Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Rock N Learn DVD Review and Giveaway

I was recently given the opportunity to review a DVD from the children's learning series ROCK N LEARN.  I was sent a complimentary copy of two DVDs (one age appropriate for each of my daughters), so that they could watch them and I could share my thoughts.

Today I want to tell you about the second DVD we watched:  Phonics Easy Readers.






My Review:


When I first received this DVD a few months ago, my 5 year old daughter was just beginning Kindergarten.  She was just beginning to sound out 3 letter words on her own.  I didn't know how hard the DVD would be or how she would do with it, because it is rated for ages 6 and up.  My daughter is in a gifted Kindergarten program, however so I figured she would progress quickly.

The first time she watched it (which was around her first week of school), she got frustrated with it after just a couple of the stories.  When she got frustrated, I stopped it before reaching the end.

The way that the DVD is set up is very nice because there are 4 difficulty levels, with three different stories in each set.  You have to press the play button to get the next story to begin.  The very first couple stories in the easiest group she did ok with the first time through, but they quickly got too hard for her.

Now, when my daughter thinks things are too hard, she doesn't want to try them anymore.  I wanted to finish watching the DVD so that I could do my review in a timely manner, but I decided that it would be best to let her reading improve a bit more, and track her progress so I could give a more fair review.

I shelved the video  for a few weeks, let her learn a little bit more words in Kindergarten, and read a few of the take home books that are set up very similar to those in this DVD.  Then I let her watch it again, and she was able to get into the second set of readers before becoming frustrated.

I repeated this two more times, with about 3 weeks between each.  Each time she was more enthusiastic about reading through the books, and more excited that she had read the sentences all by herself, even yelling "I did it!" each time she got a sentence right.  It got to be a race to finish the sentence before the voice did.

Now she is halfway through Kindergarten, and reading on a mid first grade level (she has progressed very quickly!), but she is still working on that 4th difficulty level.  I think she could probably get through it herself if there were a little bit more time before the voice began on that set.  She turned it off this time with only 2 left to go on the whole DVD--she always has to start from the beginning to she how much progress she has made and how much better she is reading them now, and that is fine by me.  It helps give her the confidence boost that she needs in her reading.  She knows that she is getting better so it makes her more willing to try!

I like the fact that the DVD pauses long enough before saying the words to give her some time to sound them out herself.  I like that each reader focuses on a particular phonics set and most are full of rhyming words, and  I like that there is a large difficulty span that they encompass.

I think that the next time we watch this through, she will probably have it down, but unless a child is reading proficiently already, it will be something that will grow with them for months and help them learn and track their progress as they learn to read.


The Savings:

If anyone would like to purchase one of these videos (they also have CDs) from www.rocknlearn.com, they have also given me a coupon code to share with you.  JQ7711   will get you 25% off of your order!



The Giveaway:


Rock N Learn, as well as sending me a FREE copy to review, would like to send one of my lucky readers a FREE DVD/CD of their choice, as well.  Fill in the rafflecopter below to enter!

Once the winner is chosen, they will have 48 hours to respond to my email before I choose another winner.  Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway




Even though I was given this DVD free to review, all opinions stated above are honest and my own.  I wish you all good luck, and I hope that whoever wins will enjoy theirs as much as we did!

18 comments:

Jennifer Rogers January 24, 2012 at 5:16 AM  

We would like Dance With the Animals DVD!
j1man1r66@etex.net

Apartment Sized Couponing January 24, 2012 at 7:19 AM  

I would love this so much! I just started to home school my 5 year old & reading is one of those things I use all the help I can get!

~Lindsey Miller

Jennifer January 24, 2012 at 8:37 AM  

States & Capitals Rap!

pitufas_021 January 25, 2012 at 4:09 PM  

Solar System - Audio CD and Book

Jo January 25, 2012 at 4:10 PM  

Spanish Vol I & II

Amy O. January 25, 2012 at 4:11 PM  

Letter Sounds would be perfect

it's the Caffeine January 25, 2012 at 4:14 PM  

I'd most want one of the science ones for my oldest. most likely the life or earth science.

Unknown January 25, 2012 at 4:16 PM  

I would like the Life Science DVD

Anonymous January 25, 2012 at 4:20 PM  

I would like the Dance With Animals DVD. I have most of the videos for my classroom and children, but that is one I don't have yet (along with the easy readers!!)

Julie Martinchick
mrsmartinchick at aol.com

hangerlady28150 January 25, 2012 at 4:32 PM  

Dance with the Animals would be so much fun.

Jessica Sheffield January 25, 2012 at 4:45 PM  

Spanish!

stdjds54 (at) shsu (dot) edu

Moore Family January 25, 2012 at 4:47 PM  

Phonics CD/Book. My daughter is not a visual learner, but I think with practice she'll get better at it!

k balman January 25, 2012 at 8:19 PM  

Getting ready for kindergarten.

carolwegs January 25, 2012 at 10:17 PM  

letter sounds. Thanks
Carolwegs at gmail dot com

Tawnya January 27, 2012 at 11:03 AM  

I would like the Letter Sounds
DVD
Thanks!

Randi January 28, 2012 at 5:09 PM  

I would love to win the Physical Science DVD under the 10+ section!

Holly January 30, 2012 at 9:05 PM  

Writing Strategies and the Human Body!

Julie January 30, 2012 at 9:21 PM  

Phonics Easy Readers would be great for my 4 and 6 year olds.

julieanne.kirby@gmail.com

Total Pageviews

StatCounter

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Disclosure

Some of the links/images on my site may contain affiliate links. I may or may not receive compensation from them, but all opinions on this site are my own, and I will never post a deal that I would not do myself or a site that I have not signed up for and believe to be legitimate.

About Me