Level R: Reading Readiness

The Level R Program is designed for 4-year-olds, entering kindergarteners and their parents. Children in this class are familiar with the alphabet and are beginning phonics instruction in preparation for learning to read. Class meets once per week for five weeks, and each class is 1 hour, 15 minutes long; parents attend each class with their child.

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Program Goals

  1. Teach the reading readiness skills students will need to begin reading independently.
  2. Give students positive experiences with books.
  3. Educate parents on supporting their child's reading development.

Activities

Each lesson teaches reading readiness skills in three areas: letter recognition, phonemic awareness, and phonics. The teacher provides brief direct instruction through a phonics lesson and workbook practice in each class. Students complete the lesson at home, covering two letters each week. The phonics program includes audio CDs that feature an engaging cast of characters and an exciting story that reinforces each lesson. Parents also receive instructions for reviewing and completing the workbook after the five week course. Additionally, the teacher engages students in exciting games that help children visually recognize the letters of the alphabet, distinguish individual sounds within the spoken word, and automatically match letters with the sounds for which they stand. Parents receive instructions on how to use these activities at home to continue building reading readiness.

In class, teachers read children's picture books with delightful storylines and illustrations. Teachers lead brief discussions with students and parents that build listening comprehension and a love of reading. To further cultivate this positive relationship with books, teachers lead classes through enrichment activities, such as dramatizations, that encourage kids to get absorbed in the stories and connect with the characters. All of these activities are designed so that parents can practice them at home. Additionally, parents receive a Reading Development booklist, a compilation of the very best children's literature, organized by the types of books that are best for pre-readers.

Class is designed to be fun and energetic for children and their parents. Teachers view both parents and children as students in the classroom. The skills and class activities prepare families for a smooth and enjoyable transition to reading. Parents leave the class with clear guidance on how to continue supporting their children at home as they learn to read.

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I saw many children who on the first day were extremely shy, blossom into talkative, energetic, fun kids who were excited to come to class. Several parents commented on how different their child was now, and that made me feel great!

— Andrea, Institute instructor in Seattle