Last fall I had the priviledge to attend a luncheon with Ellen Steiner to learn more about Flipping for Phonics. Flipping for Phonics is an affordable learn-to-read system based on phonics. It features Flip the Monkey and has three components: a flip book allowing you to form different words up to six letters long, storybooks featuring popular rhyming word families, and a music cd to reinforce the phonetical learning.
While the reading system was developed for toddlers-adults, I think the perfect age is for 3-6 year olds. It was amazing watching my newly four-year-old pick up on the word families within minutes, and because he wasn't memorizing words, but actually learning letter sounds and phonics - he quickly transition his knowledge to recognize words in our daily life. The kiddo often surprises me as we're driving around town with backseat shout-outs like "Sale! They're having a sale Mom!" Yep - sure enough, there's huge sale banner hanging outside the framing store in town. Or, picking up groceries and hearing him sound out the brands on the labels, "Fr . .French's mustard!" or "F-O-X-Y Foxy lettuce!" And still yet, him reading "Joy" on my Starbucks cup this past holiday season.
My favorite thing about Flipping for Phonics is that not only has it worked marvelously well for us, but it's AFFORDABLE! (Seriously, only $40 for the entire kit and caboodle!) I like that the system focuses on rhyming word families like the _at family, and how changing the first letter changes the sound and word: bat, cat, fat, etc. My son LOVES to play rhyming games and will challenge anyone including waitstaff at restaurants (Grilled cheese please. Hey! That rhymes!). We initially used the storybooks that accompany the reading system, but have since moved on to other rhyming books like Hop on Pop, which the kiddo can read on his own now.
The flip book includes lists of word families arranged by suffix in the back, allowing you to form over 2,000 words. The word familes make it easy to transfer those letters and sounds to sound out different words and build on them. You can easily go from three-letter words to four-letter words with letter blends (ex: sit > skit). I also like that the system is portable so we take it along on our long road trips and flights (we packed it along on our roadtrip to Michigan, flight to Vegas, and we'll play with it on the upcoming flight to Orlando), but could just as easily tote it along to restaurants.
You know what else is nice? Li'l Boo's learning to read - at his own playful pace - and it's not from a digital screen. The techie that I am, I try every kids app or site that I come across and always share my iPhone, laptop or camera with him, but I like him having a hard-copy reading system that Li'l Boo can play with alone. It's nice to know that he can easily spend 15 minutes alone with the flip book creating his own real or nonsensical words. This will keep Li'l Boo busy and learning for the next couple of years.
Click here to order your own Flipping for Phonics set.
Full disclosure: I received a complimentary Flipping for Phonics kit for review purposes.
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