Hooked on Phonics

Hooked on Phonics (originally The Reading Revolution) is a commercial brand of educational materials, initially designed to teach reading through phonics. First marketed in 1986, the program uses systematic phonics and scaffolded stories to teach letter–sound correlations as part of children's literacy. Over time, the brand has expanded to include a wide variety of media, such as books, computer games, music, videos, and flashcards. The current primary target audience includes individuals, some schools, and homeschooling parents. The product gained significant recognition during the 1990s due to extensive television and radio advertising.

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Hooked on Phonics

Trade name	Hooked & Company
Industry	Books, software, educational materials
Genre	Educational
Predecessor	Gateway Educational Products 1984-1998 Gateway Learning Corporation 1998-2005
Founded	1986
Headquarters	Danbury, Connecticut
Owner	Sandviks Inc.
Parent	Simon & Schuster^[1]
Website	www.hookedonphonics.com

Hooked on Phonics (known as The Reading Revolution) was developed in 1984 by a father who couldn’t find the resources his son needed to succeed in reading, then the Learn to Read product known as the first edition of Hooked on Phonics, and the second editon of the same reading program were both released by Gateway Educational Products with the company called HMS Group in 1986. In 1987, Hooked on Phonics became a household name.^[2] The company's success was largely driven by significant advertising, leading to sales exceeding $100 million annually. The product's catchphrase, "Hooked on Phonics worked for me!", and the memorable telephone number "1-800-ABCDEFG" became widely recognized during 1980's, 1990's, 2000's.^[3]

In 1988, the Master the Facts product known as the first edition of Hooked on Math was released, the Foreign Language products from Passport Books, they are Speak Spanish, Speak French, and Speak German were both released, and the third edition of the same reading program was released.

In 1990, the History Vocabulary program known as We the People by Martin Sheen was released.

In 1991, the second edition of the same facts program, and the fourth edition of the same reading program were both released, along with We the People preview audio cassette tape, the infomercial of Hooked on Phonics was presented on television.

In 1992, the Read to Learn program, known as the first edition of the SRA Reading Power program by Don F. Parker was released, the third edition of the same facts program, and the fifth edition of the same reading program were both released. We recommend that they must complete the Hooked on Phonics program, before moving on to the SRA Reading Power program.

In 1993, the second edition of the same learning program, the fourth edition of the same facts program, the sixth edition of the same reading program were both released.

In 1994, the Hooked on Phonics Magazine issues were released, and the company was featured on Dateline NBC, with an official from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) accusing it of "deceptive advertising." Gateway Educational Products and the FTC reached a settlement, with the company agreeing to adhere to advertising guidelines and disclose all research data and consumer complaints.^[4] Despite the settlement, negative media coverage led to a significant decline in sales, resulting in the company's bankruptcy. In 1998, Gateway Educational Products was renamed to Gateway Learning Corporation, and they introduced the new Hooked on Phonics ･ Learn to Read program. In 1999, the third edition of the same learning program, and the seventh edition of the same reading program known as Hooked on Phonics Classic were both released, and they introduced the new Hooked on Math ･ Master the Facts program. In 2001, the company introduced the "Hooked on School Success" program, which included test-taking strategies and study skills. That same year, a partnership with KinderCare Learning Centers was established to use Hooked on Phonics materials in KinderCare's private childcare facilities.

In 2004, the FTC fined Gateway Learning Corporation, for retroactively changing its privacy policy without informing customers and for sharing private information, including data on children, with external marketing firms.^[5]

In 2005, Educate, Inc., which also operated Sylvan Learning, acquired Hooked on Phonics and began selling the products at retail. In 2006, the company released new educational programs, including Hooked on Spanish, Hooked on French, Hooked on German, Hooked on Handwriting, and Hooked on Spelling.^[6] By 2007, the Hooked on Phonics program had been introduced in over 30 countries. Later that year, the company was taken private and renamed "Smarterville, Inc." A new product called Hooked on English was released.

In 2009, the flagship Learn to Read product was extensively redesigned, incorporating DVDs, web customizations, and a new series of systematic phonics readers. This release also included 60 music videos composed by Russell Ginns and performed by artists such as Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer, and the acappella group The Bobs. Sandviks Inc. acquired Hooked on Phonics in 2011, bringing new management and a fresh start to the company.

In 2013, the Hooked on Phonics mobile app was launched for iOS and Android devices. This app was completely overhauled and relaunched in 2020. In 2022, the Hooked on Math app was introduced, and the brand expanded under the umbrella name Hooked & Company.

Hooked on Phonics

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