February's Fantastic Finds

Today's Fantastic Find for February is Funnix!

Funnix is a reading program developed in part by Seigfried Englemann, author of such reading curriculum "classics" as Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, Reading Mastery, and Horizons. I haven't read Reading Mastery or Horizons, but ...100 Easy Lessons is a very gentle approach to reading, although, truth be told, it can be very dry. I don't know anyone who's actually made it to Lesson 100, although if you do, you're reading at a 2nd grade level.

So, Funnix is developed after those programs, and is computer based. MUCH better, since we found ...100 Easy Lessons so dry, and my kids just love Computer Time! It's still a very gentle approach, teaching kids slowly through their letters, sounds, and writing, and teaching them the basics of reading left to right.

Each kid is going to be different. I started my first two on ...100 Easy Lessons way too early, and we bombed it. I figured I wouldn't start Sean until he was 6 or 7, maybe 5, if he seemed interested. But, Funnix was offering a free download of their $249 program through the month of January. Since it was free, I downloaded it. Sean wanted to start right away! And for an almost-4-year old, he's doing quite well! I was shocked. The program will definitely work with later learners, too, and with those who are older, but have difficulty reading.

Funnix is a large download--2 GB. I mean, it's huge. It comes with 3 different programs, Lessons 1-40, Lessons 41-120, and Funnix 2, plus PDF downloads of 2 workbooks and a Teacher's Manual.

Funnix has lowered their prices, which makes it MUCH more affordable to everyone! What would have cost you $286 before (the $249 Funnix program, plus two optional workbooks), now will cost you only $42.50! But, they're reworking the site. It should be up in a couple of weeks again.

I strongly recommend Funnix. It's a sound program to help a parent give their child a strong foundation in their reading.