Raising Robust Readers is a phonics-based, phonogram-specific, family-friendly reading program that uses multi-sensory teaching strategies to go beyond the 26 alphabet letters to teach the remaining 46 letter combinations. These 72 phonograms, along with the 6 significant syllable patterns, make reading logical, predictable and easy to decode.
Dyslexia is characterized by difficulties with word recognition and fluency as well as poor spelling and decoding skills.
There is no correlation between dyslexia and IQ. It is genetic, runs in families and has neurolological, brain-based differences. Dyslexia is hard to diagnose, and sometimes subjective. Once diagnosed, you can't take a pill or a shot, and have it go away.
Do you have a struggling reader? You are not alone. According to the 2015 Nations Report Card, approximately two-thirds (2/3) of 4th and 8th graders, nationwide, are not reading at grade level.
Traditional methods are failing many of our children. Instruction should fit the child. The child, if not progressing, should not be expected to fit the instruction.
According to Patricia Mathes, PH.D. and Editor-in-Chief of Annals of Dyslexia, "When intensive intervention is provided early, before failure has occurred, dyslexia can be largely avoided." Instruction is the most important environmental factor. In other words, if a child is instructed with ineffective reading methods, the condition will be exacerbated, not alleviated. For more information, listen to her webinar, Curing Dyslexia, What is Possible?
According to the International Dyslexia Association, Orton-Gillingham systems are recognized as the only research-proven, effective methods in working with individuals who have dyslexia. These methods use multi-sensory decoding skills that teach reading which build on sounds, syllables and spelling rules. Although well intentioned, most schools don’t have the resources to diagnose dyslexia, and most classroom teachers have not been trained to remediate in Orton-Gillingham methods. Parents expect schools to provide evaluation and remediation for their struggling readers; but navigating the bureaucracy can take months and even years. Your child cannot afford to wait!
There are proven ways to help dyslexic children learn to read. Listen to an American Public Media documentary on dyslexia, school inadequacy and parent advocacy.
Why choose our course?
Raising Robust Readers incorporates the best practices of the National Reading Panel, the National Right to Read Foundation and the International Dyslexia Association. This, multi-sensory, explicit and systematic instruction of phonics, which is critical for a child with dyslexia, is at the core of our program. But, equally as important, is the built-in, fun-filled play. Play promotes brain growth and creates an additional pathway to learning.
Don't be fooled by the notion that only 'trained professionals' can teach reading. We designed this course for parents, volunteers and all caring adults who want to help children learn to read. No more spending time teaching reading for 30 minutes across a table. When parents teach, and children learn, on the go wherever they go, the experience is easier, more enjoyable and more meaningful. The car, restaurants, supermarkets, the kitchen pantry and the doctor’s office replace stressful study sessions at desks and tables. The world is your workbook, and environmental print that is all around (signs, menus, etc.) is your worksheet.
Raising Robust Readers can be used for all ages. It is simple, clear, child-friendly and free of textbook jargon. Instruction can be easily adjusted and adapted for all ages and ability levels. Thus, when using developmentally appropriate strategies, everyone may benefit — from babies to adults, and from strong readers to struggling readers.
Sight words and whole word memorization may be detrimental to students with dyslexia. Decoding words in the traditional, letter-by-letter manner can have crippling results. Children are expected to memorize some 300 sight words when in fact most of them can be sounded out. Try sounding out ‘eight’ one letter at a time and pronounce the result. Now try explaining how that garbled sound equals ‘eight.’ The default solution is to make it a sight word. But there is a better way! With phonograms, the confusion, frustration and failure can be remedied, and your children will understand the WHY!
Where is the a in eight? Where is the e in amphibian? Where is the f in elephant? How do I explain why we spell cat with a c and kitten with a k? Both start with the same sound. How do I explain why duck ends in ck and lark ends in k? What else can I say instead of, "English is a crazy language. Just memorize the word."? I don't know any other explanation.
English is logical and sensible when you learn the reading code, and can explain it to your children. Click on the link at the bottom to find the answers.
Our multi-sensory instruction will teach your child or student auditory, visual, tactile and kinesthetic instruction, simultaneously, through songs, gestures and play. Our sequence of instruction is a carefully crafted departure from traditional approaches. Blending begins very early so learners experience the joy of reading, not just saying sounds and recognizing letters. Each phase is designed in small successful steps from simple to complex; from sounds to syllables to words. Your child or student will no longer need to randomly guess at unfamiliar words.
Robust Readers in Real Life:
Meet Sydney, a struggling reader, whose life has been changed with the Raising Robust Readers course.
Sydney was struggling to memorize the 300 sight words that were required by her school in first grade and falling behind in her reading. Concerned, her mother enrolled her in Raising Robust Readers. After only three months, Sydney's reading level had improved to above grade level. She progressed so quickly that her teacher said "the results didn't even look real on paper!" Sydney's self-esteem and confidence started to soar along with her reading. Her one goal was to be able to "read a chapter book like the rest of her girlfriends." Mission Accomplished!!
Ideal for Busy Parents & Struggling Readers
The Online Course with 18 step-by-step modules includes everything you need to teach your child how to read, including downloadable worksheets, fun-filled activities and more!
Easy for parents to learn and teach. Our online course videos guide you through the course, and show you the most effective methods to teach your child.
Uses the multi-sensory, research-based Orton-Gillingham approach
Literally it means being aware of sounds. This term refers to spoken sounds. It is the ability to hear sounds and manipulate them. For example “t-a-p” vs “p-a-t.” Both have the same letters; but they are in a different order. Or “t-a-p” vs. “t-o-p” where the vowel sound is different. Note: This term differs from ‘phonogram’ which refers to the printed symbol.
You can learn at any age.
Oh my goodness yes. Every child deserves to learn the simplicity (yes, simplicity!!) and clarity of our English language. There are some children who are just natural readers. They just ‘get it’ when it comes to reading. But when they understand more fully how the pieces go together, their skills are taken to an even higher level. However, this group is in the minority. The 2015 Nations Report Card revealed that approximately 2/3rds of 4th and 8th graders, nationwide, read below proficiency. The scores for 12th graders in 2015 were 5 points lower than in 1992. That should be enough proof that all children can benefit from a better method of instruction.
First, go to the teacher and show her what you have been doing at home. Show her how effectively your son is putting sounds together to read words. Ask her to incorporate the program into his reading instruction. If there is resistance, you can call an Individualized Educational Plan meeting. Bring documentation regarding Orton-Gillingham-based instruction and documentation regarding your son’s progress. The term “Individualized” is there for a reason. We suggest listening to the excellent documentary “Hard to Read” produced by American Public Media. Although the program focuses on dyslexia, there is a wealth of information on the effectiveness of the Orton-Gillingham method and on parent advocacy. As a parent of a child with Down syndrome, you will be able to identify with many, many points that are discussed. Here is the link:
Because we want children to experience success from the very beginning, and at each step moving forward, we begin with phonograms that have only one sound. That way, when they begin blending, there is only one possible sound for each. Hence, no guessing; just success. For that reason, we teach single sounds consonants and vowel buddies before we teach two-sound consonants and multi-sound vowels. Experiencing success at the beginning means that students are more confident when moving to the more complex steps.
There is no set time. Frequent, short spurts tend to be very effective. This helps with short attention spans, and helps retention. Using environment print and teachable moments are generally more meaningful than worksheets. Think circling 'bossy r' phonograms on a menu or just making a "buddy-bet" on whether you two will pass a jEEp in the parking lot as you go from your car to the grocery store. There are also times you can create a whole activity around one phonogram such as making a weird beige shirt when studying phonogram “ei” or even spend a whole afternoon having a picnic, eating ice cream, and taking a taxi ride to teach the three sounds of ‘i.’
Parents can be a child’s most effective teacher. There is so much going on in a classroom, that individualized, direct reading instruction is limited. And ‘reading time’ occurs whether your child is in a receptive mood or not with a teacher who may or may not have been trained in best practices. You know your child’s personality; you are with your child day and night; you have the opportunity for meaningful teachable moments. You have the greatest incentive for your child’s future independence. But you have to understand how the process works. With Raising Robust Readers, you gain the knowledge and confidence to be the constant support for your child either at a desk or on the go wherever you go. For more reasons why parents should take a more hands-on approach, listen to the documentary “Hard to Read” . You will also hear about how well teachers know (or don't know!) the components of effective reading instruction as set out by the National Reading Panel in 2000 and as researched by the National Council on Teacher Quality in 2016.
Awards and Accolades
Authors Judy O’Halloran and Marilee Senior received a 2015 Moonbeam Children’s Book Award for literacy for “The ABCs of the Sounds We Read: Going Beyond the Alphabet to Discover the Reading Code.”
Raising Robust Readers has been chosen by GiGi's Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Centers to be used internationally with their literacy programs.