Frontline Phonics Review

I must admit that when I first heard about Frontline Phonics, I was skeptical. I had not heard much about it, so when my daughter’s pre-school teacher recommended it; I had to do a little bit of research first. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the system is based on 17 years of preschool teaching experience. The creators understand how to build a great reading foundation for younger readers. The program includes a variety of games (which I love), flash cards, worksheets, and “readers.” In total there are 43 Readers, Music CD with 34 songs, 2 lesson plans, and instructional video, 3 sets of flashcards, Preschool Activity Workbooks with worksheets, and 31 educational games.

First Impressions...

When I first purchased Hooked on Phonics for my son years ago, I remember him struggling to carry the package into the kitchen. I was a bit disappointed to find that my daughter had no trouble carrying the Frontline Phonics package to the table. There was not a lot to the kit, and I was worried that I had made a bad decision. As my daughter and I started pouring through the materials however, we quickly discovered that it looked really exciting. All I heard for about an hour was “look mommy!” as she showed me every little thing that she thought was neat.

We both soon discovered that the reason the program works is because it is simple! There is not a lot to it, so it was very easy for both of us to get acclimated to the system. We spent the afternoon looking over the materials and watching the instructional video. I felt confident that we could begin the next day. Within nine lessons- she was reading her very first book! She had a look of pride on her face as she read that book to her brother and I – it was priceless.

Features I liked...

The fact that she was able to read books so early on made me a believer for life. She wanted desperately to read “big kid” books like her brother, and I worried that she would become bored with the workbooks and tapes that came with other Phonics programs. Within nine lessons- she was reading her first book. She read that book every night for a week, and she read to anyone that came over to the house. She was so proud, which I think is the most important part of any reading program. She was once again excited to read! The book featured only the words and letters that she knew for her stage of the program, so she felt confident in her abilities.

Another great feature of the program is the excitement that it instills in your child. Anyone with a small child understands that it is difficult to keep them focused on one activity for very long. Frontline Phonics allows you to capture your child’s attention using the method that works best for them. Some children enjoy flash cards, singing, coloring, writing, or playing games. The lessons are only 15 minutes long, so your child will have no problem staying focused and grasping the material. My daughter loved the games included with the program. She would look forward to our time together and the opportunity to use her skills in a fun and exciting way.

Frontline Phonics was the second program that I tried with my daughter. The first was designed for more experienced readers and she had a really hard time paying attention. I was expecting the novelty to wear off and the boredom to set in once again, and was excited to find that it never did. She enjoyed the activities and would look forward to her next lesson. We really enjoyed our time together, which was really important to me. The lessons were tailored to her skill level, so she was never overwhelmed or frustrated like with other programs.

I found the parent’s instruction books an invaluable learning tool for the both of us. I would spend about 15 minutes every night going over the next day’s lessons. The books were great in giving me an overview of the topics to be covered, and giving me real life examples that I could use to help teach my daughter. There were a few lessons that I could not have completed without the instruction book. Many elements I took for granted, and needed a refresher course.

Lastly, my daughter loved the music CD. Other programs use tapes, which I found to be bit cumbersome and time consuming. My daughter did not want to wait while I fast forwarded or had to rewind. With a CD it was instant gratification! The CD features a huge selection of songs to choose from, so your child has a variety of choices. I found this helped facilitate learning a lot better. There is a different song for each letter of the alphabet. Playtime would often become learning time, as my daughter loved to dance to the tape. Her favorite was the song for the letter K. I can probably sing all the words right now; I heard it so many times.

Features I didn’t like...

To be fair, I should tell you about the things that I didn’t like about the program. I must warn you, I really found the Frontline Phonics program to be beneficial, so I didn’t come up with much.

The first problem involved my initial reaction to the product. For the amount of money that was spent, I expected a much bigger package. My daughter looked a little disappointed as well, especially after playing with her brothers Hooked on Phonics program. We quickly found that the package is exactly what we needed- and that less is more!

The entire kit is streamlined. Remember, the system is designed for beginning readers looking to build a reading foundation. All you need is bricks and mortar- there is no need for the windows and doors yet! The CD’s took up less packaging room, and there was no need for complicated workbooks or lesson plans. The program was exactly what we needed- I can’t stress that enough.

The second problem I found with the program was the price. The system is fairly expensive, but I strongly believe that it worth the money. Reading is involved in everything that you child will ever do, and they need a strong foundation to stand on. My husband and I both love to read and began at an early age. I am a firm believer that my love of reading has helped me develop a life long love of learning. And I want the same for my children. My son began school this past year, and he is already reading above his grade level. I am confident my daughter will experience similar success in school.

Summary...

In conclusion, Frontline Phonics is the best option for early readers. The program is designed to be used on children that are just beginning to have an interest in reading and letters. The course material is exciting and engaging and you will be amazed at how much your children enjoy the program. The program is a series of baby steps that have your child reading their first book in no time!

Having used both Frontline Phonics and Hooked on Phonics, I believe that for younger children just beginning to read- Frontline Phonics is the best choice. The program is geared to give your child the tools necessary to be a successful reader, and they do it in a way that is exciting for both parent and child. The first time that your child reads you a book, you will know that it is well worth it. As they get older, I would then invest in another program geared to more advanced readers.

"Frontline Phonics is the best option
for early readers"