Thank you to the team from Learn With Homer for sponsoring this post with a complimentary subscription for the purpose of facilitating this review.
When we started our homeschooling journey about this time last year, I was not thinking ahead to future years…or our younger children. I have to admit, we just sort of jumped in where we were in order to give our oldest the learning environment she needed.
So imagine the shock of starting year #2 and realizing I not only had a 2nd grader, but now a kindergartener. I was a bit spoiled with just one child last year that already knew how to read and is mostly an independent learner. Suddenly I had to step back and think “how do I teach a child how to read?!” It was overwhelming!
We settled on an excellent curriculum that Brett is really thriving with and I’m seeing his letter/sound recognition grow in leaps and bounds. But we’re still adjusting to schooling two. And we moved and have been out of routine. Somedays it’s a struggle to get school done with Karsyn and I feel like Brett falls through the cracks. Oh, and you know, those other three children who still need to be entertained and want to feel involved.
We’ve done our run of different apps and trying to find something that walked the fine line of educational and entertaining. Very few things fit the bill. It was always apps that assumed the kids already knew the basics of reading (sucked for our twins), or were receptive drills (useless for all of them because rote memorization only gets you so far). Until Homer.
Our kids love learning with Homer. (He’s a pigeon, you know, named after the poet.) And honestly, I do, too. For once, we’ve found an app where the voices and songs don’t make you want to run to find headphones to stick on little heads. Admit it, you’ve been there.
From a learning perspective, I LOVE that they use the same techniques as our main reading curriculum. I don’t have to worry about conflicting methods, but I also don’t have to be there for every second of the lessons. And I know our preschoolers will already be used to the method when the time comes for them next year.
I’m still floored when I find Brett has suddenly learned a new word or how quickly he implements the sounds and methods he’s learning from Homer into the world around him. A trip to the grocery store even, shows me just how quickly he’s picking up words and context
Learn with Homer offers an exceptional array of content for children – more than 1,000 lessons and activities
including stories, games, history, science, art and music. Which means that on a rough day, I don’t mind it being used as an extension of our main program. The ideas are still being reinforced and learning is still happening.
including stories, games, history, science, art and music. Which means that on a rough day, I don’t mind it being used as an extension of our main program. The ideas are still being reinforced and learning is still happening.
And, oh, that whole trying to keep track of five kids and get school done for two of them? Learn with Homer is the first digital product that teaches children how to
read without the need for an adult to assist them, making it easier for families with multiple kids. This allows me to set the younger kids up with the iPad so they can do “school” while I focus on a science or history lesson with Karsyn. Which is just amazing because I’d almost forgotten what it was like to make it through a lesson without getting up six times to distract them.
As an added bonus, parents can track their children’s progress. I can actually listen to an audio recording of the twins answering questions or making up stories as prompted and
see their drawings made in the app. It’s a few quick clicks to see what letters/sounds they are working on, and even print coloring pages or certificates for each lesson. And it’s all sorted out by each child (up to four kids).
see their drawings made in the app. It’s a few quick clicks to see what letters/sounds they are working on, and even print coloring pages or certificates for each lesson. And it’s all sorted out by each child (up to four kids).
Karsyn is a tad too advanced for the phonics lessons, even though the app is geared for up to 7 year olds. But it’s not odd to find her curled up with one of the younger kids listening to the folk songs or reading the stories.
Want to learn more about Homer?
What is the Homer Method™?
The Homer Method™ guides children through the 4 proven steps to reading success. We begin by introducing a letter and the sound it represents, one at a time. As soon as possible, we have children blend those sounds into words, and then segment whole words into composite sounds. This linking of decoding (reading) and encoding (spelling) helps children understand the reversible nature of our alphabetic system.
As we introduce each letter, the range of words a child can read and spell increases. But The Homer Method™ teaches more than just phonics. We know that for children to be enthusiastic readers they need exposure to great literature and to dynamic nonfiction stories. Our rich library integrates with lessons, so that as children learn to read, they also read to learn. We infuse the lessons and stories with vocabulary in context and general knowledge topics, introduce classic literary tropes and genres, and encourage critical thinking with response questions and opportunities for kids to express what they’ve learned. For more information on The Homer Method™, check out The Research Behind Homer.
How can my kids Learn with Homer?
Learn with Homer, a groundbreaking early learning program developed by top literacy experts and proven to produce results, is currently available for children ages 3-7 on both the web and iPad.
Originally launched in 2013, Learn with Homer has engaged more than 1.5 million children worldwide to date. This fall, it is undergoing a complete reboot, with entirely new navigation and the introduction of a new interactive themed world, to help families more easily find the vast amount of learning material.
Learn with Homer is available for free 30-day trial from learnwithhomer.com or on the App Store on iPad.
Unlimited access to the entire curriculum is available for $7.95 per month or $79.95 for a full year’s membership. Which covers up to four kids!
And I have an exclusive discount code for my readers, which will give you 50% off for one year of Learn With Homer.
Connect with Learn with Homer
Again, thanks to the team from Learn With Homer for sponsoring this post with a complimentary subscription for the purpose of facilitating this review. Regardless of compensation received, opinions shared on this blog are always my own.
Hi! Thanks for this helpful post about Homer. We just started using the program and enjoy it. You mention in the article that you use a main reading curriculum that Homer works well with and I am wondering if you would share the name of the curriculum. Thank you!
Hi Trudy,
We were using ABeCeDarian at the time. We still swear by that program for beginning readers! It came with our Moving Beyond the Page set, but can be purchased separately.