3297.Resource, Watch-Know-Learn, Reading Bear Phonics

 This was copied directly from the website: "Reading Bear, a project of WatchKnowLearn.org, is the first free program online to teach beginning readers vocabulary and concepts while systematically introducing all the main phonetic patterns of written English, all using innovative rich media. We spent an enormous amount of time developing 50 presentations, covering even more phonics principles and illustrating over 1,200 vocabulary items. There is nothing else like it, free or otherwise.

How does it work? In each presentation—playable either as a video or as an interactive slide show—we introduce one or a few related “phonics rules.” Presentations are available in seven different versions. In the fullest version, we sound out a word slowly and quickly, then blend it slowly, and finally (after an optional prompt) blend it quickly. As sounds are pronounced, the corresponding letters are highlighted. Then we display a picture illustrating the word, show a sentence (with the individual sounds again highlighted, karaoke style), and finally show a video illustrating the sentence. Presentations give this treatment to around 25 words, though some have more and some have less. The result is a thorough yet painless introduction to phonics principles, while at the same time teaching vocabulary. There are many other features, which we encourage you to explore by clicking on our Getting Started page.We hope you will use Reading Bear in a non-stressful, non-pressuring way. Learning to read can be fun and easy, if you go at the child's pace instead of some pre-determined pace. As always, ALL materials should be reviewed carefully before using with students. In the Getting Started page, the authors discuss interludes near the bottom that entail classical music and famous paintings. Some of the artwork in the interludes will probably not be age, grade level, or standards appropriate for K-2 students, so plan appropriately.