HOMER Learn & Grow
Personalized early literacy program chock-full of choices.
Parents say
Based on 40 reviews
Kids say
Based on 4 reviews
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HOMER Learn & Grow
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this app.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that HOMER Learn & Grow is a research-based reading program that gives up to four kids the ability to personalize learning level and preferences. Kids can develop skills through stories, phonics lessons, songs, their own voice recordings, drawing, and more. Though the focus of HOMER Learn & Grow is on reading, there are also activities that touch on other early learning themes such as foundational math concepts and creativity. Prereaders can use this app independently with the app's verbal instructions and visual prompts. When they create a new user profile, parents answer a series of questions about what their kids know, which leads to a personalized learning plan. Once in, parents can also choose which activities and subject areas kids can access. Subject-specific reading lessons include some of kids' favorite topics, such as holidays, planes, and dinosaurs. Some activities require parents to allow access to their device's microphone. Also, some content can take a little while to load, which may frustrate little ones. Upon downloading, parents must create an account and choose a subscription model: $9.99/month or $59.99/year. Both subscription types start with a 30-day free trial. HOMER Learn & Grow is a redesigned version of what used to be called HOMER Reading: Learn to Read. At the time of this review, the updated app was available for iOS only; the developer claims that an Android update is coming soon. Read the developer's privacy policy for details on how your (or your kids') information is collected, used, and shared and any choices you may have in the matter, and note that privacy policies and terms of service frequently change.
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What’s It About?
First, sign up for an account with HOMER LEARN & GROW. Then, indicate your kid's age and answer a series of questions about their interests and current reading level to establish a user profile for each kid (up to four users). Finally, tap Play. Kids can choose from seven areas: Math, Stories, Games, Reading, Songs, Creativity, and Practice. The Reading area puts kids on a personalized reading pathway that sequentially introduces skills and games to teach letters, phonics, and so on. For example, kids learn phonics skills and then record their own voice saying the sounds. The other areas offer kids a menu of activities to choose from, including song videos, coloring pages, letter writing practice, puzzles, and storybooks. Parents receive updates and supplemental information through the email address they provided when creating an account.
Is It Any Good?
This award-winning, research-supported program shines most in its reading activities that encourage kids to actively engage with learning by tapping answers, recording their own voice, and choosing what they'd like to explore. Because HOMER Learn & Grow adapts to your kid's reading level and interests, it creates a personal learning path that helps guide kids toward literacy. Something (and probably many things) in this app will strike a chord of interest with almost any kid.
In addition to the excellent systematic phonics lessons here, there's also content related to literacy, such as songs and nursery rhymes, as well as content that touches on other early learning themes, such as numbers. The stories and songs sections nicely include many genre-specific selections, such as poetry and folk tales, as well as well-known classics like Harold and the Purple Crayon. However, the non-literacy-related content feels weak compared to the reading program. It's much less thorough and often feels simply like an add-on. On the other hand, the upside is that even kids who aren't quite ready to read can easily find something to do. One small nitpicky note: The positive feedback ("Hooray and Happy Day!" and "Wiggly ears, cheers!") can feel a bit over-the-top after a while. Overall, HOMER Learn & Grow is an excellent resource to help kids on their journey toward learning to read.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about using HOMER Learn & Grow to practice reading skills. Visit the developer's website to get ideas for extension activities to continue the lessons together off-screen.
If kids connect with music more than reading, use Songs and Rhymes to engage them with the app first before moving on to the more traditional phonics lessons.
Use your kid's interests to foster a love of reading and build off of the activities in the app to bridge learning and real life.
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire
- Subjects: Language & Reading: following directions, letter or word recognition, phonics, reading, reading comprehension, speaking, Math: numbers, shapes, Science: animals, Social Studies: cultural understanding, historical figures, Arts: drawing, music
- Skills: Thinking & Reasoning: applying information, solving puzzles, thinking critically, Creativity: making new creations, Self-Direction: academic development, self-reflection, Communication: speaking
- Pricing structure: Free to try (First month free, then $9.99 per month or $59.99/year.)
- Release date: September 28, 2020
- Category: Education
- Topics: Numbers and Letters
- Publisher: Homer
- Version: 9.0
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 10.0 or later; Android 5.0 and up
- Last updated: November 9, 2020
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