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Rock ‘N Learn Sight Words Level 2 DVD Review

Rock ‘N Learn began in 1986 as an idea that would help children learn by putting educational material to music with a current sound. After reviewing the Sights Words DVD earlier in the summer, Rock ‘N Learn offered me a chance to review the Sight Words Level 2 DVD. Because I am already collecting materials to help teach my daughter to read in a few years, I jumped at the opportunity. Expanding on the skills learned from the first DVD (although children entering kindergarten or first grade can skip the Level 1), Sight Words Level 2 teaches young readers over sixty-five additional sight words.

 

Sights words are words that, because of the complexity of the English spelling system, a reader learns to read through rote memorization. The sixty-eight words covered in Sight Words Level 2 include the following:

  • Rock 'N Learn Sight Words Level 2 DVDuse, your, words
  • like, this, new, but, old, too
  • what, bear, black, brown, white
  • do, did, eat, ate, ran, say, four
  • dog, they, are, all, under, trees
  • who, will, be, good, at, am
  • he, came, by, get, her, went, ride, boat
  • yes, or, no, please, thank
  • that, pretty, was, on, she, saw, with
  • our, must, have, had, now
  • want, into, room, out
  • when, were, there, so, soon, well

All of the words taught in Sight Words Level 2 are all primer Dolch words and many are from Fry’s First 100. I agree that the majority of words in the DVD are sight words that young readers must learn to recognize from memorization.

Just like Sight Words and Letter Sounds (also from Rock ‘N Learn), Sight Words Level 2 features the same casts of characters. Repetition is good for children, so I appreciate that Rock ‘N Learn uses the same characters throughout its learn-to- read series. Also like the other Rock ‘N Learn DVDs that I have reviewed, Sight Words Level 2 includes a lot of catchy tunes. Each song features three to eight new sight words. Each song is also very repetitive, which helps young readers learn to read the newly introduced words.

My daughter may be only nine months old, but, as soon as I popped the Sight Words Level 2 DVD into the DVD player, she began watching. She is still a little too young to give her undivided attention to the program, but she did look up each time a new song started. Clearly, Sight Words Level 2 is captivating to younger children. Hopefully my daughter will be just as captivated when she gets a little older and starts learning to read.

Running at about sixty-one minutes in length, Sight Words Level 2 is just long enough to teach children in kindergarten and first grade but not long enough to become boring. Each lesson on the DVD is a few minutes long. Young readers can, therefore, go back to an individual section to practice each set of new sight words. At the same time, the entire DVD flows together, so watching from start to finish again and again is another option.

Finally, I appreciate that each set of new sight words is taught in context, which results in better learning. For example, my favorite section — the section that teaches the words dog, they, are, all, under, trees — includes a fun video of dogs running and playing to illustrate the words. Each section also includes age-appropriate humor (such as the play on the words hot dog as in a dog that is hot versus the food) that I think is sure to help a new reader learn better.

Sight Words Level 2 Screenshot 1 Sight Words Level 2 Screenshot 2 Sight Words Level 2 Screenshot 3
Final Verdict: Just like the other titles from Rock ‘N Learn that I have review, the Sight Words Level 2 DVD gets two enthusiastic thumbs up. When my daughter starts learning to read, I will definitely be using this program as a fun but educational learn-to-read tool.

For more information about the DVD, check out Rock ‘N Learn online. You can also follow Rock ‘N Learn via E-newsletter and on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. Use the coupon code KR8822 for 25% off online purchases.

Image Credits

Rock ‘N Learn Sight Words Level 2 DVD © 2012 Heather Johnson
Poppy Examining Sight Words Level 2 © 2012 Heather Johnson
Poppy Chewing on Sight Words Level 2 © 2012 Heather Johnson
Poppy Watching the Sight Words Level 2 DVD 1 © 2012 Heather Johnson
Poppy Watching the Sight Words Level 2 DVD 2 © 2012 Heather Johnson
Poppy Watching the Sight Words Level 2 DVD 3 © 2012 Heather Johnson
Sight Words Level 2 Screenshot 1 © 2012 Heather Johnson
Sight Words Level 2 Screenshot 2 © 2012 Heather Johnson
Sight Words Level 2 Screenshot 3 © 2012 Heather Johnson

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