For over 26 years, Reading Horizons computer courseware has taught tens of thousands of adults and youth to read. In literacy programs nationwide, ESL/ESOL learners and struggling readers who exhibit decoding, fluency, reading comprehension problems - and even non-readers - have advanced two-to-five grade levels by teaching them this concise, flexible, systematic reading skill using interactive, multi-sensory courseware based on the effective Discover Intensive Phonics for Yourself approach. Reading Horizons, originally developed to specifically teach non-reading adults and youth, has been used successfully in more than 5,000 adult and youth corrections programs, workplace and community literacy locations, and junior and senior high schools. There is nothing childish or condescending about the program. It is respectful, fast moving, and fun.
The multi-sensory instruction respects individual learning styles and provides ways to reach every learner. Students experience learning success in increments while receiving continual positive reinforcement of previously learned skills. Reading Horizons was developed for independent use and uses a digitized human-voice soundtrack that presents the lessons, gives instruction, reinforces correct responses, and instantly corrects errors. A pre-test, post-test, and four interim tests measure grade level and progress. When a student fails an interim test, a prescription is automatically generated that specifies which lessons need to be reviewed. The Mastery, Drill, and Practice component that follows each lesson includes 2,400 words, which are pronounced, defined, and used in sentences. Students phonetically decode each word, as well as pronounce and record it in order to compare their pronunciation with the narrator’s.
In addition to its logical, sequential presentation, the Discover Intensive Phonics for Yourself approach used in this courseware involves students in a unique, "hands-on" marking process. By actively marking words in every lesson, they learn to recognize likely and unlikely sequences of letters, and they develop the ability to easily break words into syllables. As a result, students learn to read, spell, and pronounce unfamiliar words with a high degree of confidence and accuracy. At the same time, they improve their listening, comprehension, handwriting, and thinking skills. The combination of these skills is not only important for non-readers to learn but is considerably essential for ESL students.
The first step in mastering any language is learning its letter sounds. A special ESL component allows students to hear the sounds of the alphabet and record themselves saying the sounds. They can also see and hear how the sounds are formed with the use of live video. Students enjoy the learning method, which helps them proceed through the course quite rapidly. Since they are continually seeing their progress, they are encouraged and have the desire to stay with the program. Reading Horizons emphasizes phonetic structure and quickly gives students the skills they need to read English. Consequently, they adjust to their new environment more easily and experience less frustration than students who are forced to learn English much more slowly. Even those with no English reading skills can succeed with this system. They simply turn on the computer and begin. No instructions need to be read.