Manufactured in the U.S.

Studies show that children learn best while at play and real life experiences.  Ring Around the Phonics is learning disguised as a game...Children literally beg to play which makes your job easier.

One parent reported that she taught all her children to read with this game  and "they loved it". She said, “they are older now, and I keep it in the closet. When they won’t co-operate with their language arts lessons, I pull the it out, and teach their lesson using the game.” She continued, “They do not have a clue…They think they are playing!”

Note: Ring Around The Phonics has all you need to teach children to read (early reader books are included with the game), but is also designed to work in conjunction with “Bob Books and. Public school’s early reader books .

Another mother informed us that after she taught her children to read with this game, she began teaching them “basic Spanish.” It dawned on me, of course, one could teach any foreign language that uses the same alphabet. (note a few blank letter cards are included so you can add some of the unique letters found in many languages).

 It was parents and teachers who informed us that Ring Around the Phonics not only taught reading and phonics, but much more. Below are listed more ways Ring Around The Phonics is used to help children learn.
                                  
3. The static cling letter cards can be placed singly or side by side on the board to teach phonics, phonic blends, syllables, prefixes, suffixes and root words which improves their spelling, vocabulary and strengthens their ability to read the large words that so many children struggle with. For example one can place the word “in” one white square, “formation” on the next square , and mis within the next (talking about its effect on the meaning of words). The following square might be left blank so you can ask the child to write the word misinformation, or better yet decode it in written word (book or workbook).

4. The game comes with activity and question cards which help active children release energy so they can focus better. But Ms. Normandine, a kindergarten teacher, pointed out that they also teach children comprehension, communication and listening skills. For example: One card says, “Pretend you are an airplane, fly around the room one time, and land back in your seat.” If they fly around and around, I say, “Oh my, someone is not listening.” It is so cute to watch the little ones rush to their seat. If they fly around only once, I say, “look at you (their name) you are a good listener, aren’t you.” (Note: Children have the right to pass on any of the cards they so choose. One of my gifted children chose that option often as a seven ear old, but is not so shy about them as an eight year old. )

5. I, personally, was reluctant to try some of the ways I was hearing about. You know, old ways die hard. But I had some older children who needed to do some workbooks. They hated it. So I finally pulled out the game, and leaving all the spaces empty of letter cards, they were required to do an activity in their workbook before proceeding across a white space on the board. You know, they stopped complaining. Like the mother said, “they did not have a clue“. Try it with even math workbooks.

6. Another mother has a child who will read words on the game board, but won’t read the books. So before he can proceed past one of the empty white spaces, he is required to read one page from his book. I had another child who could read and sound out anything I placed on the board. But every time I presented a book he said, “I can’t read.” I began telling him that before he could play the game, he had to read his book. Suddenly the little guy could read!

7. It is not always necessary to use all the white spaces…you might be in a hurry, or it is often too much for the younger ones. Because the letters are removable, it is very flexible allowing you to adjust it to fit your needs, and that of your child’s / children.

8. Here is something I love to do with the game. By placing one child’s activities on the white spaces, a second child’s on the blue spaces, and a third’s on the green spaces. (Note: continue the game as usual) You can teach up to four children at the same time even if they are learning at three different levels or subjects. I almost always have the older children do their activities as well as the younger one’s because it is amazing how much the little ones learn from the older children, and how much the older children learn from teaching. It is much like the techniques used in the old one room school house.

I play along only if there is just one child playing, and take my turn first.  As I say a sound from the letter cards, it is amazing to watch the child.  They often visibly rehearse the sound...not because they want to learn phonics, but because they want to to beat me.

9. As children get older they are asked to read their own activity, and question cards included in they game, or to write their own, which becomes a writing activity. One gifted seven year old wrote a card that said, ‘You go back to start.” He kept rigging the deck so I pulled that one It was more fun to watch him giggle when I pulled this card, and moved my character back to start. Blank cards do not come with the game, but the cards in the game are the same size as a standard business card. I simply purchase the blank ones which are sold in most office supply stores. One might even be able to use the cards to teach history or math.

10. The Activity Cards and Question Cards are designed to teach comprehension and listening skills. They also make the game fun and help children release energy. Recently I was using the game to teach a 2nd grader, two 5th graders, and one 4th grader.  The fifth grader began telling me that "the other lady used this game, but the way she did it was boring. I like the way you are doing it.", he said.  Out of curiosity, I questioned him, and he explained that she only used the letters (did not tie it to their workbook activities), and she did not use the question and activity  cards nor the blue and gold rings of knowledge.

Young children learn best while at play, and at real life experiences. You see, children have a natural desire to learn.  But that desire is often destroyed by second grade or sooner.  I often do not use all  of the white spaces on the board, But  the whole idea of the game is to make learning fun...to tap into their natural way to learning so as to retain it for a life time.  Learning need not always be fun, but it need not always be boring either.

11. We women often communicate while looking at one another eye to eye.  But ever notice how men rarely do that? It is not that they do not communicate, it is that they communicate differently.  Most men communicate while doing something such as playing basketball.

So if your son is troubled by something, but is not talking about it:: write your own  cards asking him questions about what you want him to talk about, and place them in the decks provided. It is amazing how much they open up while playing.

Every year parents contact us all excited to share the creative ways they are using Ring Around the Phonics to teach their children. Perhaps I will hear from you one day.