Elementary Research Packet

***The research below is based on the Reading Horizons® reading program for elementary schools***

Overview of the Reading Horizons Approach

Reading Horizons is a program designed to help struggling readers and English language learners develop skills that make reading automatic, fluent, meaningful, and enjoyable. The Reading Horizons method (formerly known as Discover Intensive Phonics) delivers engaging, explicit, systematic phonics instruction through a multisensory approach based on Orton-Gillingham principles. Instruction is cumulative and organized in a sequence that enhances learning and simplifies teaching. Each sound of the English language is explicitly taught along with the letter(s) that represents the sound. Five Phonetic Skills are taught to help students recognize short and long vowel patterns in words and syllables. Two Decoding Skills are presented to show students how to decode multisyllabic words.

The multisensory approach used with the Reading Horizons method enhances learning and memory by engaging auditory, visual, and kinesthetic modalities simultaneously during instruction. A unique marking system is employed to draw student attention to the features and patterns of English as well as to give visual cues for pronunciation. Throughout the course of instruction, students are provided with engaging activities for practice and application of the skills learned.

Reading Horizons Elevate™ is used as an intervention in fourth- through twelfth-grade settings and as a literacy curriculum in adult education settings. The Reading Horizons Elevate program correlates with the five pillars of effective reading instruction as identified by the National Reading Panel (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development [NICHD] in 2000).

Research Proving the Effectiveness of the Reading Horizons Approach

Reading Horizons recognizes the importance of conducting research to demonstrate the validity of its method and effectiveness of its products. Reading Horizons research has been conducted over the last two decades in a variety of educational settings. The following studies provide a summary of results from just a few of these settings and represent diverse student populations. Ongoing research relating to Reading Horizons method and products continues, as true research is a continuous process.

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Learn more about the complete Reading Horizons® reading curriculum.