Can I use the Right Track Reading Lessons program with my child who is struggling with reading? Can the program be used to improve reading skills in students who are having difficulty reading?
Yes! Effective direct systematic phonics instruction can have dramatic results, especially with students who are struggling with reading. The research reveals that direct systematic phonics instruction produces significant benefits for students in kindergarten through 6th grade and for children having difficulty learning to read. The new brain imaging research shows that effective instruction using direct phonological based reading programs not only improves reading skills but actually develops the neural pathways for proficient reading. While it is best to get children reading proficiently early, older students can definitely be remediated. For additional background information, see the articles Students who Face Difficulties Learning to Read: Information on Reading Problems and Dyslexia and How to Help a Child or Student Who Struggles With Reading Overcome Their Reading Difficulties and Achieve Reading Success
Right Track Reading Lessons is targeted to the needs of young children who are learning to read. Back on the Right Track Reading Lessons is specifically targeted to the needs of older students who struggle with reading. See the answer to the question “Which program should I use” to help determine which program would be best for your child or student.
The validated research results show the effectiveness of direct systematic phonics programs. However, it was my actual experience tutoring struggling children that has made me so passionate about the importance of teaching students with effective direct systematic phonics programs. Time after time, I have seen struggling students who made dramatic improvements and quickly learned to read simply because they were taught with effective direct systematic phonics. I will share a few actual examples that show that by simply using effective direct systematic phonics we can make a difference in reading proficiency, one student at a time!
- The 2nd grader who could not read the word ‘at’: This bright boy had been in school 2 years and did not know how to read. He came in telling me he could not read and he hated school. After only 6 tutoring sessions he read me a list of over 100 words! More importantly, in a matter of weeks he made a 180 degree change in his attitude. He suddenly loved school, was excited about reading. His proud grin when he told me “I’m a good reader!” proved beyond a doubt the effectiveness of this program. By the end of the year he completed the entire program and was reading grade level with his classmates!
- Another 2nd grader who transferred in mid-year from Canada speaking but not reading any English: He came in with a negative attitude telling me he could not read and did not want to read! Once again in a short time, he was learning to read. (In approximately 20 total hours of instruction (40 ½- hour sessions) he went from not being able to read anything (he said ‘ham’ for every word he saw) to accurately reading over 500 words and two pages of decodable sentences in one short session. While he still needed to learn the vowel combinations and r-controlled vowel combinations he was on his way to reading success.
- The kindergartener who did not knowing any sounds or even the difference between letters and numbers: This sweet child also had some speech difficulties. It took extra time to get started, as we had to spend time on phonemic awareness and on initial alphabetic awareness. After 15 hours of instruction (30 ½-hour sessions) he had developed phonemic awareness, knew over 20 basic sounds and was able to blend these sounds and accurately read simple decodable words made from these sounds. On his last session he accurately read 110 decodable words in a list and a dozen simple sentences! Although he was still in the beginning stages, he was learning how to read!
- The 5th grader who had been struggling with reading and spelling since 1st grade: She was having difficulty reading grade level text and was flunking most of her spelling tests. Her reading difficulties also created problems in all other subjects. In only 28 tutoring sessions (less than 20 hours of instruction) she completed the program. She could read out loud in class with few errors, was able to read her classroom and homework material on her own, and had improved success spelling.
- The 7th grader who faced serious reading problems: This student faced significant difficulty reading all grade level material and consequently struggled in all subjects. When I first evaluated this student, he had >20 errors on one short page of grade level text and could not achieve necessary comprehension because of the high level of effort and frequency of errors. After only approximately 14 hours of instruction time (14 1-hour sessions condensed into a 4 week time period), this cooperative and hard working student completed the program and demonstrated dramatic improvement in reading ability. Shortly after I finished tutoring him, his mother said she came home from work to find him voluntarily reading a book. Something he had never done before.
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Additional information, articles and resources on teaching students to read proficiently is located on the Free Reading Information page of the Right Track Reading website.
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This information was written by Miscese Gagen a mother with a passion for teaching children to read proficiently by using effective methods. She is also a successful reading tutor and author of the reading instructional programs Right Track Reading Lessons and Back on the Right Track Reading Lessons. The purpose of this information is to empower parents and teachers with information on teaching children how to read. We CAN improve reading proficiency, one student at a time! More information is located at www.righttrackreading.com ~ Copyright 2005-2007 Miscese R. Gagen