Hooked On Phonics

We have plenty on our schedule since we officially started homeschooling - just finished week 3!  But when I saw an ad on my Facebook Newsfeed about trying Hooked on Phonics for a free monthly trial I went ahead with it.

We have had the trial for a couple weeks and my son has only used it maybe 3 different days, but he does enjoys it.  He asked for it once by saying "can I do that new thing?"  Yay for my Mom ability to interpret vague requests.

Hooked on Phonics focuses a lot on using songs and repetition.  When introducing a new letter there will be a song about it that repeats the name of the letter and its sound over and over again.  The songs are catchy and fun.  There are fun activities to build words (moving the letter "f" to "an" to make "fan" for example.  It also has little mini books to read at the end of a lesson to "test" whether the lesson has been learned.  We also got a package in the mail to go along with the online tools.  The package included two mini books and a larger packet with lessons and star stickers to use once a lesson is mastered.

I do not plan to continue using it though for a couple of reasons.  One, we are already using Readingeggs and the purpose of Hooked on Phonics is the same.  I don't need 2 different programs (that I am paying for), especially in terms of the time we have.  I would have considered switching to Hooked on Phonics when my Readingeggs subscription lapsed, except for the next reason.  Hooked on Phonics it is less responsive.  It is constantly taking extra time to load and has frozen a number of times and needed a page refresh.  So while the lessons are fun and seem to work in teaching how to read, it just is not worth the extra hassle.

Comparing it to Readingeggs, I like Readingeggs better anyway.  We never have loading issues with Readingeggs.  It is fun and works.  I have seen my son learn to read using it.  When I say that, I mean I know he can recognize certain words and sound out certain letters.  He's far from completely reading on his own, but he is definitely learning and at a beginning level stage.  And he's only 4 so it's very exciting.

As for the printed material from Hooked on Phonics that was mailed to us, I have learned that Readingeggs now offers printed material to go along with its online program.  The cost for it is reasonable, but separate from the online subscription.  I will consider purchasing the printed material in the future.

Singing off...It's hard to wait
Gina

Anyone else ever tried both and which do you prefer, Readingeggs or Hooked on Phonics?