Review for READS: A Great Resource for Reading Comprehension

Sometimes we can get bogged down with all the things we have to do with our children each day, that reading comprehension becomes an after thought.  Here is a great program that makes checking comprehension fun and easy.

 EGM Educational System, LLC has a great way to help with your child's reading comprehension. It is called  READS Parent/Child Reading Comprehension System.  READS stands for Really Easy and Dynamic Strategies. This program is ideal for children at a 1st grade - 4th grade reading level. It works great for your reluctant reader, they can choose any book they would like to read and use some fun question cards to check their comprehension. This system helps to improve your child's reading ability and helps them become independent readers. You will get the whole system for $19.95.

The READS program comes with:
The Parent's Manual which describes how to use READS and explains each part of the system.  It is very parent friendly and easy to understand and easy to use with your child.

The 30 Question Cards are to help your child focus on their reading.  It will not only help improve their comprehension skills, but their critical thinking skills.  Each card has a question for your child to think about as they do their reading.

The Speedy Speller is a great resource for all readers and writers.  It is a spelling handbook that has space to add their own words.  It already has 1400 words in it written in  ABC order.  So anytime a child asks how to spell a word they can use this book and write down the work if it isn't already listed.  In the back there are also abbreviations, numbers, symbols, punctuation and more.

There is also a Rewards chart with stickers to help encourage your reader.  You can find helpful ideas in the Parent's Manual for ways to reward students.

Two of our favorite things that come with the package are the Magic Finger and the Reading Guide Strip. The Magic Finger is a big, green finger with a long, red nail for the reader to work on their tracking.  The Reading Guide Strip helps highlight the line they are reading while hiding the line above and below.  These are great and fun tools for young readers.

All of these things come in a reusable pouch.

How we used READS:
My fourth grader used it for required reading and fun reading. He would pick out his question before he starts.  That way he could think about the question while he read.  Once he finishes with his assigned reading we would discuss the question and his answer. When he would give me short answers we would discuss what the question card was looking for and he could rethink his answer. He usually came up with some really well thought out answers.  He did one question that asked him to describe the scene and he chose to sit and draw a picture of it.  My first grader who usually sits and listens while my fourth grader reads would do his best to answer the question too.  When we did shared reading we would read one chapter at a time using a different question.  Once we finished a book we would work on "Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why?," that would help him recap the book as a whole.

The Speedy Speller has been a great resource for him as well, whether its looking up a word or writing a new one down, he loved it. The extra pages that cover capitalization rules, punctuation rules, have been very helpful too.  When he asks how to spell a word I can just say, "Get your Speedy Speller." He would find it and either find the word or add it to the book.

What I think of READS:
I love it!!!  It is quick and easy to use.  He never complains about having to use it or having to read for that matter.  Since he gets to choose his own questions, he takes some ownership of the activity.  My first grader uses the Reading Guide Strip.  It really helps him keep his place with his own reading.  As for the Magic Finger, he doesn't care for that.  He says it kind of freaks him out, but the concept is great.  I will continue to use this with both of my boys.  They really like it and their reading comprehension is getting better.

Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this product through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.