LeapFrog makes learning products that blend innovative technology with time-tested teaching techniques for fun and educational results.
We are big fans of our LeapFrog TAG and LeapFrog just sent us a new way to enjoy it: two sets of early reader books that teach short and long vowel sounds.
My daughter knows her letters and the sounds they make and she is just about ready to make the jump from pre-literacy skills to literacy. Every day she grabs her TAG pen and reads through several of the new TAG “Learn to Read” books.
Although the emphasis in the books is on phonics–one short or long vowel features in most of the words in each–the cute, original stories are fun and engaging for my three year old. While not exactly a future literary classic, “Look at the mud! / Time for the tub. ‘ ‘Time to wash up!’ / Rub-a-dub-dub!” provides a lot more reading pleasure and practice in comprehension than a drill of a random series of words related only by a single sound.
And the interaction with the TAG system is helpful in learning to read. Press one symbol and the pen reads the page. Touch other symbols and the pen can read a single word, isolate individual letters or spell the word, and sound out the letters or the entire word. For added interaction and context, the illustrations also “speak” when touched with the pen.
At the end of each book is a series of activities, designed to explicitly reinforce the skills taught through the story. My daughter really enjoys these games, which, like the books, blend letter recognition, phonics, sight words, relationships between text and illustrations, and reading comprehension.
My only suggestion for any future editions is a parent guide with tips for using the LeapFrog TAG system and the “Learn to Read” books for beginning readers, struggling readers, and readers who are gaining fluency. Many parents might appreciate a primer on how to use the books and the different features to encourage literacy. And this would also integrate well with the LeapFrog Learning Path–an online tool that helps you understand your child’s progress.
Like all of the TAG books, these may be used with or without the pen, and together with the parent, or independently. By putting together an affordable, intuitive, and entertaining system that encourages children to interact with books, the LeapFrog TAG supports literacy education.
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WANT IT: Buy TAG products directly from LeapFrog or get the LeapFrog TAG Learn to Read Phonics Books from Amazon. ($20 per set of six books, TAG Reading Pen sold separately for $50, $40 on sale)
WIN IT – REQUIRED ENTRY: Enter to win a TAG Reading System + the two sets of Learn to Read Phonics Books from LeapFrog (ARV $90) by leaving a comment with your best tip for or question about learning to read.
Additional Entries (leave a separate comment for each additional entry):
- Follow @Mamanista and @LeapFrog and tweet your tip or question and include a link to this contest: http://bit.ly/mamareadtag (leave your status URL in your comment).
- Link to our Back-to-School Guide on your blog or website (leave the URL where you link in your comment).
Contest ends August 27, 11:59 PM EST. Open to All. Winner chosen with Random.org.
