Is your child a reluctant reader? Does he or she dislike reading? Have they always struggled with reading – perhaps it just never really “caught on”? Are you concerned they are falling behind or may be unprepared for future grades as the schoolwork (and the reading assignments) get more challenging?

If so, Fit Learning can help get your reluctant reader back on track. Fit’s science-based method has been proven effective in helping students take their reading skills to the next level. Plus, we make learning fun, because reading should be enjoyable for kids and not something to be dreaded.

Reading Skills Matter, Both Now and in the Future

Few would argue that reading skills are critical for overall success in school, to thrive in the workplace, and even to navigate social situations. Unfortunately – as illustrated in a recent report from the National Assessment of Educational Progress – US students’ reading test scores have been declining, particularly after the COVID pandemic. So, clearly, the quality of reading instruction in schools is as important as ever.

However, not all techniques for teaching reading yield the same results. Research points to the Science of Reading (SOR) as being the most effective way to help children learn to read. Fit Reading uses SOR as the basis of its curriculum, resulting in impressive learning outcomes, all while students are having fun.

The Science of Reading Gets Results for Reluctant Readers

The Science of Reading (SOR) is all about using research to determine which methods are most effective at helping people learn to read. It also helps debunk long-held teaching- and learning-related myths and practices that aren’t actually supported by science. SOR encompasses a body of evidence from areas such as education theory, neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and linguistics.

So, what does the research tell us? While SOR doesn’t embody a single specific method for reading instruction, it provides evidence supporting the following concepts.

• Teaching phonological awareness, or learning how oral language can be broken into smaller parts
• Teaching phonemic awareness, or learning sound-spelling relationships
• Training on phonics, or learning how to associate written letters with their individual sounds (also called phonemes)
• Working toward fluency, where the learner can read quickly and accurately enough to be able to absorb and comprehend what they’re reading versus spending their time and effort trying to decode words
• Using systematic instruction, which means teaching a skill in a carefully developed, structured sequence, just as a builder would construct a house
• Using explicit instruction, where the instructor explains the skills clearly and directly before giving the learner lots of opportunities to practice. (At Fit, this practice may come in different forms – verbal, written, and even role-reversal, where the student “teaches” the skill to the learning coach. Our multi-modal approach helps the learner thoroughly master foundational skills and concepts, while also keeping the coaching session dynamic and engaging.)

Fit’s Method Reflects the Science of Reading

In alignment with SOR, Fit Reading places a strong emphasis on phonological/phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluency – as well as covering oral and silent reading, comprehension, spelling, and vocabulary. And Fit’s method uses explicit and systematic instruction to help learners train to fluency. These are just a few examples of how Fit Learning’s practices are supported by the most compelling available evidence.

The benefits of SOR are long-term and provide learners with a strong foundation for the future. It improves learners’ spelling and reading comprehension, in addition to boosting their basic reading skills.

Fit Reading is Fun for Learners, Even Reluctant Readers

So, you may be thinking … regardless of how effective the reading instruction is, it still isn’t something that kids actually enjoy, is it?

Actually, at Fit, we do make tutoring fun! Research shows that students learn best when they’re engaged and having fun, so that’s an important part of the Fit Learning experience. (In fact, fun is one of our core values.)

Fit’s learning coaches use behavioral expertise to reinforce each learner’s success and make the journey to mastery an enjoyable one. Our coaches resemble sports coaches and work hard to motivate your child through praise (and prizes!). Fit’s multi-sensory technique lets learners practice by seeing, hearing, doing, moving, and writing. Students aren’t bored because the learning sessions are dynamic and fast-paced. And, each session is full of lively, back-and-forth interaction between coach and learner. Kids look forward to coming to Fit, and the success they experience there improves not only their grades, but also their self-confidence.

Fit’s Method Works Across the Board

Note that all kinds of learners benefit from Fit’s fun and effective instruction, including:

• Children who are struggling academically in general or with a specific subject area
• Students who aren’t struggling but want to prevent summer slide or skill regression
• Gifted learners who are seeking further challenge or enrichment
• Homeschooled students, or those whose parents are considering homeschooling
• Children with diagnosed learning disabilities (LD) or learning differences, special education needs, processing disorders, ADHD, dyslexia, slow processing speed, developmental disabilities and/or developmental delays, speech/language delays, dyscalculia, or who are on the autism spectrum
• Pre-K children for school readiness

Also, Fit offers instruction in other areas besides reading. These include writing, math, logic, spelling, penmanship, and kindergarten readiness. Also available are programs for homeschoolers, academic summer camp, study skills. Plus, there’s an option for those who prefer to learn online versus in person.

Simply put, Fit Learning’s research-backed method – combined with a fun, upbeat approach to instruction – gets serious results for all kinds of learners.

Help Your Reluctant Reader By Getting Started With Fit Today

Your child doesn’t have to struggle with reading – Fit Learning can help! Just follow these steps to get started.

1. Contact Fit Learning St. Louis and speak with our Director, Janice Smith.
2. Schedule an intake assessment for your child.
3. Begin at Fit Learning and watch your child’s reading skills get stronger as their confidence grows.