TOS Crew: AAS Beehive Reader 1

We've been using All About Spelling for Jacob's spelling program this year, and we received the Beehive Reader 1, by Marie Rippel with Renee LaTulippe, to review.

Based on phonics, this reader is a nice addition to the All About Spelling program, especially for beginning readers.  Beautifully illustrated with black and white photos and decorative pages, it draws the reader into the stories even more, so it's not just great practice with phonics; it's a fun way to read beginner level stories, as well.  It is filled with pages of 1-2 sentence paragraphs, the sentences themselves being shorter.  Different sounds the child might be working on in his spelling lessons are incorporated into story form.  Phonograms, short vowel sounds, initial and final blends, the C and K sounds, consonant teams, etc., are all put into story form for your child to practice reading and using all together.  Each story varies between 10-20 pages in length, but again, the sentences on each page are shorter, so that the child isn't overwhelmed with all of the words on the page but rather can focus on practicing the sounds in everyday language, as he reads.  Here are the stories that this reader includes:

• At the Pond
• The Nap
• At Camp
• The Pet Duck
• The Bat and King Sam
• Frank Shrank!
• Cobweb the Cat
• Ten Wishes
• Fast Fun
• Off We Go!

 

For Jacob, this reader was quite below his reading level; when I asked him to read close to 40 pages of it, for example, it only took him maybe 5-10 minutes, if that.  So, it was quite easy for him, as he's in Level 2 of the All About Spelling program right now.  It is perfect for beginning readers, though, and I plan to use it with Jaden when the time gets closer.  I might even suggest using the pictures in the book to look at with your children and do a bit of picture narration with them; or they could make up their own stories based on the pictures.  This book could be versatile in that way.  You can purchase the Beehive Reader 1 for $19.95 from All About Spelling. 

To read more reviews, visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

(Disclosure: I was provided this book, free of charge, by All About Spelling, in association with the TOS Homeschool Crew.)