About Us

Philosophies & Approach

We believe that every child and adult has the ability and the right to learn to read. Yet not all people learn to read the same way.

Really Great Reading gives teachers the tools and knowledge to teach all students (not just those who learn easily) to read. We make assessment and grouping efficient and accurate and make reading instruction interactive, explicit, structured, and multisensory.

Unlike other programs, we have students focus on accuracy rather than speed. That’s because accuracy, not speed, is the key to fluency and comprehension—the ultimate goal of reading.

The following philosophies guide our approach to assessment and instruction:

  • Strong readers decode effortlessly
  • Emphasis should be on accuracy
  • Explicit, systematic instruction builds strong readers
  • Multisensory instruction builds skills
  • Scaffolded instruction provides the support that students need
  • Explicit phonemic awareness instruction is the first step to successful decoding

All good readers must master certain basic skills, including the ability to decode words accurately and fluently. Not all students master these skills in the same way or at the same time. Some need explicit, systematic and multisensory instruction in decoding to become proficient readers.

A student’s ability to read affects every academic area, and struggling readers who have gaps in their phonics knowledge will likely face frustration and difficulty in multiple subjects. We believe it is never too late to improve these basic skills in struggling readers. To do this, it is critical to diagnose their specific problems and offer appropriate instruction.

We suggest a 7-step approach that emphasizes early intervention:

  1. Screen all students to identify who might have reading weaknesses (DIBELS/AIMS)
  2. Diagnose specific weaknesses (free Diagnostic Decoding Survey)
  3. Group students for effective instruction (free Grouping Matrix)
  4. Plan instruction
  5. Train teachers to use Phonics Suite tools (professional development series)
  6. Monitor progress to see if instruction is effective
  7. Adjust instruction to students’ needs