Floppy is Fun! (Magic Key, the)

Name: RachJayne

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Product:	Magic Key, the
Date:	25/02/01 (377 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: See text

Disadvantages: None that I can see.

This new, monthly, 35 page BBC children's magazine is based on characters from "The Oxford Reading Tree", a reading scheme widely used in schools. It helps parents to support their children's reading and writing skills during Key Stage One.

I have found it to be very useful with many different and fun activities to complete. It is targeted at the 5-7 age range but my 4 year old enjoys listening to the stories and can attempt some of the activities with help from me. Matthew, however, at 7 years old can complete most of them with little or no help after some initial guidance.

Most, if not all, of the literacy skills required for Key Stage One are covered, and the children are guided through these with the help of familiar characters such as Biff, Chip, Kipper and Floppy. Each page has Parents' Key Notes that tell you which area is covered and give you further ideas to use to consolidate each concept.

Throughout the magazine many different ways of writing are addressed in the February issue these include, lists, labels, poems and e-mails. Punctuation, spelling, handwriting and comprehension are also covered thoroughly. Every article is designed to encourage the children to do follow up activities or to discuss what they have done with an adult.

Some of the features in the February issue are:

Get arty with Chip;
Follow Chip's instructions to a make a wizard's hat. A combination of pictures and written instructions make this easy for a child to follow. Adult help is required to make it as the cone needs to fit and taping the edge down is difficult.

Wilf's Fact Finders;
Find out about famous magicians and the tricks they perform, afterwards perform your own magic trick. The instructions for the trick are easy to follow and the trick actually works, Matthew was amazed by it.

Wilma & Floppy Explore;
Learn all about book covers, write a back cover
for a book about rabbits, with the chance to win an educational prize. This activity is a bit more difficult to follow and I think most children will need some guidance.

Puddletown;
A read it yourself stories with questions at the end. I think that Year 1 children would need help to read this story, Matthew is in year 2 and read it with no problems. The questions are in the form of True or False therefore they are straightforward.

Hiddenwords;
Find out about compound words. The first task is to draw lines to split some words into two smaller words, paint/box, roller/blades etc. The second task is to join some different words together to make single words. These tasks are very simply laid out, making it easy to understand what is expected of you with clear examples shown.

Each month the magazine has 2 freebies attached to the front cover (Yes 2!!). One is a set of magnetic words, which change each issue. I highly rate these as Matt and Kyle have a great time competing for the best sentence on the fridge. Gift two varies, so far there has been a notebook, a magnifying glass, a magic code pen and this month a joke book. There are four advantages that I can see to these gifts:

1. They are free!!!
2. The celoptape doesn't tear the cover.
3. There is a guide on the inside back cover to help you get the most from them.
4. The kids actually use them and keep on using them which is always a bonus!

In general this is a very visually stimulating magazine, which is packed full of imaginative, entertaining fun ways for you to help your child get ahead in literacy. In my opinion it is well worth the £1.75 it costs, my two thoroughly enjoy recieving this each month and consider it a treat. Children learn best when they don't realise that they are being taught. Using a magazine like this upholds the concept the learning should be FUN.

Summary: