We have been working diligently with my daughter who has struggled with reading fluently and spelling for many years. I am thankful for the opportunity to use the Reading Intervention Programs from MaxScholar. This post is a review on a 12-month online subscription of the MaxScholar Reading Intervention Program.
INTRODUCTION
MaxScholar utilizes an Orton-Gillingham approach with an emphasis on phonics, phonemic awareness, reading comprehension, fluency, and writing to build reading skills. This program is specially designed for struggling readers such as dyslexic students, ESL students, and anyone with gaps in their reading skills.
This online program contains three main modules: MAXPHONICS, MAXREADING and MAXWORDS. Here is a simple explanation for all of them.
MAXPHONICS helps with mastering phonemes and letter sounds by using a variety of multi-sensory, online lessons that include videos, practice drills, and games.
MAXREADING focuses on building reading comprehension using highlighting, outlining, and summarizing strategies.
MAXWORDS builds vocabulary skills by using prefixes, suffixes, Greek and Latin roots syllabication and spelling rules to improve reading comprehension and fluency.
In addition, you will find supplemental materials for extra practice in developing reading skills.
MAXMUSIC gives your student the ability to read lyrics, play piano games and build reading and auditory skills.
MAXVOCAB is the MaxScholar dictionary including fun definition and vocabulary games for both students and adults.
MAXPLACES allows your student to go on an adventure around the world to explore 51 different locations as they read and answer comprehension questions.
MAXBIOS introduces biographies of famous personalities on a timeline, enhancing organizational skills.
SUMMARY
Here is an overview of our student’s history. My daughter is in middle school and has always struggled with reading and spelling. I initially thought she’d be too old for this program but was pleasantly surprised they have something for all levels!
My daughter has the phonics rules down well so we did not concentrate on the first module. Since it’s the “rule breakers” that cause confusion for her (ie spelling), we focused on what would help her the most at this stage. We decide the program which would help her the most is MAXWORDS!
Why MAXWORDS? This module concentrates on teaching prefixes and suffixes of root words. This helps her remember how to spell and determine the meaning of a word by learning their Latin roots. Some of the questions were multiple choice, while other challenges asked her to match the words with their appropriate sentences.
Initially, when she took the assessment test for MAXWORDS, she wasn’t pleased with her score. However, as time progressed, her scores progressed higher, which gave her the confidence she needed to move forward. We were both pleased with her results and loved the program.
STUDENTS ANALYSIS
My daughter’s initial reaction to the program was less than desirable. She had gone through several programs for struggling readers and thought it would be similar. However, once she took the assessment test and got through the first set of words, she was determined to get a better score for the next set!
So, the next day, I didn’t have a problem with asking her to get started on the next set of MAXWORDS! Woohoo, huge success!
PROS/CONS
Here’s why I like the program and would recommend it. First of all, the entire program was SUPER easy to navigate. HUGE bonus in my book! Homeschool Moms are busy and do not have time to navigate through programs that are not well-designed.
In addition, I absolutely LOVE how each MaxScholar program begins with an assessment test! Based on your child’s score, the program directs him/her to the appropriate level. What an awesome feature!
Also, a suggestion would be to allow an intro video to pop up once explaining to the user or potential customer on where to start. The names of the three main cores do not indicate where to begin. However, I was able to easily determine the best module for my student since she was much older than the average ‘learning to read’ student.
Plus, you can find out more about these three modules by going HERE.
Overall, a great program for those who have struggling students in the reading or spelling department!
Want to learn more? Request a 10-day FREE TRIAL by going to MaxScholar and signing up HERE. Or, you can get to know MaxScholar by connecting using one or all of the social media channels below.
SOCIAL MEDIA CONNECTIONS
Twitter: https://twitter.com/maxscholarllc?lang=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaxScholarLLC/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/maxscholar/
