Starfall offers both a free online phonics/reading program and a (fee-based) reading/language arts curriculum that is "magical, creative, sequential, integrated, and combines content area instruction in Social Studies and Science - that's kindergarten, the Starfall Way. Starfall uses fantasy as a springboard for motivating children to use their natural sense of wonder and curiosity to enhance learning. Children interact with Starfall characters in the classroom as well as through stories, songs, rhymes, practice books, writing journals, and activities online." More.Starfall.com is a separate membership area of the site that extends available offerings to include customizable worksheet generators, lesson plans, math games, more extensive phonics games, and more.
Website: Starfall
(47 Reviews)
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Contributor Reviews
Reviews are solely the opinions of the contributor.
You can't beat FREE!!! Both of my kids love this site - it's so easy to use, they can do it all themselves! They are having fun and reading at the same time!
Grades Used: 1st
Free, fun and full of action. No child will hate to do their "school work" on this website! 🙂 My little guy thinks its just games, not school. Fun learning is the best learning.
Cons: Only for youner children
Grades Used: K
Great product!
Grades Used: Pre-K, K
My kids loved this when they were first learning to read. Great for learning early phonics AND early computer skills.
Cons: didnt do older kids
Grades Used: K.1.2
i really liked this,FREE is my fav!
Cons: none
Grades Used: Prek-k
Although Starfall is primarily for Prek-k, it can be used for 1-2 grades for the lower students.
Cons: lots of computer time, hard if can't use a mouse well
Grades Used: pre-k
Free easy to use and fun. My 3 1/2 year has used it for almost two years now and he still loves it. Need a minute? having a 'bad school day'? get on starfall. A very useful tool.
My daughter loved using this. It was great that she could work on the sounds as we were covering them.
Cons: doesn't want to get off
Grades Used: Pre-K to 1st
My daughter (1st grade) uses the program to reinforce what I'm teaching and loves it. My two year old son watches and is learning too!
Cons: Need computer access
Grades Used: PreK-2
I used this fantastic website when my daughter was learning to read. She is 13 now, and I am still recommending it to other moms. That is how helpful and memorable the site is. I had another mother of a teen mention to me just yesterday that she posts the link on a homeschool website on a monthly basis just so that moms with younger kids won't miss out on this terrific resource.
Cons: they don't want to stop...
Grades Used: PreK, K, 1st
I like this site for reinforcement. It is nice to get someone other than mommy telling them what sounds the letters say! When we finish a new sound in our Phonics Pathways book, we go to Starfall and practice reading it. I can trust the kids on this site and they are not going to get bored and want to change activities right away. Good resource!
Cons: addictive
Grades Used: PreK-1st
We love Starfall. From the time our kids are 2 or 2.5 and learn to use the mouse, they love to play with this website. It is great that they don't even have to know how to "click and drag" with the mouse - just click. One of my daughters played with Starfall for about a year, and then wanted to "do reading" like her sister, so she learned to read when she was almost 3 (for which I credit Starfall, since I wasn't working with her much on reading readiness at age 2). It teaches letter sounds, basic phonics, sounding out words, and more, all with games and activities. It also has lots of sight words that the children absorb along the way as they play some of the games in the more advanced sections of the site. My (2.5 year old) son asks for this first thing in the morning, so we have to limit computer time already, but I have not yet found anything in Starfall that I strongly object to. I think it's really great for helping kids learn reading basics in a fun and non-pressured way.
Cons: addictive
Grades Used: PreK-1st (currently)
My son loves Starfall! Even though he is reading beyond its level, he still plays it sometimes. Although I'm thankful for the site and am rating it five stars, I do have one reservation. Granted, not everyone has a problem with this, but I do. I don't like the Earth Day song. When I first heard of Earth Day 22 years ago, I figured out rather quickly that it was more about worshipping the Creation rather than the Creator. I would rather my son have as little exposure to this concept as possible, but there is no way to block that feature.
Other than my one reservation, it is an excellent resource!
Cons: Repetitive
FREE and online!! I used this as a supplement while teaching my daughter how to read. Unfortunately by the time I found out about it she had pretty much already learned much of what it covered. However, it was great review. Fun and engaging.
My oldest now helps my 2 year old do some of the games on it. The are learning their sign language alphabet and like watching the cartoon do the signs for each letter.
You can't beat something this engaging and FREE!
Cons: NA
Grades Used: Toddler through K
Starfall is a wonderful site for letter recognition and early reading. My three year old loves to do her own "learning" while her older siblings are working. The songs and videos keep her attention while she learns.
Cons: Repetitive
Grades Used: K-2
Starfall is an a great addition to our homeschool. It allows computer time that is educational and fun. I recently found on the Starfall website that you can print teacher resources worksheets to go with the lessons. I only wish they would add some new content.
Cons: no new content
Grades Used: pre K
My 3-yo dd absolutely LOVES this site! I can put her on it to do her "school" while I'm teaching her brothers. It's fun and entertaining and she's actually learning while she plays. She tends to take over my laptop for hours on end, but then she's already pre-reading - on her own! You can't complain about that. My only regret is that there is no new content - nothing has been changed that I know if in quite some time. So when she's gone through everything, there's nothing new to challenge her. But it's free, so I can't complain.
Cons: none
Grades Used: PreK, K, 1st
This free website if fun for kids. It is a great supplement to any phonics/reading program. It is simple to use and easy for a 4 year old to navigate. They have a great time while they are learning.
I love it that my daughter loves to go to this site for her "fun" computer time!
Cons: My children all use the computer but I'm not sure that's a good thing...
Grades Used: Pre-K-1
Starfall was a HUGE blessing to me when I started homeschooling my first daughter. She wanted to learn everything independently. Starfall allowed her to work independently on her reading skills, and she loved it! My second daughter is only a year younger, and was eager as could be to jump in with her sister in the learning.
IN addition to great online learning, they have the level 1 books available to download and print out at home. If you prefer, you can also purchase them pre-printed in color from their online store. I printed out the books and used them with my girls, and they enjoyed that. They have other printables available as well.
I plan to use this next year with my son, when he turns 4. I know he will enjoy using the computer, and it will help him keep busy while I work with his sisters. I'm excited to see that they have an ABC app available for the iPod/iPad!
Grades Used: PK, K, 1, 2
My 3 oldest children have all used this website to review reading skills. My 2nd grader with special needs asks if he can play on Starfall. I recomened this site for everyone.
Cons: too much computer time?
Grades Used: Kingeraten and First grade (currently)
I really love this site for my daughter. It's fun, interactive, useful and free!~Holly Garza