Professor Phonics with Me and My Mouse is a unique explicit phonics and language arts program that makes use of multiple senses to learn. It is an interactive and basically "self-teaching" CD ROM. Auditory and language skills are employed in listening to "Professor Phonics," following directions, and repeating the letter and/or combination sounds. Visually, the program trains the eyes to move from left to right by following the screens, as well as playing the games. Students grasp a large sight vocabulary while learning to spell more than 1500 words from memory. Tactile experience is gained through the finger tracing of letters when appearing on screen and keyboarding. Hand and eye co-ordination is developed by using the mouse. Students learn to read from the very first lesson.

Professor Phonics with Me and My Mouse contains both a "Phonics" and a "Language Arts" program. The phonics program can be applied using any basal or phonetic reader, or even the "beginning reader" section of the local library. Spelling, grammar, composition, and computer skills are taught and emphasized in addition to phonics while using the program. It is based on the award winning "Professor Phonics Gives Sound Advice" reading system, which was first introduced in 1965 by Monica Foltzer, M.Ed. What makes this program so different is that it is an intensive phonics program combined with language arts in a self teaching format!

The student is presented with 42 letter sounds and the short vowel sounds. Part I has eight sections. Part II contains ten sections. First, the letter name is identified, next, the sound, and finally, the student is encouraged to trace the letter with the index finger. This is repeated twice. Two games for each letter follow this initial introduction. After all letters in the segment are covered, the next step is blending. Lessons are repeated various times in various combinations in order to teach "blending." Lastly, students play games that encourage word formation, correct spelling, sentence construction, and reading. If the games are done correctly, applause sounds. If incorrectly, the mistake is identified and gently corrected. The lessons are to be completed in sequential order, but may be repeated as needed.

Although my son already knows how to read on a first grade level, he enjoyed playing the games on the demo that we received. He watched the first lesson and was eager to see what came next. Instructions for each segment are only a click away. They are represented by pictures that were much more difficult for me to follow at first than for my son! Professor Phonics with Me and My Mouse covers a multitude of skills at the same time while it also satisfies even the most active student with a hands-on approach. I think this makes for some "good learnin'" as we would say here in Pennsylvania Dutch country!

To take a look at the entire Professor Phonics line of products, get more information, or preview a demo of this exciting new program visit the website at www.professorphonics.com. If you have questions, e-mail Sue at sue@professorphonics.com. You will find Sue to be quite helpful and more than willing to answer your questions.