Talking Shapes is a research-proven phonics program created by neuropsychologist Dr. Jeannine Herron and is geared towards the younger kiddos in PreK-K. This app came about from funding as part of a research grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). Using pictures as mnemonic devices to help to teach young children that letters are just “talking shapes” that each have their own special speech sounds it introduces all 40 English phonemes. Through 4 steps, listen, draw, play games, and read, this app helps young children develop the correlation between the shape of a letter and sound of the letter makes. All the while leading your child into reading success for years to come.
The version we received is for Online access to the phoneme awareness program. We received a one-year subscription that is good for multiple users. The program begins by telling a story of how “Two Sisters Invented The Alphabet”. These sisters Pat and Nat invented the alphabet after hearing so many stories and they wanted a way to preserve the stories in books. With three choices to pick from your youngster can have the story read to them, practice drawing letters, or play the games.
Within the three choices is the option to choose from several different interactive books. Your child will hear the letter sound story read to them and then they can click on the screen to make the story come to life.
Listen ~ each letter in the picture story helps the children to remember both the shape and the sound the letter makes.
The last step is reading! With the help of visual clues your child is able to fill in the blank and read the words in the sentences provided. It starts out with easy words to build confidence.
I am so pleased with this new computer program! It has been expanded on from the app version with more stories offered which is great! The stories progress in word family sounds and build upon each other. I really like that the place that you leave off in the story is saved. That is a great feature so the child does not have to go through the whole story to find their place.
I was able to use this with McKenzie who is nearly 7 and Micah who is 2. The phonics and active learning opportunities were perfect for McKenzie. She is such an eager learner that she loved having screen time and playing along with the games offered. Micah loved the interactive stories and making them come to life. For him, I really just let him listen to the stories and then push the button so that it came to life. I had the children play on their computer, which is not a touchscreen version. While they had fun, they definitely enjoyed the program more when playing on my touchscreen desktop. But don’t let that detract you from trying, it’s a great program touchscreen or not.
Be sure to see what my CrewMates thought of this program by clicking the banner below.
Company ~ Talking Fingers Inc.
Format ~ ONLINE game
Ages ~ Preschool – early reader
#hsreviews #talkingfingers #phonics #lettershapes
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