I received a flyer in the mail this past week advertising their summer reading courses. A special ed resource teacher had recommended them to me. Has anyone used them? The classes meet once a week for 5 weeks during the summer. When I did a Yahoo search on it, several colleges/universities came up which offer the summer program. I have emailed the school (a “private reading school”) for more information. I just seems kind of odd these days that they don’t really have a website. They have been teaching these reading classes for 34 years.
Institute for Reading Development
Maryann,
I received one of these too—not very expensive and located at a university very convenient to me. But I couldn’t believe that there was absolutely nothing on the web about methods, critiques of its effectiveness, etc. I did find references at a number of university sites that they use to hold the classes. A son of a friend of mine took it a couple of years ago, but he bailed (I think because of the homework—don’t know why else). I’d rather not spend time and money on something that appears to have a low chance of effectiveness and a relatively high quit ratio. Not that I know this—but the lack of information on the web is a red flag for me. If you find out anything useful from the company please let us know.
Mariedc
Re: Institute of Reading Development
I called the company last year because a local school had recommended the program to one of my students and I had never heard of it before. The manager I spoke with was unable to answer any of my specific questions about the techniques they used or the way in which they grouped students, he just said that they had research to proved how effective their program was. I asked if the research had been published, and he said he though so, but wasn’t sure where. I asked if he could mail me a copy of the research results, and he said that that information was confidential. Needless to say, I was unimpressed.
The company was also not very willing to refund money, so the parent wound up sending a younger sibling and continuing with tutoring for the summer. She would not recommend the program, as she did not find it to be very effective. Her impression was that it was a time to fill out many worksheets, with very little direct instruction.
Bear in mind that this is all based upon one very small sampling of information, but I’d be cautious about spending my money with this company…
Karyn
Reading Program
I am a new member and love the discussion boards! I enrolled my son (second grade) in a summer reading program taught by the Reading Institute at our local junior college. I was a bit wary because as others have noted there was very little information online and no website. I did find the staff very informative when I called to inquire. They did not promise too much, and explained the substantial homework and parent involvement. I was very pleased with the curriculum and the teacher. I am planning to send my older son this summer.
Re: Institute of Reading Development
Sounds an awful lot like a self-perpetuating academic moneymaker. There’s a market for reading — so put something on the market. IF you build it, they will come. Who gives a hoot wehther it is worth it or not — you get to keep a roof over your head for a while longer, and it looks good on your resume.
OTOH, though, another possible scenario is that these guys have been busy *teaching reading* — not learning about web design. (However, if nobody can talk about what they teach I question it — unless, of course, they have foiund that if you mention the word “phonics” then all the brainwashed get out their anti-drill-and-kill spray and start reciting their mantras to prevent intrusion on their currently held model of the universe.)
Someone else was asking about summer classes earlier. You have to look at the brochure and maybe call the 800 number and find out what they are about.
Unfortunately, *many* commercial reading programs are some variant or another of so-called “speed reading” which has been totally *disproved* — it simply doesn’t happen the way they claim; “speed reading” is no more and no less than a form of skimming. Comprehension is general and weak, and the speed doesn’t hold up in the long run.
If you call and get a runaround and a “just buy in and we work miracles” speech, run the opposite direction.
If you call and get a whole bunch of jargon about “speed reading”, run the opposite direction.
On the other hand, there are small organizations that do know what reading is about and just don’t spend the time and money on the high-tech or advertising. If you call and get info that accords with what you can read here on LD In Depth, you can try ot (but be careful about refund policy — a lot of programs don’t live up to their sales pitch.)