Book Review

Books that we have read and reviewed

May 6, 2013

Alpha-Phonics: A Primer For Beginning Readers

Dominique Book Review, Parenting and Kids Phonics, Teaching Resources

Alpha Phonics Book Cover

Alpha-Phonics: A Primer For Beginning Readers by Samuel L Blumenfeld is the phonics book that I have been using with both Doggie boy and Tiger girl for the past few months. We received the book together with the CD back in January and I have been working through the 128 lessons with the kids.

This book works through the different letters of the alphabet and phonetic sounds. The book is divided into two sections. It’s all contained in one spiral-bound book. The first half of the book contains the student reading lessons, and the second part of the book contains the Teacher’s Manual. The student pages are white, and the teacher pages are a creamy color so that you can easily find what you’re looking for. I found this really useful as it guides you on what to focus on while teaching the various letter sounds to the kids.

The CD-ROM attached in the book allows one to go through the lesson on the go or on the PC. I tried out both the CD-ROM and the book with the kids and we prefer the book as it was easier to read through then on the screen.

We use the book as an after dinner activity with the kids to get them ready for study time. Both Doggie boy and Tiger girl started off at lesson 1 and are at Lesson 69 and Lesson 35 respectively. I haven’t completed the book with either kid yet as we are still slowly making our way through the book. However based on the lessons that we have completed I have seen an improvement in their understanding of Phonics.

Tiger girl reading from the book

Tiger girl is now able to pronounce all the sounds of the alphabet letters and simple two vowel words. She is slowly learning to identify certain words by sight and increasing her vocabulary.

Doggie boy on the other hand I have seen an improvement in his vocabulary and pronunciation of the words phonetically. He is also able to identify more words and read more confidently after being on this program.

My thoughts

Even though reading and learning phonics through a book is not as interesting as using interactive Apps or using online games of DVDs I find this method more effective. My kids retain the information thought better and I can see an improvement in their understanding of phonics.

I certainly recommend that you consider using this book to teach your child phonics.

You can purchase this book from Amazon

Disclaimer: I received a copy of Alpha-phonics for review purposes. All opinions are 100% my own.

April 21, 2013

Waking Up in Heaven

Dominique Book Review, Parenting and Kids Christian book, Sprituality

Book Cover

Waking Up in Heaven: A True Story of Brokenness, Heaven, and Life Again by Crystal McVea and Alex Tresniowski is a really heart warming testimonial about how it was in Heaven as she had experienced being dead and coming back to live.

Many times we really wonder how it is for us after we die.Is there really a place called Heaven? Does GOD really exist?

In this book Crystal shares with the readers her personal experience of dying and coming back to live in 2009. She also shares her painful childhood memories of having suffered through sexual abuse, witnessing her mother go through physical and emotional abuse by her step father, teenage pregnancy, abortion and a whole slew of bad decisions.

Throughout her life prior to her encounter with GOD she has been questioning about the presence of GOD and why he hasn’t been there for her (that is what she though). Being “reborn” she found out her true calling in life to be GOD’s vessel. She was to be his spokesperson about GOD’s love and use her personal life story and experiences as her testimonial.

Through her sharing and walk closer with GOD after death, she has managed to touch many other people and they were “healed” after being able to open up and share their own stories of hurt which they had experienced.

My thoughts

I found this book very touching and captivating. Crystal really went through “hell and back” during her growing up years and only through GOD was she able to find her peace and motivation in life. GOD works in mysterious ways and sometimes we are unable to understand why he sets us such difficult challenges in our lives and wish to throw in the towel.

I personally have had questions about GOD and his existence and had wondered too if GOD was really there for me at times. Reading about Crystal’s journey with GOD has really helped strengthen my personal conviction in Christ being our savior.

Get your copy of the book from Amazon today and enrich yourself about the glory of GOD.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book for review purposes. All opinions are 100% my own. This post has a compensation level of 3. Please visit Dominique’s Disclosure page for more information.