| One out of every four children grows up without | | | | games, and the pull of peers, a program should |
| knowing how to read. The fact is many students | | | | also be able to keep your child's attention. Namely, |
| today are struggling with their reading skills. | | | | it should entertain them so they look forward to |
| Unfortunately, most of these students are pushed | | | | reading and learning. By actively engaging them in |
| off to the side or find themselves in a class that | | | | not only the sounds and letters of the English |
| doesn't help them progress. Most teachers just | | | | language, but the act of recognizing what they're |
| don't have the time or resources necessary to | | | | reading along with understanding what they've |
| spend even five minutes with each student | | | | read; they will gladly enter the reading world with |
| individually on their reading skills. | | | | interest and gusto. |
| The Scary Statistics | | | | A foundational reading program should also give |
| According to the 2003 National Assessment of | | | | the student the skills necessary to expand on the |
| Educational Progress (NAEP), 37 percent of | | | | basics of what they've learned so their cognition |
| fourth-graders and 26 percent of eighth-graders | | | | continues to expand and complement their lives |
| can't read at a basic level, or understand what | | | | as they progress through school and into |
| they've just read. Forty-four percent of American | | | | adulthood. |
| fourth-graders cannot read fluently. | | | | Looking To The Future |
| Most statistics relate reading skills to how many | | | | Reading is essential, especially as we continue |
| books are in the home, and how much reading is | | | | hurtling into the 21st century. Technology is |
| performed at home to income and success levels. | | | | injecting itself into every aspect of our lives and |
| These statistics have been solid about what | | | | we, as a society, will soon not be able to |
| happens to the majority of children and adults | | | | maneuver our way around it. Being able to read |
| that haven't learned to read. High dropout rates | | | | and digest the written word and all that will be |
| from high school, high criminal rates, high | | | | expected and demanded of us and our children, |
| pregnancy rates, and low incomes. Seven in ten | | | | today's student's need the best preparation and |
| prisoners perform at the lowest literacy rates. | | | | every tool possible. |
| No matter what situation you find yourself in as a | | | | Don't allow your child or children to continue |
| concerned parent, teacher, or tutor, you have to | | | | struggling. Illiteracy in America is a growing and |
| find a foundational reading program proven to help | | | | disastrous dilemma. Without the ability to read and |
| your child or student to not only read, but | | | | comprehend, a child's future is severely limited. |
| completely comprehend what they're reading. | | | | Whether you've tried other venues or not, find |
| Finding a Foundational Reading Program that | | | | the excellent fundamental reading program that |
| Works | | | | will take your student to a level you didn't think |
| Finding a good foundational reading program is | | | | possible. |
| essential to your child's or student's ability to read, | | | | That program should be able to ingrain the basics |
| grow, and manipulate their way through life. A | | | | of letters and sounds (phonics). It should take |
| good foundational program should not only | | | | those basics and expand them into understanding |
| address the letters and sounds or phonics of | | | | and absorption. It should entertain enough to |
| recognizing words, but convert that knowledge | | | | inspire an appetite for reading and learning. Finally, |
| into comprehension. | | | | it should be able to carry your child into the |
| With the easy distractions of television, video | | | | future. |