Q: How can I teach my child to read? I’ve never taught anyone to read before and don’t even know where to start. I’m worried I will not be able to teach my child. This will be my first experience helping a student learn to read; I’m not sure how to proceed. Will I be able to teach my child with this program?
A: You can do it! The Right Track Reading programs were specifically designed to empower parents or other caring adults to teach their own child or student to read proficiently. In addition to the research based direct systematic phonics approach, the well organized step-by-step format and straightforward presentation is parent/user-friendly. After you read through the introduction chapter you can dive right into the lessons. No special training is needed. You just need a willingness to work with your child or student and a little bit of time. Teaching your child to read is a wonderful and rewarding experience. It is also enjoyable!
One of the authors primary goals was to make these programs “easy-to-use” (along with effective and affordable). Read the FAQ explaining why the program is ‘student friendly’. These same factors that make the program ‘kid-friendly’ also make the program ‘mom-friendly’. Both programs are guaranteed effective.
In addition, if you run into any questions along the way, feel free to contact the author, Miscese Gagen.
Q: Can the program be used in a school setting? Can the program be used in a classroom?
A: Yes, Right Track Reading Lessons and Back on the Right Track Reading Lessons can be used in a school setting or in a classroom. Right Track Reading Lessons and Back on the Right Track Reading Lessons are highly effective direct systematic phonics programs that provide teachers with well organized and easy-to-use tools for teaching students to read.
These programs can be followed as written for individual instruction. These programs are specifically written for one-on one teaching and are very effective in an individual instruction or pull-out situation. In addition, the easy-to-use systematic format makes the program ideal for using with parent volunteers or with classroom/resource aides to effectively work with individual children as the program can easily be implemented with minimal training. The systematic format and direct multisensory activities are especially effective with children who struggle with reading.
While the content of the Right Track Reading programs (complete direct systematic phonics instruction) remain highly effective, presentation would be different for classrooms or larger groups. A classroom teacher would need to modify the presentation of some of the activities and materials. For example, using pre-printed tracer letter sheets to students to practice sounds or making large poster board ‘sound cards’ for classroom/larger group sound practice.
Right Track Reading provides a web page sharing practical information, and effective resources and activities for successfully teaching direct systematic phonics, including those targeted specifically for teachers working with multiple students. See Teaching Reading Skills: Instructions, Information and Resources for Parents and Teachers.
A few sample articles from this page include:
- Activities to Develop Phonemic Awareness
- Effective Multisensory Activities for Teaching the Complete Phonemic Code
- Phonics Phones Explained
Q: I have a parent volunteer who has time to work with some of my students who need extra help with reading. I would like to utilize her services; however, I do not have time to provide training. Could parent volunteers use this program? Can this program be used by volunteers or resource aides?
A: Yes. The well organized, step-by-step format and clear directions are easy to use. The usability and minimal training requirement make the program ideal for parent volunteers or classroom/resource aides to effectively tutor or work with individual students. See the previous FAQ for details of why this program is ‘easy to use”.
These questions were answered by Miscese Gagen a mother with a passion for teaching children to read proficiently by using effective methods. She is also a successful reading tutor and author of the reading instructional programs Right Track Reading Lessons and Back on the Right Track Reading Lessons. The purpose of this article is to empower parents and teachers with information on teaching children how to read. We CAN improve reading proficiency, one student at a time! More information is located at www.righttrackreading.com ~ Copyright 2004-2013 Miscese R. Gagen
