Teaching Literacy Resources

Now You Can Help Anyone, Anywhere Learn to Read

November 2009

North Salt Lake, Utah – In response to current literacy struggles in the United States, Reading Horizons has created a Web page dedicated to providing free resources for parents and educators to assist them in their efforts to teach children and adults how to read.

According to the National Assessment of Adult Literacy, 14 percent of the United States population is functionally illiterate, meaning over 30 million Americans cannot make inferences or detect important information from the materials they read. This finding contradicts the 99 percent literacy rate reported in the US CIA World Factbook. The discrepancy between the two findings is a result of the CIA's reporting method, which deems people literate if they can read and write a few simple words. However, it is extremely difficult for people to find success and to unleash their full potential with their literacy abilities being limited to only a few simple words.

Through her dedication to find the best method for teaching literacy, Sharp was delighted to discover the Reading Horizons literacy software, which focuses on systematic phonics instruction. This literacy software is based on the same method she found to be most successful in helping struggling readers through her studies and teaching. The NRP confirmed her finding when they studied over 10,000 research methods and found systematic phonics instruction to be the most effective in teaching literacy to  struggling readers. HEC Reading Horizons and Ann Sharp have formed a close relationship over the years due to their shared goals and ideas on how to reach and help struggling readers. Both parties are excited about this new partnership.

To assist with this problem, Reading Horizons has made several literacy resources available for free at: www.readinghorizonsathome.com/resources/reading-activities.aspx. This Web page provides free worksheets, lesson plans, vocabulary lists, and tips for success. One of the most valuable resources Reading Horizons offers is its free Online Workshop. This literacy resource is valuable due to its interactive, informative nature. The free Online Workshop reveals Reading Horizons methodology for basic decoding strategies. It uses Web-based, full-motion video and flash animation to bring teaching concepts to life. This online training helps anyone, anywhere gain the skills to effectively teach those who struggle with literacy to learn to read.

The literacy problem in the United States - and across the world - is of critical importance. Writer Alvin Toffler predicted the current literacy predicament with this statement: "The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn." Reading Horizons seeks to present educators with the tools to teach struggling readers how to learn, unlearn, and relearn the skills necessary for successful literacy development.