Hooked on Phonics Review

I have a preschooler and a kindergartner that I thought would love this program. I had purchased a program before (years before) that was only $15 at walmart.  It had Cd rom games progress charts workbooks.  It was awesome and very usable.  This is not the same product.

No games of any kind to help learn, no flash cards, no progress charts. Oh wait their are letter flash cards. You know the abc cards you can find anywhere for $1.  There is a dvd that has the words they are suppose to learn.  It simply reads the words to you twice.  That's the lesson.  My kids totally zone out to it.  The workbooks that are not workbooks are full of words they won't be using.  There are 10 or more words in the beginning even though the story only uses like 5.  Then each review is 20 or more words that aren't used in anything.  It was very difficult to learn anything because she was so overwhelmed with the mass of odd words that she wasn't even going to be using.  The term workbook usually means you'll be working in it.  There might have been a couple of activities.  We didn't come across them.  Maybe writing practice for the words your learning, matching words and pictures.  Something to reinforce what your learning  that would be nice.

In my experience this is the worst reading program I have ever seen.  Simple getting an early reading book and making up some flash cards would be much better.  Starfall, Easy Peasy, Phonics practice books all are much better resources just to name a few.

I was a little shocked at the price as well.  No where on their site did I read that I would be charged $200 but that's the bill I received.   $200 for something I could easily make up for less than $20.

Now I get to swallow the cost of shipping if it's returnable because in the trial period some of the product got used.  So I'm waiting to see if I can return it.  Very dissatisfied with this product and the company.  I was further irritated when opening their site to get some info a chat window opened up.  She said "I can answer any questions for you."
I'm like great "I need to know about a return."
Which was replied with.  "I'm sorry I don't know anything about those I'm just hear to tell you about our offers".

Well that's not helpful.  My kids have been board to tears and frustrated beyond measure with this product.  It might be great if you have nothing else but to us it was completely worthless.

Oh the Bonus Fun Pack! Is a workbook and actual workbook with the letters of the alphabet and numbers 1-10.  A $25 offer! That you can pick up the dollar store or print offline for free -printing.