The Beacon Literacy Development Program is a unique new approach to reading development which, while acknowledging the strengths of conventional strategies, incorporates several revolutionary new theoretical and technological advances.

This one-on-one program has taught tens of thousands of children and adults to read. Our students consistently show significant improvement in their reading and spelling skills – an average of 2.6 grade levels in just 20 sessions.

The system is so powerful that it is effective, in the same time period, with the most dysfunctional readers suffering from various forms of dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADD and various other learning disorders. The system has also proven to be equally effective as a means of teaching English as a Second Language.

The strength of the program lies in the fact that it is based on a combination of techniques designed to reinforce the connection between sounds and text, with profound and long-term results. The program combines the following techniques:

1. Self-Voice Feedback
2. Multi-Sensory

Self-Voice Feedback

Research from the field of cognitive development has shown that people learn much more quickly and retain that learning when it is in their own inner, or self, voice. The Beacon program uses exclusive technology to capitalize on the way that the inner voice can help reinforce the phonemic and recognition skills necessary for successful reading.

There are 44 speech sounds which comprise the English language. Written text is simply spoken speech put on paper and we use an alphabetic code and a set of rules to encode speech to print. In order to learn to read and write effectively a detailed knowledge of the code and rules is essential.

Under the guidance of a certified cognitive therapist, the student records in his/her self-voice a study guide for the code and rules comprising the writing system. It is important to note that this is not phonics drill but involves sophisticated materials and a range of activities that cover all aspects of reading.

The use of self-voice ensures an instructional medium which is not only intrinsically interesting to the student, but also sensory-appropriate and error free. By presenting the learning materials in this method, the Beacon technology capitalizes on the way the brain is designed to function.

Multi-Sensory

Multi-sensory simply means using as many senses as possible in the learning process.

Some of us learn best visually, some auditorially, some kinesthetically (physically doing it) some of us use a mix of senses. Learning is more effective when all three senses are used in the process. For example, when teaching a student letter sounds you would get the student to look at the letter, say the letter and then write the letter several times so as to ensure that the student has learned it and can easily recall it.

Our multi-sensory program is delivered in a direct instructional method, rather than the more open-ended ‘discovery’ methods used in modern schools. Direct instructional methods tend to reinforce the information, or the content, behind a skill before expecting the student to master the skill. This, unfortunately is a practice largely abandoned by modern teaching methods.

How the Program is Structured

The combination of Self-Voice Feedback and multi-sensory materials in a one-on-one setting makes the Beacon Literacy Development Program a powerful, accelerated learning system that is proven and documented. The power and reliability of the Beacon Literacy Program is such that you could confidently expect a minimum growth of one full grade in word recognition skills within twenty (20) sessions. The average increase to date is 2.6 grades in twenty sessions.

The learning materials are structured, sequential, cumulative and multi-sensory, and deal primarily with the sound structure of the English language. The combination of the “Self Voice Feedback” and the structure and content of the learning materials take into account, and allow for, all learning styles, strengths and weaknesses.

Each program session is split into two separate activities, one involving textual reading, dictation and comprehension exercises, and the other working with the sound structure and phonetic rules of English.

Under the guidance of a certified cognitive therapist and supervision of a chartered psychologist, the student records in his/her own voice a study guide for the alphabetic code and the encoding rules that comprise the writing system. The student’s assignment is to listen to the tapes and write down all that is recorded. The student is, in effect, taking dictation from his own internal voice much in the same way that we all do when writing.

The practice sessions can take place at home, in the classroom or anywhere else, as long as the student is using a standard mono cassette player and headphones.

In addition to rapidly improving word recognition skills and spelling the Beacon program also improves: listening skills; auditory discrimination of the sound pattern within words; sound pattern categorization skills; short term auditory recall; reading comprehension; reading speed; reading fluency; attention span; concentration; self confidence.

The program works with the sub skills of reading and spelling, and as it is delivered in a relatively error and distraction free environment it allows learning to take place at a rapid rate. Most of our students describe the program as cool and fun to do.

Call now to find out how Beacon Literacy can help with a fast, effective program: (403) 283-3278, or email: info@literacycanada.com