About The Program

About the Program

This program was created out of a mother's shrewd observations as she watched her child evolve from being a supposed 'advanced reader' to being virtually illiterate. Sonya Nelson, the program's developer, recalls the process that brought her daughter full circle.

"When my daughter Britnee started school she showed signs of being an early reader. Her kindergarten teacher focused on the sounds of the alphabet and Britnee quickly learned them, receiving awards for being one of the most promising young readers.

"Britnee's first-grade teacher, however, was using a method called whole language. The teacher would read a story to the group while the children followed along in their books. After the teacher finished reading the entire book, each child in the group would repeat the book from cover to cover, exactly as the teacher had already read it. Once the children could 'read' the stories in a particular level, they would advance to the next.

"Britnee quickly progressed to one of the highest levels in her class. But at home, I noticed that, if she was unfamiliar with the book, she had absolutely no idea what it said. I approached the teacher on several occasions and she kept telling me not to worry because it would kick in.

"Second grade was a continuation of first with more whole language reading methods. Again, Britnee quickly went up the levels. Halfway through the year, however, she stalled. She was getting into the more advanced readers and was struggling. But again, teachers assured me Britnee was doing fine. I knew otherwise.

"If I took a word from the book she was 'reading' and wrote it on a piece of paper, Britnee had absolutely no idea what the word was, yet in context of the story she read it perfectly. I started to panic.

"I asked how I could help my child at home; what were the steps to teach a child to read? The teacher was unable to give me any advice or assistance. I purchased several reading programs such as Hooked on Phonics and The Phonics Game, but they were mostly flash cards that quickly lost Brit's attention. The boxes were filled with all this stuff and I was personally confused. I gave it my best shot, but after a few sessions, she had no interest.

"Britnee finished the second grade in the 12th percentile of the California Standardized Reading Test.

"The first week of third grade I received a phone call from Britnee's teacher requesting a conference. The teacher informed me that Britnee did not know how to read. My child had gone from a supposed 'advanced reader' to being clinically illiterate. I was determined to find an answer.

"After hours and hours of research and reading every book I could get my hands on, I learned that using systematic phonics was the most effective way to teach reading. I eventually became a certified reading teacher through a school located in Florida called Read America.

"Within four months, I taught Britnee to read fluently. I gave up my retail business, started teaching children to read and have been doing it ever since.

"I have taught countless children how to read. I learned something: that teaching someone to read is not complicated when done correctly. This is when (and why) I developed the Learn to Read with Skip and Daisy Reading Program. My sincere hope is that your child will benefit from it as much as mine did. In fact, I guarantee he or she will!"

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Related Research & Documentation

California Implements Whole Language Reading Instruction

In 1985, California mandated that the whole language reading method be taught in all the schools. Since that time, reading scores of California have fallen from #6 in the nation to #46.

Teachers who previously went through 4 years of college and a credential program received approximately 8 hours of instruction on the actual method of teaching reading. The gist of the instruction was on keeping the classroom organized and teaching the curriculum given to them, which changes every 4 to 5 years. They learn almost nothing about the process of actually teaching someone to read.

California School District Study

A two-year study of first- and second-graders in California's Inglewood Unified School District compared phonics to whole language instruction. By the end of the second grade, phonics students scored more than a year above grade level in word recognition, passage recognition and vocabulary. In the ability to sound out and pronounce new words, these students scored almost four years above grade level.

The study, conducted at eight schools in the Alief Independent School District, was presented in Sacramento, CA at a legislative hearing on teaching methods. The study comes down solidly on the side of concentrated phonics as an early foundation in teaching children to read. Gains for students taught the phonics way averaged twice those achieved by students taught using whole language.

This list goes on with evidence from scientists and professionals as well as parents who have all experienced the rapid progression that comes with learning to read through phonics.

The Today Show Investigation into Reading Programs

An investigative report by The Today Show highlighted child development experts from Harvard, Yale, NYU and several other prestigious institutions. The findings? Whole language (learning to identify words by sight) and straight memorization techniques are not the way to teach your child to read.

You can watch a video of this program at http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/39953918/ns/today-money/.

On the other hand, phonics-based teaching (what Learn to Read with Skip and Daisy subscribes to) is highly praised and scientifically proven to work.

Contact Information

By Phone

In addition to publishing the Learn to Read with Skip and Daisy system, we also operate a learning center in California. If we are not available when you call, it is likely we're involved in one-on-one sessions. Please leave a message and we will return your call as soon as possible.

1-888-283-6301

By Postal Mail or Email

Milestone Reading
36731 Lion Peak Rd
Mountain Center, CA 92561

milestonereading@earthlink.net T

Shipping Information

We ship U.S. Postal Priority Mail.

Your order will ship within 1 business day after your credit card is charged.

Most orders are received within 5-6 business days once your package leaves our warehouse.

Call toll-free Monday through Friday 8am-5pm PST:

1-888-283-6301