With regard to the reading program, in retrospect, I could have probably skipped it since my daughter is already reading pretty well and DOES NOT appreciate being asked to go back to learn the different sounds of the alphabet and rules of phonics that she has already instinctively figured out. So we have not done much with the reading program and I cannot give an opinion either way. I think that with an older child just starting to learn phonics, the reading program should work great since it IS a very well-thought out and logical program to follow. With my daughter, given her current reading level, I don't think we'll ever go back to using it. I think she's more than ready for the next step. So, if anybody in the forum is interested in a partially opened, slightly used Early Reading Kit from Jones Geniuses, you can send me a PM.