A First Steps to Reading for Adults

Description

The First Steps to Reading for Adults is a 20-week course (requiring a 5 days a week commitment) designed specifically for illiterate adults. It uses the ‘science of reading‘ principles and begins by systematically introducing the basic sound represented by each of the letters of the alphabet and then progresses to more complex phonemes and their common graphic form using a multisensory format.

These concepts are then applied to:

• A rapid decoding activity (to encourage recognition within other letter strings)
• Vocabulary development related the focus graphemes
• An oral reading activity (containing the vocabulary learned in isolation along with the introduction of frequently used words which the student does not have the current knowledge to decode independently)
• A comprehension activity linked to the oral reading and vocabulary
• A word building activity
• A chunking activity containing the focus grapheme(s) which teaches students how to break words into smaller units to reduce the load on working memory
• A phonological processing activity as this is a skill that underpins reading and spelling.

The program has been designed so that each section complements and reinforces the other sections. Students who already know the sounds of the alphabet can start at Unit 8.