TOS Review: Joyce Herzog

This is only our second year homeschooling, but I've already discovered that our Achilles' heel is finding a reading program that is a perfect fit for our family.  Unfortunately, I must admit that we have tried several different reading programs with no sucess.  So, when offered to review one of Joyce Herzog's Scaredy Cat Reading Systems, I jumped at the opportunity. 

Dr. Joyce Herzog is a former classroom teacher, who taught learning disabled students and continues to work with homeschooling families.  In addition, she is the author of many educational products, including the Scaredy Cat Reading System for elementary-aged students. 

Scaredy Cat Reading System Level 1

Scaredy Cat Reading System Level 2

Scaredy Cat Reading System Level 3

Scaredy Cat Reading System Express

There is a placement test to determine which level is the best fit for your child.  

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We received Scaredy Cat Reading System Level 3.

Bundle Price: $100

Scaredy Cat Reading System Level 3 focuses on word building, reading and spelling, and beginning language and thinking skills.  In addition, your student will be introduced to many of the rules, but not all fifteen Scaredy Cat rules.  

What's included in Scaredy Cat Reading System Level 3?

• 158 page spiral-bound Teacher's Manual with 2 audio scripted CDs.  

Joyce Herzog's Scaredy Cat Reading System: Teacher's Manual

The first 8 pages consists of the Table of Contents, background information, contents of the bundle, and an entrance exam.  I would encourage your student to take the placement test before purchasing.

Joyce Herzog's Scaredy Cat Reading System: Table of Contents

The next 24 pages is the Teacher's Training section, which explains the Scaredy Cat Reading System's concepts, rules, and proper ways to teach the system.  In addition, there are a variety of reading activities and games explained that can be incorporated within the reading system. Several suggested daily schedules are also included.   

Joyce Herzog's Scaredy Cat Reading System: Rules and How It Works

Joyce Herzog's Scaredy Cat Reading System: Suggested Schedules

The following 116 pages consists of a total of 15 Lessons.  Each lesson can be listened to on the audio scripted CDs or read aloud by the parent.  Dr. Herzog stresses that the student should not move on to the next lesson until he or she has mastered the current lesson.  After each lesson, there are words and sentences to practiced by participating in activities introduced in the Teacher's Training section or by playing the games included in the Fun Learning Pack.

Joyce Herzog's Scaredy Cat Reading System: Lesson 1

Near the end of the Teacher's Manual, there are 5 pages of review sentences.

Joyce Herzog's Scaredy Cat Reading System: Review

The last 3 pages are Answer Keys.

Joyce Herzog's Scaredy Cat Reading System: Answer Key

• Fun Learning Pack

The Fun Learning Pack contains all the word and phrase flashcards, as well as the game cards.  

Flashcard Word Pack and Game Cards

There are a total of 8 games included.  

Joyce Herzog's Scaredy Cat Reading System: Fun Learning Pack

Joyce Herzog's Scaredy Cat Reading System: Fun Learning Pack 

• 121 page spiral-bound Student Activity Book 

Joyce Herzog's Scaredy Cat Reading System: Student Book

There are a total of 15 Lessons in the Student Activity Book.  The Student Activity Book is to be used as a supplement for the Scaredy Cat Reading System. 

Joyce Herzog's Scardey Cat Reading System: Table of Contents

Dr. Herzog suggests using the Student Activity Book when your student has almost mastered the information presented in the corresponding lesson of the Scaredy Cat Reading System.  There are a variety of activities for each lesson. 

Joyce Herzog's Scaredy Cat Reading System: Lesson 1

•  Scaredy Cat Reading System Level 3 Reader 

Joyce Herzog's Scaredy Cat Reading System Level 3: Student Reader

Joyce Herzog's Scaredy Cat Reading System Level 3: Student Reader

 
The student reader contains 20 one-page stories.

 

Please note that you will also need The Story of Letter Master, which is the foundation of the program.  It can be purchased as a comic/coloring book, the mini book, the audio CD or the video DVD.  The Story of Letter Master introduces the concepts of the rules and exceptions and connects them together in a story form.

Joyce Herzog's Scaredy Cat Reading System: The Story of Letter Master

Joyce Herzog's Scaredy Cat Reading System: The Story of Letter Master

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How did we incorporate Scaredy Cat Reading System Level 3?

Izzie, 6 years old, used the reading system for three days a week during the review period.

We followed the suggested schedule from Dr. Herzog with a few modifications.  

1.  Each lesson can be taught by using the accompanying audio CD or by reading the scripted lesson.  Izzie preferred me reading the lesson to her.  In addition, we read The Story of Letter Master, which is not included in bundle. 

2.  Afterward, she reviewed the flashcard word pack for about 10 minutes.  It's suggested to do this daily for 5 to 15 minutes, 1 to 3 times a day.

3.  Then, she would practiced the Lesson's words and sentences by using one or more activities from the Teacher's Training section in the Teacher's Manual.  This averaged 20 minutes.

4.  If there was a game to play from the Fun Learning Pack, we played it.  If not, she would complete a few pages from the Student Activity Book.  This averaged 15 minutes.

5.  Finally, I would test her for one minute to see how many words she was able to read.

  On average, the daily lesson took us an hour to complete. 

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What I liked:

•  The mastery-based learning approach implemented within the reading system.  I didn't feel like I needed to rush Izzie through a lesson just to get to the next lesson.  She was allowed to stay on each lesson until she had mastered the concept.  

•   Izzie really enjoyed playing the games in the Fun Learning Pack!  The interactive games were a great way to introduce and practice the concepts. 

• There were a variety of activities in the Student Activity Book.  It's very well designed for differentiated learning! 

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What I would suggest for improvement:

•  The Story of Letter Master, the foundation of the program, is not included in the Scaredy Cat Reading System Level 3 bundle.  When I received the bundle and was beginning to get all the components together, I saw this mentioned in the Contents Section of the Teacher's Manual.  I frantically searched through my package to see if the "foundation of the program" was sent along with the bundle. Thankfully, it was for the review.  However, I immediately thought of the parent who purchased the bundle, only to found out that the foundation of the program is not included in the bundle.  I would be very disappointed.  It would be very considerate to include The Story of Letter Master, the foundation of the program, with the bundle.   

• A condensed or better organized version of the Teacher's Manual.  I found the Teacher's Manual very difficult to follow.  There is a lot of good valuable information, just presented in a very confusing manner.

• Izzie didn't care for the the Student Reader.  She complained that the there were too many words on the page and the words were too close together.   She also missed seeing pictures to accompany the stories.  A more child friendly reader would be helpful. 

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I encourage you to sail over to read what other Crew Mates had to say about their experience with the different levels of Joyce Herzog's Scaredy Cat Reading System.