Reading HorizonsReviews of readinghorizons.com

I began implementing Reading Horizons five years ago as a reading interventionist in small groups. Basal literacy materials simply do not cover phonics in an thorough, explicit or systematic way. Even though we had recently adopted a new program, it fell far short of what was needed for whole class instruction, and certainly students with intensive instruction needs. Reading Horizons puts phonics front and center as part of students' experience as they strive to become proficient readers. This saying puts it succinctly: "You can't comprehend the words you can't read!" The old system of cueing, context clues, guessing, has been proven ineffective. The solid phonics instruction provided by the Reading Horizons program has changed the way we teach reading. Beginning-of-year data, when compared to end-of-year data for students who received small group and/or whole class instruction shows an unmistakable increase in student growth. I have the responsibility of training paraprofessionals to conduct interventions during 30-minute sessions. This team has been able to implement the program effectively. Rather than a nebulous system of "Try this" and "Try that," "Read more," the reading team has a concrete strategy for providing instruction, the effectiveness of which they see on a regular basis. Those students for whom reading has been a blur begin to understand the "science" of reading, why words sound the way they do, and also develop the skill to spell those words in their own writing. It empowers them. The kinesthetic component makes an enormous difference in student understanding. One of my goals is to educate our upper grade teachers in the system, so they are able to continue the support as students enter those grades and encounter more domain specific words. These skills will help them throughout their entire lives. Thank you, Reading Horizons Patty Nielson Plain City Elementary

I have been a Reading Horizons kindergarten teacher for the last 3 years and am very familiar with the kindergarten curriculum, phonics rules, procedures and lessons contained within Reading Horizons. There are so many phonetic rules and skills that students learn within the program that help in decoding, spelling, and reading almost anything that we give them to read. I love that I can explain to my students and their parents why a letter doesn’t make its normal sound. I love that my kindergartners get so excited when they can read and write what they want to communicate to others because of what they have learned from Reading Horizons. Reading Horizons is truly engaging, hands-on, and systematic in its approach to phonics. Lessons are easy to follow, straightforward and complete. Best of all students are all participating and regularly demonstrating what they know throughout the lessons. I have utilized many phonics programs in my years as an educator and tutor. Reading Horizons is based on the Orton Gillingham program for teaching reading to people with dyslexia. I have used OG as a tutor for many years, Reading Horizons is a complete program that is motivating and allows each of my students to have success. I highly recommend it to any teacher, working with those learning to read.

I have been a RH kindergarten teacher for the last 7 years and have become very familiar with the kindergarten curriculum, phonics rules, procedures and lessons contained in RH. However, last year our principal challenged all of the teachers in our school to go through the online training for the entire RH curriculum. I learned so much through this experience, and realized through that process what a complete, phenomenal phonics program RH truly is. There are so many phonetic rules and skills that students learn throughout the program that help in decoding, spelling, and reading most anything they can get their hands on. I continually found myself thinking, "Oh, that makes sense!" I even find myself using these skills in my own reading experiences. I love that, even at such a young age, my kindergartners leave my classroom successfully reading and ready for first grade because of the things they learn from RH. As a district this year, we have also been focusing on gradual release of responsibility and learning to our students. RH is the perfect example of how to do this, using explicit teacher instruction, then group work in dictation, then individual work on practice worksheets, then having the opportunity to "be the teacher" using transfer cards. RH is engaging, hands-on, motivating and instructionally sound. The lessons are easy to follow, instruction is straight-forward and complete, and students are all participating and continually showing what they know throughout each lesson. Assessments are simple, yet valuable, and students learn through spiral review everything they need to know about phonics, decoding and reading/spelling rules throughout the program. I have had several aides that have worked in my classroom say to me, "Why didn't I ever learn this?" I read a quote recently that said, "Scientists have discovered that it takes approximately 400 repetitions to create a new synapse in the brain unless it is done in play, in which case it only takes 10-20 repetitions." - Karyn Purvis. RH provides multiple games and learning activities to get the children "playing" so they learn in the best ways possible. I have used many phonics programs in my multiple years of teaching. However, I have never found one as complete, motivating and successful for each of my students, no matter their level, as RH. I highly recommend it to any elementary teacher.

Reading Horizons has transformed my life as an educator. I have never felt so empowered to teach reading and to meet the needs of all of our students. Reading Horizons has taught me proven, simple, and engaging ways to teach phonics and help my students and fellow teachers to feel empowered as well.

Reading Horizons has changed the culture of our school. Our children are excited about learning and our teachers excited about teaching and the progress our students are making. We are seeing great strides in our data. RHConn was an exceptional PD. I love taking my learning to another level. The excitement is always so high energy with all that RH does for conferences.

Reading Horizons is an amazing program. English is my second language and this program is helping me to pronounce words and to know the reason behind the pronunciation. I recommend this program to adults, children and ELL. I can’t say enough about how great this program is! Also, the customer service and support is the best! Thank you RH representatives for everything you do!

I was introduced to Reading Horizons not long before we were sent into the crazy world of virtual teaching. With little experience being a virtual teacher, this program saved my life. I was able to easily follow this explicit phonics program with my students and utilize the resources it provided to assist my students in learning from home. I had support through the company and was able to access answers to questions quickly and efficiently. This program provides students with the resources they need to build confidence in their reading abilities.

Reading Horizons is an excellent explicit, systematic phonics program that not only has fantastic in-class resources but they have also developed so much to help teachers transition their programs to fully online if necessary. I cannot say enough about the customer support. I and my first grade team would have never been as successful teaching online without our customer success manager, Joseph Heeb. He is so incredibly patient and knowledgeable to help us continue to help every first grader learn to read either in person or online. I cannot say enough positive compliments about the help we have received.