My 4th grade son really struggles with reading. I think it's because the school never taught phonics during his first 3 years of school. They used the whole word approach for a few years and have since learned they have about 3 grades of kids that just can't read worth a darn. The ones that are learning to read using phonics are excelling.

I am going to purchase Hooked on Phonics for him to try this summer. Any suggestions for which one to get? Any other parents that used HOP, I'd love to hear from you as well.

By Yjja123 on Monday, May 5, 2008 - 10:53 am:

Sams club has it.
Otherwise I would check out ebay.

By Tklinreston on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 02:39 pm:

I bought Hooked on Phonics ("HOP) for my boys at our local Costco when they were 6 and 3. My younger ds far exceeds in reading ability than my older and I am convinced a large part of that is due to the teaching of phonics. Ok... I know that 3 years old seems very young for me to buy the program but here's why. My younger ds was crazy about the alphabet even as a one year old and learned the entire alphabet and each of the sounds before he was 2 (via Starfall by the way). He would sit on my lap while I would do Starfall with my older ds and he just picked it up. All day long he would look at books and play with alphabet toys. So when I bought HOP for older ds, I decided to pick one up for Jordan for future use. Well.. he didn't want to wait. He finished Preschool and Kindergarten last year and has just completed 1st Grade. He'll be going to kindergarten this fall and reads older ds' books, who is in 2nd Grade. He can read really difficult words by sounding them out. He can read signs outside, print ad and words on tv commercial. The other day he saw a sign while driving and says "Celebrate Spring". Every time I am amazed!! Starfall, Hooked on Phonics and alot of reading with me has been miraculous for ds. He has just soared. On the other hand, Josh started HOP later and though it's helped alot I see the difference in the two. Older ds also never showed much interest in reading and so it's a constant struggle to get him to read AND be interested. So it's definitely an inherent interest that you either have or don't have and the teaching tools...

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 08:44 pm:

I knew how to read, in kindergarten. My mom says I taught myself. I'm sure I didn't have Hooked on Phonics, just a mom who read to me!

Although, I knew how to read so early, I don't really remember my mom reading to me. It just seems like I've always known how to read.