These summer programs meet once a week for five weeks. To view program schedules and locations,

Each lesson meets for two hours. The lessons are fun and active, with students engaging in a variety of reading-related activities. Parents are invited to attend part or all of class with their child. Here is description of what happens during class:

• Independent Reading:

  Class begins with reading an Easy Reader 2. First, the teacher reads the book aloud so the students become familiar with the story they’re about to read. Then, the children read independently, while the teacher provides individual support.

• Discussions:

  Throughout the independent reading period, the teacher leads comprehension-building discussions about the characters and events in the story, including story structure.

• Fluency Training:

  During this segment of class, the teacher reads a passage aloud to model fluent reading, and then students practice the same passage using the teacher’s pacing and expression as a model.

• Phonics and Word-attack Instruction:

  During phonics instruction, the teacher teaches a phonics or a word-attack element, and the students practice in the Quest workbook.

• Games:

  Teachers use a variety of quick and fun word games in each lesson to reinforce phonics and word-attack skills.

Parents support their child during home practice by reading a book aloud before their child reads it and then being available for help during the child’s independent reading. They monitor phonics and word-attack practice in the Quest workbook, and read aloud to their child from a children’s novel. Parents attend three brief parent meetings during the last ten minutes of Lessons 1, 4 and 5. Parents are also welcome to attend all or part of any lesson.

Home practice consists of four sessions each week between lessons. Each home practice session lasts about 30-45 minutes, and parents are encouraged to spread the sessions out over four separate days, as best suits their family’s schedule. Parents are encouraged to keep home practice relaxed and positive.

Home practice activities consist of:

• Independent reading practice:

  During each session, students read independently for 10-20 minutes. For the first week or two of home practice, students read the two Easy Readers provided. After that, parents can select other Easy Readers from the Reading Development Booklist.

• Video Companion DVD:

  After reading, students watch the Book Club News segment of the Video Companion for comprehension support.

• Fluency Training:

  Students practice fluency using the interactive Video Companion segment Fluent Reading with Bookman.

• Quest phonics and word-attack workbook and CD :

  Students complete 4-5 pages from the workbook.

• Children’s novel read-aloud:

  Parents read aloud to their child a chapter or two from a children’s novel. This often happens at bedtime rather than during a home practice session.

The instructor for this program is provided under contract with Saint Louis University by the Institute of Reading Development, a leader in reading curriculum and instruction since 1970. All teaching applicants go through a selective hiring process in which thirty qualified applications are received for each teaching opening. The Institute provides instructors with over 150 hours of comprehensive training and support. For more information about the Institute, visit www.readingprograms.org.

The maximum class size is eighteen students.

Program tuition is $299. There is a $30 discount for enrolling more than one student.

Yes, a limited number of scholarships are available for families with financial need. To inquire about scholarships for a particular student, please call 1-800-964-8888.

For more information about the programs, please call Judy Reilly, Program Director, at 1-888-202-5114.