Samson's Classroom (review)

Samson's Classroom is an online educational program for K-5 students.  It uses games to teach students the three core building blocks of reading.  Your student will have access to Sight Words with Samson, Spelling with Samson, and Reading with Samson.  I would encourage you to watch the 3 minute demo video to best understand and get a feel for how the online program operates. 

Important to note from the very beginning,  like so many other products in the cyber realm, you will not find your subscription out of date immediately upon purchase and installation.  Samson's Classroom is ever-expanding, improving, and growing. As new new product releases and upgrades are made, they are added to your package at no additional cost.  I appreciate this aspect of customer service!

 

Designed with early readers in mind, Sight Words with Samson leads students in mastering 224 of the most commonly used words in our English language. This ensures a solid basis for the emerging reader.  For each set of sight words, a 5 step process is employed to assist children in learning the frequently used words.  First, the words are introduced and pronounced correctly; then, the child uses the words in a sentence.  Next, the words are spelled.  They are correctly identified, and finally the students are quizzed on the words. 

Caleb actually spent the majority of his time working in the sight word area of Samson's Classroom.  His proficiency and fluency with these words greatly improved.  He thrived on the repeat and routine he found moving from lesson to lesson.  He was able to interact with each of the words repeatedly and truly committed them to memory.  I was pleased with his progression through this portion of the program.  To track his progress, the program uses a scoreboard.  Additionally, in the resource center parents can print out achievement certificates to recognize students when they complete each level or additional worksheets and flashcards if remediation or extra practice is warranted. 

Many kids balk at spelling words... mine included!  Spelling with Samson is much more appealing than traditional drill and practice activities because it is games, games, games.  The short games draws from a vault of 7,000 + words.  However, the lists can be customized so that you have control over what words your child is focusing on and can coordinate with your current spelling curriculum.  You may also select from pre-designed lists. 

 

Often online programs focus simply on the skills needed to learn to read but fail to give any attention to being able to recall, retain, and understand what is read.  I appreciate the Reading with Samson portion of Samson's Classroom because it stresses reading comprehension and logical analysis of passages.  Children are learning to infer and draw conclusions based on the text they have read. 

A unique feature in this program takes place when a student answers a question incorrectly.  The relative and important information is highlighted within the passage so that the student may return to the text with a focal point.  The student is then given the opportunity to answer the question a second time.  In doing this a few times, the student should better grasp how to find information accurately within the passage and increase his success rate in responding to questions.  As with the other programs support is available to students through the available worksheets and lesson plans that parents are able to print from the resource center. 

Samson's Classroom offers various pricing options.   A subscription for one user is $30 per year.  A family subscription for up to four users costs $50 per year.  Classroom and school subscriptions are also available. 

Prior to purchase, I'd encourage you to have your children play the demo games.  There are examples for each of the three sections of the online program.  Even better, you don't have to set up an account to give them a try.  It's quick and easy!  I also recommend that you click the button below to read what other Schoolhouse Review Crew Members are saying about Samson's Classroom. 

  Disclaimer:  I was provided Samson's Classroom accounts for my children in exchange for my honest review.