Alpha Phonics Reading Program A Primer for Beginning Readers 1997 & new 1998 supplements By Samuel L. Blumenfeld Cost: $29.95 for book $249.00 for whole kit Published by: Literacy Unlimited, Inc. 31724 Railroad Canyon Rd. Canyon Lake, CA 95287 Phone: (909)-244-0485 Fax: (909)-244-1965 Toll-free 1-888-922-3000 Online Catalog at: www.how-to-tutor.com
***NEWS - They have returned to printing the single copy book once again because of overwhelming demand from parents and homeschoolers!
Many of you, like me, have heard of or used the Alpha Phonics book to teach our child how to read. To provide an all around kit that encompassed everything needed noted Alpha Phonics by Blumenfeld has come out with a complete kit. In this kit you will find an introduction video tape, a beginning cassette tape, the original Alpha Phonics book, a parent/teacher book, 6 double sided cassettes, 7 sets of flashcards (including jump rings), beginners writing tablet, a letter flip book, and 11 first reader books. All in all it is quite a bit of a kit and very comparable to the well known 'Hooked on Phonics' program.
I have to tell you that I prefer the Blumenfeld method of teaching phonics and reading. The letters are large print to assist with the transition to staring at the printed letter. The way the program flows is natural to the whole reading progress and easily picked up on by most new readers. If you feel comfortable with your skills, have a decent set of phonics flashcards (alphabet w/blends) I would suggest you only needing the main Alpha Phonics book. If you want all the supplemental goodies, and would feel more comfortable with a completely laid out program, then get the whole kit. I know that the cost for the entire kit is a bit high and I hope to see the price come down a bit. Even still, with the higher price, I would recommend the Alpha Phonics method over other reading programs. I also realize that some of the profits go to assist with reading programs in various places.
Alpha Phonics can be used with new readers, remedial readers, adults, and those new to English. Because of the variety in application, this program can be used with just about anyone who is learning to read or lacking in good phonics skills. I have spoken with the marketing director for this program and she has told me some wonderful things that their company is doing. In LA County they are placing these kits with teens that are in trouble. Finding that most of these children's problems in school come from a poor ability to read, let alone stay caught up in a class. Once they learn proper phonics and their reading levels come up, they build a new respect for themselves and begin to see success in their schoolwork. I give hats off to Literacy Unlimited for all their efforts to assist kids in trouble.
What it all boils down to is this - can you teach your child to read with this program? The answer most undoubtedly is this - YES! Whether you use the mainstream book, which has been used by so many homeschoolers for 15 years, or prefer the whole program, this is a wonderful reading program. We tried ABeka's reading program which was a front-end method…ba, be, bi, bo, and bu. Then, we tried the Bob Jones reading program, which is what I call a rear end method…Ben, den, hen, men, and pen. Both ways are good but my daughter needed a combination approach. She also needed the larger print to focus her eyes like Alpha Phonics provides. Please check this book out at your local library or take a look at it when the next homeschool convention comes to your town.