At this time of year, millions of American children head back to school, and millions of moms heave a collective sigh of relief.  However, while many parents are enjoying the cessation of the droning, “But, Mom, I’m bored,” others cringe as their children’s sighs of boredom are replaced by cries of frustration.  While the back-to-school season can be a time of excitement and anticipation for many, it is a time of anxiety for many children who struggle in school and for parents who want to ensure the best education possible for their children.  For parents looking to give their students an edge, As Seen On TV educational resources have provided a convenient means of enhancing reading, math, and study skills among children from preschool through college.  One of the most enduring educational products sold on television is Hooked On Phonics.

It is hard to believe that a quarter of a century has passed since American families first heard the familiar catchphrase, “Hooked On Phonics worked for me!”   Designed by a father struggling to help his son overcome reading problems, the Hooked On Phonics learning system was introduced to consumers in 1987, and since that time, the system has continued to grow and evolve.  Originally a simple, yet effective, learn-to-read system, Hooked on Phonics now encompasses new and varied media and technologies to teach reading and other subjects, relying on books, flash cards, computer games, and music to engage learners.

Through partnerships with educational agencies such as KinderCare Learning Centers and Educate, Inc./Sylvan Learning, Hooked On Phonics developed programs for study skills success and other subjects in addition to reading:  Hooked On Spanish, Hooked On Spelling, Hooked On Handwriting, and others.

Recently, Hooked On Phonics re-vamped its flagship Learn to Read program to include more interactive technologies and new materials.  Through SeenOnTVExpress.com, you can take advantage of a thirty-day trial of the Hooked On Phonics Learn to Read system, which includes:

•  8 DVDs to introduce letters, sounds and combinations
• 8 workbooks to reinforce and practice the skills introduced in the DVDs
• 36  illustrated storybooks for independent reading practice
• Online interactive tools for practice through games and printable worksheets.
• Quick Start Guide
• The Advanced Reading Level for further skill development
•  Bonus Sing-along CD with original music
• Bonus DVD with animation, stories, and dance

Research has continually demonstrated that children who are successful in school are more likely to enjoy school and learning.  As your child heads back to school, help him or her to get hooked on learning with Hooked On Phonics.

I have a little secret to share with you:  I used to be a librarian.  Shhhh!  One of the sad facts for a bibliophile like me is that books seem to be slowly disappearing.  Kindles, eReaders, e-books, and more are taking the place of actual, physical, paper and ink books.  This is especially true when it comes to encyclopedia sets.  Huge, multivolume sets have been replaced by online versions.  Remember plagiarizing World Book for all of your grade school reports?  Now copying the encyclopedia verbatim has become much easier by using the cut and paste features of your favorite word processing system.

My nostalgia for old-school learning brings us today’s Way Back Wednesday infomercial from 1992–the year I graduated from high school with no help from the internet whatsoever.  This advertisement for Encyclopedia Britannica is a bizarre conversation between a young man in Sally Jesse glasses, a voice over man who is not James Earl Jones, and a tv-watching child, whom I suspect is Annie Potts of Designing Women fame:

Now, this infomercial is intended to poke fun at televsion marketing, but it completely fails to sell the product in doing so.  There are no benefits listed, no examples provided–other than to show you that elephants are listed in volume 4, and that they are endangered.  Really, this commercial gives absolutely no incentive to buy the encyclopedia.

Compare the vintage Encyclopedia Britannica to a commercial for the all new Hooked on Phonics Learn to Read system.  This commercial outlines the educational benefits of the program, details what is included with the system, and uses interactivity to engage emerging readers.

Maybe the next generation of readers will revive the book.  Paper pages — how very retro-chic!

*Ten points to you if you got the Animal House reference in the title.