though, and would be terrific for a struggling student that needed another reason to stay on task and give a good effort!
Overall, we have really enjoyed using this system. It is easily adaptable to any reading material, and could even be used for students in real-world experiences like a field trip or while looking at things like art or listening to music. It opens up conversation about whatever they are focusing on at the moment and helps you, as the parent, decide if they truly are getting what they are supposed to be focusing on. We will continue to use it, and I do recommend it to other families with elementary-school aged kids. The bonding time is great, and you get to experience books through your child’s eyes as they describe their thoughts, feelings, dreams, and questions to you. It’s a neat process and well worth the small cost of the program!
You certainly do not need to be a homeschooling family to appreciate this product. If you read with your kids, or if your children are reading and you just want to tap into their thoughts and imagination, then this program is for you! It’s terrific for afterschooling, during the summer time, or during any kind of down time that you might be having. Keep the kiddos on their toes and allow yourself to be amazed at what your kiddos come up with through their every day reading!