Rocket Phonics (from Critical Thinking Co.)

[moki4]

I just received the new Critical Thinking Co. catalog. I always LOVE perusing....so much fun stuff!
They are introducing a new phonics based reading program for preK-K called "Rocket Phonics". Of course, the reviews are glowing.
I am wondering if any of you have tried this? Any friends tried this? I really need an objective critique.
My 4 yr old is very ready to put sounds together and READ. I have FLL and like it....I use this with my 6 yr old.
Thanks for the input!
Moki4:)

[Jan in SC]

We used it last year and I wasn't very impressed with it. I have owned many phonics programs and that is not one of my favorites.

I seem to remember that it had various words, or parts of words, in different colors. Also, the bingo game was very repetitve in a boring way. My son lasted about three weeks before we jumped ship.

[AuntPol]

We have it and used it. We had used 100ez with my dd but she hit the wall and didn't like it. She is very visual so Rocket Phonics worked well for her (my Son who is Audio did fine on 100 ez and Leap Frog Letter Factory)

Rocket Phonics is fun -starts off with games like bingo and go fish with phonics cards.

The first few things they learn to read are jokes and some simon says directions that are funny (and we really overdid them to make it fun).

The stories are good -Aesop Fables and Fairy Tales and intertwined with facts and jokes and things to make it interesting.

It has built in testing to keep track of reading level (goes up to 5th grade if I remember correctly)

The author and his wife were always on hand to help me out and answer questions for me. They were friendly and very quick to respond to emails.

Cons
** If you are Southern like me, it will be harder to teach because of how we pronounce words down here lol. To me sink, ring, etc have a long e sound and not a short i sound. Hank to me has a long a sound and it used as a short a sound in the book. Anyhow, I think that the choice of words they used in teaching a new sound could have been better for that reason.

**Some kids may not like the visual cues so that part would depend on the child's learning style. (my son didn't care for it)

[mom26]

I sold it after a few weeks...I am using Ordinary Parents Guide with 2 of my kiddos and LOVE it.I also am using 100 EZ lessons with my other son...I found Rocket Phonics a bit too cumbersome to use. I guess with teaching 3 to read simultaneously, the easier the better.;)
Hope you find a good fit for your child :)
Blessings,kathi

[moki4]

I really want something easy. Not cumbersom with lots of bells and whistles. I will look for more samples.
Thanks for the input, Moki4