We signed my son up for the Summer Reading Program through the Institute of Reading Development aka WSU Summer Reading Program aka Reading and Study Skills Program. It was a major disappointment and waste of money for us. My son is a good student but struggles with reading comprehension--this program focuses on supporting students with this. We thought to help with SAT's we would enroll him.
The ONLY reading technique that this program teaches is "Long Smooth Underline". Here's a tip-save your $300 plus and just look it up online. My son learned this technique in 4th grade. It was not a tool that helped him, so naturally this time was no different. When I spoke with the teacher asking for different techniques (as we all having different learning styles) she said this was the only one taught and her "hands were tied" if this technique did not work for my son. They spent 30 minutes of class time going over "how to select a book" (here's their revolutionary tip: "read the back cover." I was standing outside the classroom listening and was bored to tears. It was the most uninspired program I have seen to date.
When I asked for a refund I was told that the teacher timed my sons reading during week one and saw an improvement week two. There was no improvement--the only difference is now my son absolutely hates reading more than ever.
The program does great marketing and issues a lot of promises, but does not really seem interested in helping kids.
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