In recent years, a body of research collectively called "The Science of Reading" has taught us exactly what helps children learn to read.  It requires structured lessons that (at the very least):

 

 -  explicitly teach letter sounds and letter combinations

 -  explicitly teach how to hear these sounds and combine them

 -  explore the world around us to give meaning to what we read

 -  expose kids to both leveled texts and difficult texts and vocabulary

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   Unfortunately, for many years this was not the way reading was taught, and only now is it making its way full-steam ahead into school curriculums.  

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   Over ten years of teaching and tutoring, Ms. Flint has seen the effects of well-meaning yet misguided reading instruction.  Children learn to guess words, rather than sound them out.  They learn to memorize sight words, when only a few sight words need to be memorized (most can be decoded).  Many also lose confidence and eventually despise reading, because who would love an activity that makes you feel "stupid"? 

 

   No child is stupid.  Each one has a particular set of strengths that can be harnessed as well as a unique set of opportunities for growth.  Ms. Flint is therefore on a mission to teach as many kids to read and write as possible through a process that inspires the joy and deeper meaning of self-expression, curiosity, purposeful creation and confidence.  Reading and writing aren't chores anymore- they are ways for us to have an adventure, to build something important, to share our voices and contemplate new ideas.