Are you looking for a simpler system for how to teach anyone how to read--whether beginning or struggling readers? Then watch along with this overview video of the Reading Simplified Academy....
Discover how our streamlined professional development enables you to learn the Reading Simplified system, so you can more rapidly teach readers of all ages.
See downloadable core activity word lists, samples of over 1000 pages of student resources, and teacher handouts that flesh out the complete Reading Simplified system. And learn how the cycle of watching videos, testing out an activity, reflecting in the online discussion board (Teachers' Lounge), and taking short quizzes prepare you to learn an approach for teaching ANYONE how to read.
Then we hope that you'll join us on the inside of the Reading Simplified Academy!
Watch Reading Simplified Academy Overview
We invite you to a sneak peek of the Reading Simplified Academy with this overview video below. All this will become yours when you become a member. 🙂
Discover the New Switch It Online
Whether you're teaching virtually or at home or in the classroom, this online tool for members only will avoid the hassle of organizing letter-sound cards while also engaging students more.
Take a peek....
What do you think?
Did this overview of the Reading Simplified Academy get you excited for professional learning again? We hope so!
We see such great success when teachers, parents, and grandparents implement the complete Reading Simplified system. But don't just take my word for it...Check out these video and written reviews of Reading Simplified from members all over the world.
Then please jump into the Academy now and come say, "Hi!" in our Teachers' Lounge!
I am starting a new position as a SERT teacher with older students (grades 5 – 8). Our school has used the Barton system in the past and it seems very similar to some of the activities I have been using from Reading Simplified in my kindergarten class. I am wondering if these same activities would be useful when working with the older kids. I love using them with my kinders!!
Absolutely Wendy! Any person, of any age, who’s not yet fluent in reading will likely benefit from the core Reading Simplified activities. I use these personally with kids of all ages, including high school. In our popular 3 Activities a Day to Keep Reading Difficulties Away online workshop, I show a case study of a 15 year-old who grew 8 years in word attack and 5+ years in comprehension with mostly the same activities that I was using with a Kindergarten student (readingsimplified.com/webinarr). We just change the level of the word difficulty and the level of the text itself, of course.
For older readers, we usually begin with more advanced Switch It lists and move almost immediately to Sort It and other related activities for teaching advanced phonics. Within a few weeks, we’re also folding in the teaching of multi-syllable words, too. Hope you can share your experience when you try it with those older students!
This year the majority of my second grade class is reading at a first grade level. They really need help with fluency. Has this helped any other teacher with this problem?
Hi Tami! First, build up the decoding since that’s the foundation of fluency. That’s almost always the problem. Here’s a page of the main activities for building decoding: ReadingSimplified.com/start-here
As you’re improving decoding, have your student re-read just short selections. Model fluent reading yourself to her after she has read it once herself. Aim for reading, say, 100 words in 1 minute. Just re-read that much–not an entire chapter, etc.
Some gimmicks that work for making it more fun are 1) charting one’s progress, 2) reading for others, 3) readers’ theater, 4) recording oneself.
Finally, the QuickReads books by Elfrieda Hiebert are great for this type of re-reading. You can get them used on amazon. The revisions since 2011/2012 have color pictures.
Hope this helps!
Hi Marnie
I was very impressed with the 5 evening sessions I participated in and the materials you have shared. U fortunately right now our schools will not allow volunteers in due to COVID so I do not have a ready group to work with . I am wondering if I should join by the month until I can get back in schools.
Question can I begin month to month and
then switch to the year fee. What does that look like?
Thanks Marnie
Hi Susan! Great question! Yes, if you want to switch from the monthly to the annual subscription, email Kaylah at [email protected] and she can assist you. Hope to see you in the Academy soon!
Hi there. I just want to thank you for all the free information you have given to us parents and teachers. I was ready to pull my hair out desperately trying to find some type of guide to help me, in which I’m a mom of a 3rd grader who’s reading at a level J. You have really given me a starting point. I have a few questions. I was wondering if you did some type of free trials? I’m very interested in the program, but I’m not a 100% sure that this would solve my childs struggle. I’d like to some how be able to look through all that your program offers for the 2nd-3rd grade levels. My child struggles with blending. Poor thing is just stuck and I’m trying to help her find her way out. I watched the video above of your tour through the program but most of what you toured was for prek-1st grade. Id just like to know everything the program offers for that age…
Ive watched a lot of your videos with the switch it technique, but I haven’t seen a video that does it at my daughter’s level. I’m sure its the same concept but I would think it has to be a little differently. I’m also wondering what you get as far as monthly vs annually. Or do you get the same things with both? I couldn’t find that information. Thank you for your time
Thanks for your interest and your encouragement Melanie! Yes, we specialize in solving blending problems of all ages. The Reading Simplified system works for any reader of any age if they’re not yet fluent. The types of feedback that we give to 5 year olds is actually very similar to what we give to 15 year-olds. The main difference is that we select different words and texts for the older students.
Inside the Reading Simplified Academy, you’ll have access to reading materials for 4 different reading levels: K, 1st, 2nd-3rd, and 4th-5th. This should be a good fit for your daughter based on what you’re observing.
Monthly members and annual members all receive access to the same thing. If you’re unsure, feel free to test out the $29/month option. Just email us 2 days before your next billing cycle to cancel if it’s not a good fit. Here’s more about the Academy.
Hello,
I am wondering if this program would work for my students. I teach 6th grade Self Contained, most of my students are reading at a K-2nd grade level. Have a couple reading at a 3rd grade level. I’d like to get them to at least 4th -5th grade level.. if possible..
My students have Autism, communication disorders and learning disabilities.
Also, we are expected to go back to the classroom but cannot do small groups yet.. I dont think we can share any materials. Kids are to be kept at rows.
How can we implement this program ? and which activities do you recommend for my students ?
Thank you
Yes, Kathie, the Reading Simplified system works for just about any type of student with vision. I’ve worked with those with LD, autism, and dyslexia myself and many in our community have used the system to serve children with other challenges, such as Downs, hearing, and others.
The core, 3-component lesson plan is what we recommend, but of course you may need to adapt it to fit these recent restrictions. Here’s an overview of the 3 components and our Most Popular blog posts explain our core Word Work activities in more detail.
Kia Ora
I’m excited to find your resources in support of tutoring my son. Im curios how long the process of training is thats apart of the academy. When will I be able to put a plan in place and start working with him everyday. I already have a good basic understanding of SL and his intervention needs.
Thanks Emily
Glad you’re here Emily! Our Main Course inside the Reading Simplified Academy includes about 8 to 10 hours of video to learn the gist of the program. As you go through the Main Course, we would want you to test out each activity with your son as you learn about each. Stack each activity onto the previous ones to build up to a full lesson. Thus, you’ll be pretty good at a full Reading Simplified lesson after as little as 6 hours of video training and certainly after the full 8-10.