Intensive Reading Program Primary

The Intensive Reading Programs are designed for the child who, for some reason or other, has failed to acquire adequate reading skills during the course of the normal classroom language program. They are not designed to replace existing language programs but to supplement them by filling the gaps in the child's repertoire of skills, thereby improving their overall performance in language related areas.

Program content is based on the belief that adequate word attack skills and sight vocabulary are prerequisites for a child to be able to concentrate unhindered on the real task of reading, i.e. to extract meaning from print. The challenge, however, is not simply to identify a series of skills which need to be learned, but to present them in a manner which is radically different in style to that which they have experienced (and failed at) before. The approach must be intensive, systematic, motivational, must be seen by the student as relevant to his or her needs and must guarantee success. It is with these criteria in mind that the programs have been designed.

There are four separate programs, each designed to be completed in 10 weeks, each consisting of a teachers manual, reproducible student workbook, and reproducible games book. These are structured, skills-based reading programs with an easy to follow format for teachers or parents and feature lessons prepared with strikingly illustrated worksheets and games.

• Level 1 Program is a 10 week intensive reading course designed for the student with severe reading problems, i.e. R.A.<8 yrs. Content provides the student with extensive sight word vocabulary, knowledge of long vowel conventions (with final e) and introduction to syllable work.
• Level 2 Program is designed for the student who has completed Level 1 or who has already acquired those skills. The program teaches conventions such as ar, or, ee, ea, oa, ow, er, ou, etc. It also provides more work on syllables, and significantly increases vocabulary levels.
• Level 3 Program is appropriate as a starting point for the child who knows the basic skills but lacks knowledge of the more difficult conventions such as soft c, soft g, au, aw, ea (as in bread) silent letters etc. These students typically have a Reading Age between 8.6-9.6 yrs approx.
• Level 4 Program is particularly appropriate for the 6th class child with a Reading Age between 9.0-10.6 yrs approximately, who lacks knowledge of the advanced phonic skills needed to cope with reading at the secondary level, e.g. sounds of y, ch says k, ph, unconventional words, endings such as -sion, -cious, -tial, etc. Vocabulary enrichment is directed at upper primary level.

The workbooks of the Intensive Reading Programs are designed to be used in a particular way, with great emphasis being placed on reaching daily and weekly targets, charting progress and so on. Descriptions of all aspects of the program and instructions for best implementation are included in the Teacher's Manual.

Eight short novels and accompanying student books are also available to support the programs.