Funnix Beginning Reading Program

Through the end of January, Funnix is offering their Beginning Reading program and Funnix 2 program for FREE! Since I'm all for anything that's free, I decided to give it a shot, since it's about a $249 purchase, typically.

We haven't started the program yet, but I figure since Hannah can recognize all of her letters and knows at least one sound most of them make, I thought it wouldn't necessarily hurt to give it a whirl. 

The course was put together by Siegfried Engelmann. "Zig" received the Council of Scientific Society Presidents' 2002 Award of Achievement in Education Research, and has authored books including Give Your Child A Superior Mind and Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons. You can find out more about Zig here. Looks like he's done some pretty impressive stuff, so I was inclined to try this program out. 

Everything I've heard is that this isn't a program to park your child in front of, then let them do it while you vacuum the living room - which is fine with me, because 1) I hate vacuuming, and 2) I wanted something that I could do with my daughter. We haven't gotten to start it yet, like I said above, but I have installed the program on my computer, and I need to find some time to print out all the papers that go with the program. There are 120 sheets that go with the first lessons, and 100 that go with the second, all of which need to be printed in order to use it with the program. There is also a teachers guide that goes with it, which I will read, but probably won't print out, because who can afford to print that much stuff??

The PDF workbooks are included so you are getting almost the complete Funnix system, which normally costs $249 plus shipping. There are no special codes required and it appears they are offering the Funnix system for free during the entire month of January. Also, the software won't expire, so once you have it, you have it forever.

The downloads take about an hour each on a cable internet connection, and there are three of them, so don't plan to download this when you want to start working with your child. This will take some preparation. I'll keep everyone posted of our progress (or not, if there isn't any), and I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on the Funnix program too. Have you tried it? What do you think of it? Did it work for your child(ren)?

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored review. The Funnix software if free to everyone until January 31 (per the Funnix site). I am sharing this as a helpful resource to others who want to teach their child to read.