News Release
For immediate release
Oxford Learning Launches Its Newest Literacy Program for Four- to Six-Year-Olds
–Goodbye, awkward transition to grade one–
London, Ontario, January 12, 2015 — Oxford Learning’s newest program, targeting kids transitioning to Grade 1, launched this week. R.E.A.D. Elite (Reading Excellence and Academic Development) is an academic-based early reading program designed to give Canadian children between the ages of four and six a strong foundation in literacy before beginning formal schooling.
Unlike other preschool and kindergarten programs, which may have made the mandated switch to play-based instruction models, R.E.A.D. Elite focuses on an academic-based model to ensure that students are developing the strong reading skills they need to become successful students.
Research into early literacy consistently shows that reading skills are the single biggest predictor of future academic success for young students.
“Young children who don’t read to their specific grade level by Grade 3 are already at a disadvantage,” says Dr. Whitehead, co-founder and president of Oxford Learning. “Reading skill development at an early age is critical. The lack of strong reading skills before school begins can put children at risk of falling behind academically.”
Children who enter the first grade with strong reading comprehension skills already in place are statistically shown to have an academic advantage over their peers. To give young students that strong reading foundation, Oxford Learning developed its R.E.A.D. Elite program—the only program of its kind to offer a French component for pre-school aged children, allowing young student to develop literacy skills in both languages.
R.E.A.D. Elite offers a variety of timing options including one-hour, one-and-a-half-hour, and two-hour sessions throughout the day and also on evenings and weekends to better suit busy families’ schedules.
“We’ve been running a very successful early reading program for 30 years. Graduates of our Little Readers program read at an upper Grade 2 level or better, giving those students an academic leg up that lasts them for the rest of their lives. R.E.A.D. Elite gives parents access to the same quality programming but with more flexible timing options and the choice to add French,” says Dr. Whitehead. “The R.E.A.D. Elite program is the perfect complement to preschool and provincial kindergarten programs to add an academic component and get young children on track academically.”
Graduates of R.E.A.D. Elite know their letter names and sounds, can decode, are able to recognize sight words, and can read and understand pattern stories from phonics readers. They also develop numeracy skills—number recognition, counting, adding and subtracting—as well as fine motor skills.
R.E.A.D. Elite is now being offered at all Oxford Learning locations.
About Oxford Learning
Established in 1984, Oxford Learning has grown to include more than 120 learning centres across Canada. Oxford Learning goes beyond tutoring to help students reach their learning potential, not just for one grade or one year, but for a lifetime. Oxford Learning’s unique programs teach children to learn how to learn. Just a few hours a week can make a world of difference in developing the right skills and habits to succeed. No matter what the subject or grade level, Oxford Learning breaks the cycle of hiring tutors year after year. Oxford Learning’s proprietary Dynamic Diagnostic Assessment™ allows Oxford Learning staff to get to know each child, from academic standing to skill gaps and learning potential. With the goals of improved grades, motivation and confidence for any child, Oxford Learning offers three core programs: Little Readers® for children ages three to six; Beyond Tutoring® for those in grades one to eight; and Advantage High School Success™ for kids in grades 9 to 12. As well, it offers En Français French programs for students in grades 1 to 12.
Check out Oxford Learning at oxfordlearning.com or call your local Oxford Learning Centre for more details.
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To find out more about the R.E.A.D. Elite Reading Excellence and Academic Development program, please contact Tory Crowder, Jump Start Communications 416 998-9702 www.jumpstartcommunications.ca [email protected].
