LearnUp integrates the best practices of Orton-Gillingham based programs, speech therapy, phonics, whole language, and recommendations from the National Reading Panel. We are not beholden to any one of these methodologies or approaches. Instead, we carefully select the best of the best to create a systematic program that accelerates reading acquisition.
LearnUp also overlays the latest brain research into our curriculum. Research shows that stimulating the word form area of the reading brain is critical to creating fluency. While this is helpful to all emerging readers, it’s especially critical for dyslexics. Our program incorporates systematic phonics, directed reading, spelling, and repeated readings which lead to brain stimulation and reading fluency.
From day one, our students are reading from a chapter book written at a skill level they can actually read—building confidence and excitement for reading. Our proprietary, phonetically-aligned reading series for elementary, middle and high-school are deliberately written to reinforce the program concepts taught during the student’s tutoring session.
We offer multiple entry points called ‘reading starts’ to accommodate a student’s knowledge and background. We work with them from what they already know and understand. This approach quickly puts them into the right level and on a pathway to reading success.
Many other reading programs don’t actually read. We dedicate ½ of each session to reading proprietary age- and skill-level appropriate books written by Steve Tattum our reading director.
By reading chapter books students also work on the fundamentals of comprehension (summary, inference, prediction, etc.) Daily reading allows the student’s vocabulary, syntax, and meaning to enhance student’s word attack, and reduce reversals and inverses. Daily written responses ensure that spelling and writing are applied through their reading. This approach leads to significant reading gains in less time.
Hands-on learning is key to engaging reluctant and unsuccessful learners. We use a tactile, multi-sensory magnetic board to actively teach phonics. Our lessons are short (55 minutes) and fast-paced. We live by the motto "go as fast as we can, as slow as we must" to urge students to push their reading abilities further. See a daily lesson.
It’s the fastest way to learn how to teach reading.
LearnUp is a nonprofit on a mission to reach and teach struggling readers in every community to read with confidence using our fast and proven structured literacy program.
Registered 501(c)(3) EIN: 47-2262474.
Email: learntoread@learnupcenters.org
Phone: (415) 944-7323
