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Review of Frontline Phonics
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Product Review: Frontline Phonics
Full Guide Review
A Phonics Based Program for Beginning Readers
Teaching your child to read can be one of the most rewarding parts of homeschooling, but can also be very intimidating. Frontline Phonics has created a program to make the task easier and more fun for both you and your child. It is a complete program that will take your child to a beginning 3rd grade reading level.
Guide Rating - 
The Components
This program is very well laid out and easy to use. It comes with a short instructional video to introduce you to the program and its components.
Frontline Phonics Part 1:
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Introduction Video
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Music CD with 34 songs
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Alphabet Flash Cards
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Alphabet Picture Flash Cards
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Lesson Manual
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Student Workbook
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Blue Books, Series A, Set 1, 13 books (short vowel readers)
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Red Books, Series A, Set 2, 10 books (long vowel readers)
- 26 Game Pieces
Frontline Phonics Part 2:
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Lesson Manual 2
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Yellow Books, Series A, Set 3, 10 books (consonant blends)
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Green Books, Series A, Set 4, 10 books (Diagraphs)
Extras:
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Coaching Manual
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Orange Books, Series B, Set 1 - 10 books (short vowels)
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Kid Pix Deluxe 3
The Frontline Phonics Learning Process
There are three steps to the Frontline Phonics learning process. It is recomended that the program be taught three times a week for at least 15 minutes per session.
The first step is teaching letters and sounds. The concepts are taught with music, games and object lessons making the lessons a lot of fun. Only one letter is introduced per lesson, and they are not taught in alphabetical order.
The second step is the Blending Concept, which is the ability to sound out words. The blending concept is introduced after the children have learned only five letters. This helps prevent the child from becoming overwhelmed.
The third step is getting into the books - this is the most exciting part for the child. After learning the first eight letters in the program, they will be introduced to their first book. The book only contains words made of the eight letters they have already learned. The children will be excited to read a book at the beginning of the program. They will understand early where the lessons are leading them. Following this initial book, they will be introduced to a new book after every three letters that are learned.
The Lessons
The lessons begin by listening to the alphabet song on the music CD. Then the new letter is introduced with a flashcard. The letter is reinforced with a story (object lesson) using the letter they are working on. After the object lesson, they listen to a letter-specific song on the CD and do a worksheet in the student workbook. If they can remember the letter after listening to the song a second time, they are given the game piece that corresponds with the lesson. There are also optional activities to reinforce what was learned.
After the blending concept is introduced, there will be a blending section at the end of each lesson. Once the child is able to blend words, they'll start the first book - usually after lesson nine.
The Coaching Program
The Frontline Coaching Program makes this program unique. Parents have access to a toll-free number that will connect them to a pool of teachers who have experience in early childhood education. These teachers are prepared to answer questions about the program or about teaching your child how to read. A coaching manual is also sent with the program, which gives several ideas, activities, games and tips to help children understand and gain a love for reading.
Additional Students
Additional packets are available for additional students, including the student workbook and game pieces. Replacement books are also available for lost or damaged books.
The Bottom Line
The program seems a bit simplistic, but that's the beauty of it. It takes the best features of other programs that I like and combines them for a winning product. The most exciting part of the program is that the children begin reading books early in the learning process. There are hands-on projects, worksheets, songs, flash cards and lots of books!
