The SMART WAY READING AND SPELLING Program Design

Smart Way is an effective, systematic and explicit phonics program for use in teaching reading. The program instructs students on the most commonly used words in the English language. Throughout the program, students learn English, receiving instruction on pronunciation, punctuation, spelling and basic grammar concepts. A fully illustrated dictionary, containing all of the words in the first eleven lessons, gets even new readers looking up words from the start.

Smart Way is a valuable tool for professional educators. However, it was designed so program directors can utilize parents, volunteers and even older students as reading coaches.  The ability to easily use students and volunteers as reading coaches enables program directors to save both time and money.

Scientifically-Based Research - Practical Application

The Smart Way Reading and Spelling program is grounded in the most comprehensive scientific research in reading instruction. This research, conducted by the National Institute of Health's National Reading Panel, concluded that there are five key elements that must be included in a successful reading program.

1. Phonemic Awareness - The ability to notice, think about and work with the individual sounds in spoken words.

2. Systematic Phonics Instruction - Teaching the relationships between the letters of written language and the individual sounds of spoken language.

3. Reading Fluency - The ability to read a text accurately and quickly.

4. Vocabulary Instruction - Specifically teaching the meaning of words that are used in reading and speaking.

5. Text Comprehension - Understanding the words and concepts about which one is reading.

The Smart Way Reading and Spelling program has creatively combined the above five elements in a way that is simple to use, is multi-sensory, and yet it is extremely practical for a variety of settings, both in the classroom and as an after-school activity. And, it is engaging to the student.

Research Study

An evidence-based research study was conducted on the Smart Way program with excellent results. A brief overview can be seen here: Research Study.

A Partial Record of Research for the Bright Sky Learning Multisensory
Educational Reading Program

Bright Sky Learning's methodology of locating and filling in the gaps in student knowledge is supported by Guskey (2007) as well as Gagne's cumulative-learning theory (1965, 1962) and the incremental mastery of skills is supported by the work of Engelmann (2007) and Hirsch (1996). An example of how this concept is used in the Bright Sky Learning program is to remediate students by using the Sounds of English or English Alphabet and Sounds instruction, phonemic awareness and alphabet instruction programs. According to the findings published in Put Reading First (2003), the factors most highly correlated with success in early reading are the ability to isolate the individual phonemes in a word and knowing the alphabet. The use of a multisensory curriculum (such as Smart Way Reading and Spelling or Phonics interactive Education) is one of the most effective ways to teach children to read (National Reading Panel, 2000).

The gradual, systematic approach allows students to develop their skills and increase their confidence (Cleary, 2009; Hanson and Greene, 2000; Klein and Marple, 2000). Explicit, systematic instruction is recognized as having a direct impact on student success, especially in low-achieving students (Koesbergen, VanLuit and Maas 2004; Whitehurst, 2003, Baker Gersten and Lee 2002) and supports its use in phonics (Curtis 2004; Kamil 2003). As well, research shows phonics instruction is useful to students of all ages (Curtis, 1999 and 2004; Blevins, 1999; Snow, et. al, 1998) and other research validates intense instruction in decoding skills as a method of boosting the reading level for struggling readers in high school (Institute for Academic Access, 2002).

The Smart Way for Results

The Smart Way Reading and Spelling program is being used very successfully in various grant and volunteer programs around the country. Nearly everyone who has used the Smart Way method views it as an invaluable tool to effectively teach reading-while also building confidence and self-esteem in struggling readers.

Smart Way Reading and Spelling is incredibly easy to administer. It is highly flexible, so it supplements, integrates and enhances school reading programs.

"The rewards of Bright Sky are evident not only by the increase in reading and comprehension for my students, but also in their personal pride, accomplishments and visually noted increased self-esteem."

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