February 27, 2019

Reading Horizons Review: Mireya Marroquin Dunn

Tags: Implementation, K-12 Intervention, Methodology, Results, Special Education, Student Stories

Yes, I started using Reading Horizons Elevate (Software) at home-version over 2 years ago. My son at the time was in 8th grade and was diagnosed with Dyslexia, back when he was finishing the 4th grade. However, I was still a bit naive, and thought that with all the recommendations and accommodations my son's teachers would know what to do, in terms of him learning to read. Time went on and not much improvements. When I took my son to get his re-evaluation at the end of his 7th grade, at a local university for Dyslexia. They informed me he was reading at a 2nd grade reading level, I could not believe it and burst out in tears. So, finally I had enough of putting him back into the public school system, and took a leap and started to home school him myself. I learned about other OG reading programs, one I tried and noticed it was too monotone and the lessons were very long, and my son was not a fan of the stories (too childish for him). And much more expensive. I was reading a blog on a mom (you actually have her featured in one of your testimonial videos), and she recommended Reading Horizons Elevate for her older kids. I thought I would give it a try, I loved that you offer a 30 day trial. I felt he could learn and work more independently. After he completed Chapter 2, I realized that this was so easy to learn and apply in doing the skill lessons. Once he began to read the Library passages and saw that the stories were non-fiction. He was interested in what many of them were about, I could see his confidence level begin to improve day by day. I would have him read out loud to me, and notice he did not get stuck on too many words, like he did in the past. I began to shadow what he was learning with the software, and realized that every child should learn to read when they begin elementary school. I began to self educate about Dyslexia and about other OG reading programs. After my son completed the entire software program, when he took his post reading library evaluation, he was reading at a 6th grade level. I started to cry again, but this time those tears were for JOY!!! I told my husband, that I want to learn as much as I can about Dyslexia and want to open my own Reading Literacy Center, and definitely will use the Reading Horizons (books and software). Right now, my neighbor opened an after school program tutoring kids with their homework, and I convinced him to allow me to tutor kids who struggle with reading, two or three days a week. So, I could get the practice & prove that this reading program really works. He purchased the Elevate at home version, since we have just a few kids. Since we started in September of 2016, and this past January, when they returned back from Winter Break, I wanted to re-test them to see what improvements they made. More than half of them, their score jumped 2 to 3 years. At that point, they were only half through the program. Just this past month, 3 of the 5 kids I tutor, were on the Honor Roll. So not just their Reading improved, but their other subjects. I am in LOVE with READING HORIZONS!!!! You guys ROCK!!!