How does it work?

You start with Book One (or Book SIx if a child can already read small words fluently), 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.  (See sample pages)

What's the big deal about "shared reading"?

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

More fun:  Let's face it - flash cards are boring.  And how many times can you read, "See Spot run" before you start snoring?  The silly little rhymes, stories and illustrations in Progressive Phonics books make learning more enjoyable, and recent neuroscience research shows that the brain learns better and faster when humor is used.

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."

What's the big deal about "high frequency words"?

Back in the 1950's, Dr. Edward Dolch proved 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-learning-curve approach.

Why do I have to use the books in sequence?

Progressive Phonics is a sequential program -- each book (and each section within a book) introduces new concepts, and builds upon skills learned in earlier materials.

Children should either start at Book One (for beginning readers or for children who are still mixing up the consonants), or at Book Six (for children who can already read short vowel words with some fluency).

How long does it take?

Ten or twenty minutes a day, several times a week, can make a huge difference in boosting a child's primary education.

At this rate, most children advance one or two reading levels in just a few months -- sometimes in just a few weeks.

Who can use it?

Anyone!  All the lessons are built into the pages of the books, making anyone an "instant expert" at teaching reading.

What about the writing worksheets?

You can also print and use the included handwriting worksheets, memory games, and flash cards to reinforce what a child is learning.

Handwriting is an effective tool for teaching language and reading because it allows access to kinesthetic (motion) memory, the earliest, strongest and most reliable memory channel.  (Click here to read our article on handwriting and reading.)

Does it work?

Yes it does.  Browse testimonials and comments from teachers, parents, grandparents, and special-education teachers.