Catchy Songs and Animated Animals Help Kids Learn How to Read – You Could WIN the DVDs
Through catchy songs and easy-to-remember sayings, kids strengthen their reading skills with Rock ‘N Learn Phonics. The songs are toe-tapping and the computer-generated avatars help explain various vocabulary skills such as blending sounds and the long and short vowels. At the end of this post, you can register to win Volume 1 & 2 DVDs.
A lot of ground is covered in the two volumes – 70 minutes for Volume 1 and 78 minutes for Volume 2 – so definitely plan on starting and stopping or watching several times. A tight camera shot of a mouth (known as the “on-screen mouth”) shows viewers the exact pronunciation of every sound or blend, and the videos also present many example sentences, read after a delay to encourage independent practice, using the principles being taught at the time.
The video cover suggests the programs are for ages 6 and up (so roughly first grade onward) and they assume your child is a fairly strong reader in order to read the sentences. You will want to watch with your kids if they are still getting comfortable reading aloud so you can pause for them to read.
If you know someone who is learning English, this would be a great video because of the “on-screen mouth” showing proper pronunciation and the principles they teach.
Rock ‘N Learn is education with a beat—and the ‘rock’ behind the ‘learn’ is meant for much more than foot-tapping. Rock and rap music are both very rhythmic; the steady beat helps encourage memorization. The music and video of Rock ‘N Learn work together to involve all the senses: auditory, visual and even kinesthetic (feeling the beat and moving to rhythm). It is meant to be for self-instruction for kids so busy parents and teachers know their teaching is being reinforced.
Some of the highlights of Volume 1 include:
- Short Vowel Sounds
- Sound It Out
- Double Consonants
- Ending Blends
- Silent E
Highlights of Volume 2 are:
- Long Vowel Sounds – segments for each a, e, i, o, u
- Diphthongs
- Schwa Sound
- Rule Breakers (a.k.a. exceptions)
- Silent Consonants
You can also visit www.free-phonics-worksheets.com for fantastic printable resources that go along with the Phonics program, according to the DVD case.
Besides phonics, Rock ‘N Learn (www.rocknlearn.com) offers many other DVD options, including math, foreign language, test-taking skills, science and social studies and much more. A few examples of the Math programs include: word problems, telling time, money & making change and beginning fractions and decimals. The foreign languages they offer include Spanish and French. The Science and Social Studies category offers Human Body, Spiders & Insects, Presidents & U.S. Government and States & Capitals Rap, to name a few.
Over 20 years ago, two brothers Richard and Brad Caudle started Rock ‘N Learn and still run the business with their wives. The company has over 50 products, with the Phonics program being their newest addition.
Brad Caudle writes all the custom original songs and the script is written to make the material fun and compelling. Rock ‘N Learn’s team tries to avoid any educational ‘fads’ or ‘current trends’ and instead focuses on mainstream material that offers broad application to supplement any home or school curriculum.
Rock ‘N Learn then tests its programs in-classroom, and secures critiques from teachers that result in fine-tuning the material. Finally, Brad’s compositions are professionally recorded, animation is produced and actors and singers perform the final script. In all, each DVD program takes about six months to produce.
Major organizations support Rock ‘N Learn such as iParenting, Learning Magazine Teacher’s Choice, Parents’ Choice, Dr. Toy, The National Parenting Center’s Seal of Approval, National Parenting Publication Awards, The Early Childhood News Directors’ Choice Awards, Coalition for Quality Children’s Media Kids First, Moms Best Award and Family Review Center Award, among many others.
Until September 30th, if you enter below , you are eligible to win Phonics Volume 1 and 2 if you are chosen the sole winner. Please sign up now to enter to win!