Institute Of Reading Development

Our daughter is an entering kindergarten student. She had just completed all of the BOB books series and we were struggling with where to go next with her reading. The variety of books within each reading level were so varied and we wanted to help her not only develop a true love of reading, but also bolster her confidence. We chose the online version of this program and couldn’t be happier. They listened very carefully to our assessment of our daughter’s reading skills and skillfully matched us to the correct reading program for her (entering second year!). The program is so much fun for her. We love that we can let her work at her speed. She has developed such a great confidence in her reading and really loves doing the assignments in the program. Her reading skills have sky rocketed! She has become quite fluent as well as expressive when she reads.
We did try in the classroom version of the program and this did not work well for us or our child. She did not like sitting in one place for two hours. The first course we were put into (entering 1^st graders) was too easy for her. She was rather bored. We didn’t want to put her into the older kid classroom and we are certainly quite glad that we were directed towards the online program. Each assignment takes her about 15 – 20 minutes to complete and we can do it during vacation, in the morning, in the evening, basically whenever is convenient for us and can change depending on her activities for the day. We were quite pleased all around and highly recommend the online program.

UPDATE: After voicing concern to our local partnering school of higher education, I was contacted by IRD and given satisfaction for expectations which were not met. I felt that the gentleman who contacted me may advocate some real change to increase the level of programing and (perhaps) technology used for the program. I will be watching and hopeful to return to a tighter program in the future.
Paid $ 330 for a five week program with a first grade reading level. Our child learned about 15 sight words more and struggled through independent and guided reading of four ($ 3) books that were LOANED to us for the duration of class. The games we received I would value at about $ 10 (max) total. The workbook had about 20 necessary pages out of 120 i managed to do what this whole program does, look substantial but turn out to be 90% fluff. Further, the last week they try to sell you an additional kit for $ 100 which based onmy knowledge here is likely $ 15 of product. A better value would be: Download four or five apps of sight wordsCreate blending phonic flash cards of your own (P) (L) (K) + (ick), (it) etc. Read 1 hour a week with your child.

We signed my son up for the Summer Reading Program through the Institute of Reading Development aka WSU Summer Reading Program aka Reading and Study Skills Program. It was a major disappointment and waste of money for us. My son is a good student but struggles with reading comprehension – this program focuses on supporting students with this. We thought to help with SAT’s we would enroll him.
The ONLY reading technique that this program teaches is «Long Smooth Underline». Here’s a tip-​save your $ 300 plus and just look it up online. My son learned this technique in 4^th grade. It was not a tool that helped him, so naturally this time was no different. When I spoke with the teacher asking for different techniques (as we all having different learning styles) she said this was the only one taught and her «hands were tied» if this technique did not work for my son. They spent 30 minutes of class time going over «how to select a book» (here’s their revolutionary tip: «read the back cover.» I was standing outside the classroom listening and was bored to tears. It was the most uninspired program I have seen to date.
When I asked for a refund I was told that the teacher timed my sons reading during week one and saw an improvement week two. There was no improvement – the only difference is now my son absolutely hates reading more than ever.
The program does great marketing and issues a lot of promises, but does not really seem interested in helping kids.