READS Parent/Child Reading Comprehension System–TOS Review

Ever wonder if there was a curriculum out there to help with COMPREHENSION?  How can you measure whether or not your child is understanding what they are reading? 

EGM Educational Systems, LLC has a great program called READS Parent/Child Reading Comprehension System that can help in just that!

This product includes:

• READS Parent’s Manual – Easy to follow step by step instructions for parents
• Question Cards and ring – Includes30 question cards
• Rewards Chart & Stickers – includes suggestions for appropriate rewards when reading goals are met
• Magic Finger and Reading Guide Strip – Makes keeping your place as you read fun!
• Speedy Speller – A small book with words listed in ABC order to use as a quick reference when writing

• Reusable Storage Pouch

The cost of this product is $19.95 and is designed for children grades 1-4.

How we used the product and what we think:

I put the question cards in his reading workbox with a variety of books for him to choose from to read.  He picked a question card, showed me his card, then went to read for a minimum of 15 minutes (sometimes he read longer).  Then he would come back and we would discuss the question in regards to what he just read. 

Some examples of the question cards he picked are:

Why did you pick this book to read?
Tell me something you read that was interesting.
Describe your favorite character.
Tell or draw about what you pictured in your mind while you were reading.

The Speedy Speller also came in handy for writing assignments, he did not have to ask me how to spell every word (like he usually does, which also discourages him from writing).  He could look up the words he did not know how to spell very easily!

My son did not enjoy using the other items, they were more of a distraction to him; though they could be great tools. The finger and reading guide strip are great for helping your reader keep track of where they are reading.

The parent guide is a very useful resource as well.  It gives explanations for the questions included in the kit, just in case you or your child are not clear exactly what the question is asking.

The READS program helped to give my son some independence in his reading assignments, which helped to free me up for work with my other children.  It helped to open up conversation about the book he was reading.  It helped to give him independence in his writing (and confidence). 

I highly recommend this product!  It’s not just a homeschool product; It’s great for public school children too.  You can use any book with it, so it is very versatile.  You can limit which cards you want your child to choose from or let them pick from them all.  For $19.95, this product is very affordable and a great addition to your reading program.  We will continue to use this product for sure!