FREE Reading App for Kids

This summer while my child was out for summer break, I searched for something a fun entertainment all while continuing to grow reading skills outside of reading every day.  I ran across a website that promised to not only increase reading scores and fluency but to integrate material around my child's interest.  As I looked into the website more I found more information that make me move forward with this program.  This website/APP is called Homer, or The Homer Method.  After getting my child set up with the app in my classroom, I quickly saw how this could benefit teachers in the classroom.  The differentiated instruction that is involved with teach child's plan is a time saver in the classroom as a supplemental learning source.

LINK TO LEARN WITH HOMER WEBSITE

WHAT DOES HOMER INCLUDE?:

This program includes a LOT of resources - here is what I found so far:

• Start to finish reading programs
• End of lesson assessments
• 1,000 reading lessons
• PRINTABLE LESSONS
• Library of over 200 stories and songs
• Variety of books
• Fiction - 111
• Friendship - 34
• Adventures - 32
• Nonfiction - 31
• Laugh Out Loud - 25
• Uniqueness - 25
• Cleverness - 24
• Determination - 23
• Family - 18
• Folktales and Fables - 17
• Biography - 17
• About the World  - 14
• Kindness - 14
• Poetry - 10
• Dozens of decodable readers
• Off line access
• Easy navigation for young students
• Videos
• Parent Flyer
• Parent Email
• Trackable progress

[SAMPLE PHOTO BELOW OF THE BOOKSHELF INSIDE THE HOMER LOG IN FOR TEACHERS]

IT'S FREE FOR EDUCATORS:

FREE you say? Yes, FREE!  To be completely honest when I saw the whole subscription of $7.99 after the free month trial I lost interest very quickly, but after reading more on the program I found that it is FREE for all educators. Yes, FREE!  Educators can verify their e-mail via signing up on their website.  This was a very easy process unlike others that I have experienced in the past.  Educators have free access to track up to 32 students.  The program is extremely easy to use = no training required!

LINK TO HOMER - FREE TEACHER ACCESS

THERE IS AN APP:

Who does not love an APP?  It is easy to install and available on multiple devices. The app is available in both the Apple APP and Google Play Store.  I was able to download the Homer APP in multiple areas log my child and pick up where we had left off on the previous device.

THE APP COVERS AGES 2 - 8:

AGES 2-3: Introduces letters, sounds, colors, shapes, rhyming, and vocabulary.
AGES 3+: Builds strong letter phonics, while learning to read small cvc words and spell.
AGES 5-8: Focuses on fluency and practice, practice, practice.

The neat part about setting up the account for each child is there is a questionnaire that covers their interest to ensure relevant material is used in their educational plan.

MINIMAL TIME PER DAY:

A big draw back to most programs used to assist with literacy is the time spent per day requirement.  Homer only 'requires' 15 minutes per day to increase students skill sets.  I can say from personal experience my son easily played on the APP for this time limit and constantly asked to play more games as he was challenged by many as he continued to get initial games correct.


Note: Homer is aligned with Common Core and would have to be converted to Texas TEKS.  Homer is not intended to replace ELAR instruction or guided reading with one-on-one assistance from an educational professional.