A Project Read program is a structured, multi-sensory literacy curriculum designed to teach reading comprehension, phonics, and written expression.
Project Read® is a comprehensive approach to teaching literacy skills, particularly known for its structured and sequential methodology. Based on the provided reference, the program emphasizes direct instruction, and lessons move from letter-sounds to words, sentences, and stories. This systematic progression ensures students build foundational skills before moving to more complex literacy tasks.
Key Strands of Project Read®
The Project Read program is built upon three interconnected strands that are integrated across all grade levels. The emphasis on each strand may vary depending on the specific grade or student needs.
Phonics/Linguistics
This strand focuses on the decoding and encoding aspects of language. It teaches the relationships between letters and sounds, helping students sound out words and spell accurately. It starts with the basic building blocks – letter-sounds – and progresses.
Reading Comprehension
This strand teaches strategies for understanding text. It helps students process what they read, identify key information, and make connections.
Written Expression
This strand focuses on the mechanics and structure of writing. It guides students in organizing thoughts, forming sentences, and developing coherent written pieces.
These three strands work together to provide a holistic approach to literacy instruction, ensuring students develop strong skills in all areas of reading and writing.
How Project Read® Works
Project Read utilizes a direct instruction approach, meaning skills are explicitly taught by the instructor. The reference highlights the program's sequential nature:
- Starts with Basics: Instruction begins with fundamental units, like individual letter-sounds.
- Builds Complexity: Lessons gradually progress to combining sounds to form words, then words into sentences, and finally sentences into cohesive stories.
This step-by-step method aims to build a strong foundation and ensure mastery at each stage before moving forward.
For example, in the Phonics/Linguistics strand, a lesson might start by reviewing letter-sounds like 'a' and 't', then move to blending them to read words like 'at', then incorporating 'c' to read 'cat', and eventually using these words in simple sentences.
Project Read is often utilized in educational settings for students who may require explicit, structured literacy instruction, including those with learning differences.
