Free Reading is an open source website for teachers that has a control board of researchers, and is authored by teachers.
With the push for Kindergarteners to read earlier, many school districts in the United States now require students to master the alphabet sounds prior to December, so the teacher can begin teaching words in January; however, some of the outdated phonics programs are created to be taught across the whole school year for letter sounds and writing letters. This may lead teachers scrambling to search for material to update and/or supplement their phonics programs in compliance.
All phonics programs are not created equal. Freereading.net is the web's best hidden phonics resource. In this program, letter sound and writing letter instruction is completed by week 16-20.
The purpose of the creation of this program and website is to give teachers a free phonics and reading program. The premise being, if utilized in the classroom, then the school could decrease expenditures on phonics textbooks. This is a truly innovative and thoughtful concept to help administrators, teachers, students, families and the environment.
The program is designed for K-1st grades, but can be used to differentiate instruction from PreK through second grade or higher if necessary. The information in the program can also be used as a reading intervention program for struggling readers.
