How can you immunize your child now against reading difficulty later?
Reading difficulty in the U. S. is an epidemic problem that can have catastrophic consequences. A solution, based on years of comprehensive research, is finally available.
(PRWEB) December 7, 2003
Did you know that despite decades of huge government spending increases on literacy, reading performance has not improved in the last 20 years? In an average fourth grade classroom of 35 kids, 14 of them may already be struggling to keep up with their classmates because they canÂ’t read their text books. As many as 10 million children have trouble treading. Sadly, until now most attempts to help these children prevent this struggle have fallen short.
“Kids who can’t read suffer educationally, socially and emotionally. It can lead to catastrophic consequences later in life. And the worst part of this scenario is that we know how to prevent the problem, but too few parents are aware of the solution,” says Deme Clainos, President and CEO of StudyDog, a new comprehensive learning system designed specifically to help prevent children from becoming struggling readers. “With the right stimulation between the ages of four and six, most children can significantly improve their early reading skills and their chances of becoming successful readers.”
The innovative StudyDog online reading system, which targets kids between kindergarten and second grade, is based on two important sources. In 2000, the National Reading Panel, charged by Congress with consolidating valid research on how children learn to read, issued its report on what constitutes the most effective reading instruction. Second, recent brain research by Yale neuroscientists has shown that with the right stimulation over a period of time at an early age, even children diagnosed with dyslexia can make the necessary connections in the brain to read successfully.
The StudyDog online reading system is sold directly to parents. Unlike pre-packaged software systems, StudyDog uses a patent pending technology and analyzes an individual child’s reading level and skills, then modifies the manner in which the curriculum is administered and presented. The program uses video game-like graphics and compelling storylines to deliver its Five Keys for Reading Success™ in a unique way so that children stick with the program for an extended period – long enough to master the skills being taught.
The StudyDog system has been tested in elementary schools in Washington and Oregon, where participating children showed significant improvement in their reading skills. In the study, every child completing the StudyDog reading program improved reading skills, and in most skill areas every child achieved mastery. In most cases, a child can learn to improve their reading by one full grade level in eight to 12 weeks.
“Engaging children so they are motivated to stick with StudyDog over a period of months without placing an additional burden on parents is a unique advantage,” explains Dean Arrasmith, Ed. D, the company’s chief learning officer. “This occurs not only because the lessons are entertaining, but because the program is personalized for each child.”
Through an initial reading assessment, StudyDog tailors the course so that the instruction is just right for the childÂ’s reading level and skills. Although the online lessons are self-contained and children use them independently, each child also is assigned a StudyDog Reading Specialist to be their advocate, monitoring performance, adapting the course as needed, and giving weekly progress reports to parents and teachers. Children earn prizes as they progress, that can be ordered from an online store and mailed to their home.
“Parents are delighted with StudyDog not only because of its effectiveness, but because it actually fits into their busy lives,” says Clainos. “Because it is online, StudyDog is available any time and any place where there is internet access. Lessons are focused and are brief enough to fit into a tight schedule, taking just 15 minutes to complete each of three to five new lessons per week.”
“This type of reading help cannot be found in CDs and other software,” adds Arrasmith. “StudyDog doesn’t just hand materials to the parents. It maintains the responsibility for teaching each child, engaging them in lessons they can do independently, and assigning a reading specialist. The only other real alternative is a reading tutor, which can be time consuming and cost hundreds of dollars each month.”
By contrast, the StudyDog Reading Essentials program costs just $79.95 per month for beginning readers to develop into sound and healthy readers, which does wonders for their confidence and learning in all areas. For children who are currently more than one year behind their grade level, StudyDog developed the Reading Rescue program which costs $495 and will guarantee an improvement of at least one full grade-level regardless of how much time it takes (usually half the time it takes with tutors or learning centers). Parents purchase these programs directly from the StudyDog Web site. Because StudyDog and its corporate partners want to help all children succeed, a limited number of StudyDog scholarships are available to low income families. Teachers may submit a simple application on a child’s behalf through the StudyDog Web site, www. studydog. com. “We are fully committed to helping struggling readers at all income levels. We encourage corporations to support our scholarship program and help wipe out illiteracy in the United States one child at a time,” says Clainos.
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