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Edmark Reading Program for Kids
While it is difficult to find a reading program which works on multiple levels and appeals to (is effective for) multiple learning styles and abilities ranges, it appears the Edmark Reading Program does just these. The program is designed for those learning to read—pre-schoolers, kindergartners, ESL learners—and is effective for learners with developmental disabilities, as well. In other words, the Edmark Reading Program, textual and/or computerized, is appropriate to anyone “having difficulties learning to read.”
While the Edmark Reading Program is unique, it also makes best use of those tried and true traditional effective instructional techniques: functioning on levels (by word, sentence, and then by paragraph), the program features kinesthetic activities (flash card systems, workbook, interactive call-and-response work), visual activities (pictures and words), and offers auditory activities as well.
Stephen Sulzbacher, Ph.D., of the University of Washington does an evaluative review of the Edmark Reading Program. Discussing how the program was developed over a fifteen-year period (1960-1975) and defining the tests done on the program at the Rainier School in Buckley, Washington, Dr. Sulzbacher shows the validation results—which determine that the Edmark reading Program “produced significantly greater academic achievement (for mentally challenged learners) than two other commercially available programs….” The studies revealed, he continues, the Edmark Reading Program proved to be academically superior in the respect that academic gain was outstanding, and those learners whose teachers used the Edmark Reading Program went on to use their developed reading skills in a “general manner”. That is, they would learn more “previously untaught” words by applying during their later reading experiences the recognition skills taught with the Edmark Reading Program.
While the language of the review is dated, the information holds that the Edmark Reading Program, according to numerous studies/experiments, is “the most effective tool for use with ‘mildly and moderately retarded’ students,” for those students “with cerebral palsy or other motor handicaps,” and for “typically developing pre-schoolers (as young as three years of age).”
The above studies of the Edmark Reading Program validate the short- and long-term effectiveness when used by teachers, tutors, and other paraprofessionals, but testimonials elsewhere report that home-schoolers, parents, grandparents, or any reading adult can implement the Edmark Reading Program. Given the tests and testimonials, and granted the knowledge that the program was carefully developed over a decade and a half for learners of all mental and physical ability and disability levels, it appears the Edmark Reading Program is one of this culture’s best kept secrets!
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