How does it work?
Why should children read out loud?
The importance of doing it in sequence.
Can I get printed copies of the books?
Who can use Progressive Phonics?
Can it be taught in groups?
Is it boring?
What are "high frequency words"?
What is "ten second memory"?  
What age group is it for?
How long does it take?
Why is handwriting so important?
How long has Progressive Phonics been around?
Can I see sample pages?

How does it work?

You begin with Book One or whichever book matches a child's reading skills, and just start reading.  All the "lessons" are built into the pages of the books.   The child reads the "big, red words" and the parent/teacher reads the rest of the text, sort of like reading different parts in a play. 

Why should children read out loud?

Reading out loud, also known as "guided oral reading," is a proven method of teaching reading.

Fastest, surest method:  The National Reading Panel conducted an exhaustive survey of hundreds of teaching-reading methods, and the results were clear:  guided oral reading was the hands down, no-contest winner.  (See article about it; or read the National Reading Panel's report.)

Takes the pressure off the child:  When a child is responsible for reading only the "big, red words", the child is free to focus and absorb the lesson at hand without being overwhelmed by the other words in a sentence. 

Teaches language:  A child learns the structure and nuances of a language by hearing it.  Because Progressive Phonics materials use full sentences and everyday grammatical structure, a child is absorbing a lot more than just the "big, red words."

The importance of doing it in sequence

It is best to use Progressive Phonics in sequence and not skip around.

This is because Progressive Phonics approaches reading as a "science" (like Matth), where individual skills are taught SEQUENTIALLY until the child has mastered the subject.

So just as you wouldn't teach addition before a child can count, you shouldn't teach long vowels before a child has mastered short vowels, or teach consonnant blends or four-letter wordsbefore a child is comfortable decoding small, three-letter words.

Can I get printed copies of the books?

Not at this time.  The only versions available are the downloadable books from the Internet.  Starting in Fall '08, printed versions should start becoming available in some parts of the world.

Who can use Progressive Phonics?

Anyone can use Progressive Phonics -- friends, family, older kids, volunteers, tutors, teachers, reading specialists, etc. 

Progressive Phonics also makes it easy for teachers to "recruit help" in teaching kids to read -- teachers can pair up good readers with struggling readers, or older kids with younger kids.  Teachers can also bring in just about anyone to volunteer in the classroom, and can send children home with assignments to work on. 

Can it be taught in groups?

Progressive Phonics can be taught one-on-one or in small groups.

If large groups are taught, we also recommend that teachers supplement the lessons with individual attention such as sending the kids home with photocopies of pages to be worked on at home.  Teachers can also recommend that parents get access to Progressive Phonics and work with their kids on an assigned book.

This is because learning- readers flourish when they get individual attention.  No computer program has yet been developed that can take the place of personal attention when it comes to teaching children how to read.

Is it boring?

Progressive Phonics is anythuing but boring.

Let's face it, flash cards ARE boring -- and how many times can you read, "cat sat, Mat sat," before you start snoring? 

The silly little rhymes, stories and illustrations in Progressive Phonics books make learning fun.  Research also shows us that the brain learns better and faster when humor is used.

What are "high frequency words"?

Back in the 1950's, Dr. Edward Dolch found that there were 220 high-frequency words that make up 50%–70% of all written text.  These words, such as I, an, what, go, have, the, of, that, for, etc., are the "connecting" words that hold sentences together.

If a child can quickly and automatically read these 220 key words, then a child only has to decode/figure out a handful of words in each sentence = a child can read more fluently and with less frustration.

Problem is, one-third of these 220 high-frequency words defy or bend phonics rules, and cannot be learned with phonics alone.

Progressive Phonics is the first all-in-one reading program that "marries" the "Dolch sight words" with a phonics program in a structured, easy-to-learn approach.

What is "ten second" memory?

For an explanation on "ten second memory" click:

What age group is it for?

Progressive Phonics books are used on a wide range of ages, from 3 - 4 year olds all the way up to teenagers, and sometimes even adults.

Approximate age ranges would be:

Beginning book set: 4 - 6 year olds (though some younger kids do fine, and some kids don't have the focus until they're 7 or 8)

Intermediate book set: 6 - 8 year olds (though some younger kids do fine with these books)

Advanced book set: 7 - 10 year olds (it totally depends on the kid)

How long does it take?

Some kids can complete all three book series in a year or less. Some kids take a couple of years. Some kids, especially older kids who are doing the book to remedy gaps/problems in their reading education, can complete Progressive Phonics in a matter of months.

In any case, reading improvement is usually seen within a matter of days of starting.

Why is handwriting so important?

Our article on reading and writing explains this well.

How long has Progressive Phonics been around?

Although Progressive Phonics is only two years old, it is based on educational principles that have been with us for tens of years.

The only things "new" about Progressive Phonics are (a) use of  "big, red words"  and (b) the method of application -- Progressive Phonics is the first all-in-one program to put ALL the proven techniques of teaching reading into one easy-to-use package.

Can I see sample pages?

The best way to see simple pages is to go to the download pages for the different book series, and click on the "preview" buttons.

Beginner books
Intermediate books
Advanced books
Alphabetti books