Increased Reading Comprehension {TOS Crew Review}

My kids love to read.  Some take longer to learn to read than others, but they all have loved to read or be read to from the start.  One thing I’ve been working with them is on having increased reading comprehension.  I want them to understand what they’re reading and retain it instead of just reading.  Recently I was aided in this goal with two of my girls through the TOS Crew.  We got to review Reading Kingdom Online.  This is a program online from Reading Kingdom.  

The Reading Kingdom Online teaches six areas to children ages 4-10.  These areas they work on are sequencing, writing, meaning, grammar, sounds, and comprehension.  My girls could already read.  They already had sounds mastered.  They pretty much knew grammar.  It was increased reading comprehension that I really wanted them to work on.

We worked on this through using Reading Kingdom Online three days a week.  Each girl used it on separate days since we only have one computer that the kids can use.  Both girls are at the same academic level though one is 10 and one is 9.  They both read at a 2nd to lower 3rd grade level.  We’ve battled learning delays and slow progress over the years but I’ve always been encouraged that they have made some progress!  

I didn’t expect to see their reading comprehension increased by 200% in the time we’ve used this program.  That would have been unrealistic for my girls.  However, I am very pleasantly surprised with the amount of progress they have made.  

Because this program is online it can be geared towards your child. It’s interactive.  The first thing you’ll do is have your child take a placement test.  This will determine where they are academically and what areas they have weaknesses and strengths in.  My girls were placed just a smidge lower than I would have thought they were.  I think some of that is due to the whole being on a computer thing.  My girls are not good with computers.  Like I stated above we only have one computer that the kids can use and they don’t use it very often.  A touch screen device would inevitably be easier for them to use these programs on, but the Kindle we were gifted is for reading only.

 

 

After the placement test your child can begin to learn, grow, and play.  Really this is  learning program, but it acts like a game.  They’re going to think they’re playing at computer games really.  My kids think learning is fun, but can get frustrated at times when they can’t seem to grasp a concept.  This program doesn’t make them feel like they’re failing to grasp something and doesn’t seem like it’s repeating itself even if they ARE repeating the same concept several times.  I think it has worked very well for my girls and they have enjoyed using it.

If you look at the program it will tell you it’s for preschool through third grade with ESL and remedial available.  It also has a program available just for children on the autism spectrum.  I think this is a reading program that many can use and enjoy and it gets our approval!

Want to learn more about the Reading Kingdom Online program?  Or maybe the other program for kids on the autistic spectrum that Reading Kingdom Online has to offer?  Check out the Main TOS Crew Blog for the other Crew reviews.  You’ll get more of a feel for the program with all of our opinions!  You can also visit Reading Kingdom Online on facebook, twitter, and pinterest.