Virtual Agent
Summer Program for Entering 1st Graders
Make 1st Grade a Story of Success
Reading Will Give Your Child a Real Advantage
Strengthen Key Skills Before 1st Grade
Kids in our summer program get a jump start on new reading skills. They return to school ready to earn good grades and succeed with reading independently.
Build Confidence for New Challenges
Our students experience success with reading, over and over again. They develop the confidence and motivation to excel when the school year begins.
Discover All the Rewards of Reading
We give kids great experiences with terrific books that inspire a reading habit. Reading for pleasure keeps students learning and growing all year long.
Only Institute of Reading Development programs combine outstanding books and top-notch instruction to create skilled and enthusiastic readers.
Get Ready for 1st Grade in Our Summer Program
Our summer program provides a proven path for your child to improve key skills, increase confidence, and get really excited about books and reading. Click on the building blocks below to explore all the ways your child will benefit from this fun, effective program.
Strengthen Skills
Blending letter sounds together is at the heart of how children learn to read. We'll teach your child the phonics skills he or she needs to sound out words quickly and easily.
Sight words are the most common words kids encounter while reading, such as was, would, and have. In this program, your child will learn to recognize these words by sight, which makes learning to read easy and fast.
Developing comprehension is the key to success in school, and it makes reading fun and rewarding. In our program, your child will learn to visualize the story, identify with characters, and follow events.
Build Confidence
Learning to read can be hard work. As your child gains core reading skills in this program, frustration, tears, and nervousness about reading will melt away.
In this program, your child will succeed with book after book. With strong reading skills, he or she will approach each new challenge thinking "I can do this!"
Great experiences with books are the best motivator for learning to read. Our expert teachers bring the wonderful books in our program to life and get kids excited about reading.
Become a Reader
In this program, children read great books at the right level of difficulty. Your child will get a lot of reading practice and will keep progressing even after the program is over.
Discovering a love of books opens new worlds for children. Every book in our program will nurture your child's imagination, with engaging stories and funny characters.
Regular reading has a big payoff for kids: stronger comprehension, a richer vocabulary, and greater success in school. This program will make reading an important part of your child's life, now and in the future.
Great Learning Experiences with Great Books
This 5-Week Summer Program Includes:
- Dynamic online weekly classes your child will love
- A dedicated and knowledgeable reading teacher
- 5 terrific books at the right level of challenge*
- Interactive skill lessons and games between classes
- Personal support with 1-1 appointments and an exclusive helpline
We Know How to Prevent Summer Learning Loss
Summer learning loss is the decline in skills that children commonly experience over summer break. As reading skills are fundamental to many areas of school, losing them over the summer can affect a student's overall academic experience and negatively impact confidence and motivation.
With outstanding books at the right level of challenge, plus the structure and support to practice key skills over the summer, our students don't just avoid summer learning loss — they make substantial reading gains.
Decades of Excellence in Reading Instruction
The Institute of Reading Development offers programs in partnership with colleges and universities. Over the last 54 years, we’ve worked with more than 200 academic institutions to inspire over 3 million students to become skilled, enthusiastic readers.
In your area, we provide programs in partnership with: Case Western Reserve University, Siegal Lifelong Learning
In your area, we provide programs in partnership with: Case Western Reserve University, Siegal Lifelong Learning
Questions? We’re an Open Book.
Summer Reading Program FAQs
Weekly online classes last for 75 minutes and include guided reading practice and skill development with the support of an expert teacher, plus fun group games and activities. Between classes, students keep making individual progress as they complete interactive skill lessons. Your son or daughter will get almost daily reinforcement of the exact skills for success with independent reading.
Our average class size is 12 students. To foster engaging class activities and discussions while ensuring personal attention for every student, we limit enrollment to a maximum of 16 students per class.
Our online classes take place via Zoom. You will need reliable internet access and a computer, tablet, or other Zoom-compatible device to participate.
Yes! If you need to miss a class, we offer complimentary online make-up classes that feature the same curriculum and learning experiences. Your child won’t miss a beat in the program.
The Institute of Reading Development is a reading education provider that offers programs in partnership with colleges and universities. Over the last 54 years, we've worked with more than 200 academic institutions to inspire over 3 million students to become skilled, enthusiastic readers.
Our teachers are experts in the skills students need to succeed in every stage of reading development. They know how to bring books to life and provide engaging reading experiences that kids want to have over and over again.
Thanks to our 50+ years of experience hiring and training only the best instructors, we are confident that your child’s teacher will be dynamic, warm, and passionate about books and reading. Your child will love the teacher - and so will you!
You'll attend the first part of each class to provide support for your child, then make sure your child completes independent practice during the week. We handle the rest, making it hassle-free for you.
We already know you believe it's important for your child to become a reader. Enrolling in our program will let your child know it, too.
Students learn essential skills for success with independent reading in 1st grade, including phonics, sight words, and comprehension. Our program combines weekly online classes led by expert teachers with structured interactive lessons and guided activities between classes. We offer two Summer sessions, each with its own curriculum, unique skill lessons, and age-appropriate books.
Early Summer Titles
- Lucy and Jack by Jennifer Tallagnon
- Morris the Moose by B. Wiseman
- Ready, Set, Go! by John Stadler
- A New Job for Stu by Jacob Grimm
- Ham and Sal and the Very Good Smell by Jacob Grimm
Late Summer Titles
- Who Will Help? by Jennifer Tallagnon
- Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff
- Morris and Boris at the Circus by B. Wiseman
- Norma Jean, Jumping Bean by Joanna Cole
- Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik
By investing in core skill development now, you'll ensure that your child has a productive and fun time in 1st grade. Best of all, they will be well on the way to becoming a reader, which is the key to future academic success.
Summer learning loss is the decline in skills that children commonly experience over summer break. As reading skills are fundamental to many areas of school, losing them over the summer can affect a student's overall academic experience and negatively impact confidence and motivation. With outstanding books at the right level of challenge, plus the structure and support to practice key skills over the summer, our students don't just avoid summer learning loss—they make substantial reading gains.
Our students discover that the rewards of being a reader go well beyond school. Reading expands children's horizons and gives them access to an endless source of inspiration and wisdom. As they imagine new possibilities, their dreams take flight. And best of all, reading empowers them to make these dreams come true.
Blending letter sounds together is at the heart of how children learn to read. We'll teach your child the phonics skills he or she needs to sound out words quickly and easily.
Yes. Sight words are the most common words kids encounter while reading, such as was, would, and have. In this program, your child will learn to recognize these words by sight, which makes learning to read easy and fast.
Yes. Developing comprehension is the key to success in school, and it makes reading fun and rewarding. In our program, your child will learn to visualize the story, identify with characters, and follow events.
Absolutely, learning to read can be hard work. As your child gains core reading skills in this program, frustration, tears, and nervousness about reading will melt away.
Great experiences with books are the best motivator for learning to read. Our expert teachers bring the wonderful books in our program to life and get kids excited about reading.
Yes. In this program, children read great books at the right level of difficulty. Your child will get a lot of reading practice and will keep progressing even after the program is over.
Discovering a love of books opens new worlds for children. Every book in our program will nurture your child's imagination, with engaging stories and funny characters.
Yes, regular reading has a big payoff for kids: stronger comprehension, a richer vocabulary, and greater success in school. This program will make reading an important part of your child's life, now and in the future.