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Science of Reading + Writing: See how Handwriting Without Tears ©2025 brings them together. Learn More

SCIENCE OF READING

Empower your students to reach reading proficiency with time-tested programs that truly make a difference in the classroom.

The road to reading can be a challenging journey. But with our solutions aligned to the Science of Reading, you can empower your students with the essential knowledge and skills to master everything from handwriting to phonics.

Our Science-Based Approach to Instruction

LEARNING WITHOUT TEARS: ALIGNED TO THE SCIENCE OF READING

Each of our programs are meticulously designed to align with the Science of Reading principles to create an experience that delivers results. This ensures that students systematically acquire crucial skills, precisely when they are developmentally ready, preparing them to take the next step.

  • Introduces students to foundational skills as outlined in Scarborough's Reading Rope.
  • Enhances fine-motor skills, deepens vocabulary, and fosters alphabet knowledge.
  • Cultivates a strong foundation in automatic word recognition.
  • Facilitates students in establishing letter-to-word connections through explicit instruction.
  • Emphasizes phonics and word study skills to elevate literacy abilities
  • Focuses on rich fictional and informational texts.  
  • Provides multiple opportunities to read, talk, and write.  
  • Solidifies learning through multimodal reading practice.  
  • Guides students in developing alphabet skills
  • Cultivates an understanding of phonetic sounds and their link to letters.  
  • Equips students with the ability to decode and identify words.  
  • Fosters a daily practice of reading connected texts for all students.  

Handwriting Without Tears®

Reading can be challenging for many students, so it's essential to provide effective instruction. Phonics, Reading, and Me adopts a Science of Reading-based approach, emphasizing vital phonics and word recognition skills. Our program utilizes engaging texts to guide students through a structured learning journey, enabling them to master each step and boost their reading confidence.

Systematic, Explicit Instruction

Phonics, Reading, and Me is designed to systematically teach phonics skills to enhance reading comprehension. The program's scope and sequence emphasize critical reading skills, ensuring efficient and effective small-group activities.

Systematic — The program follows a structured sequence, enabling students to advance from basic to advanced phonics skills, fostering reading proficiency.   

Explicit —  Each lesson offers teachers explicit teaching routines to strengthen phonics and word study skills.

Building Skills and Knowledge

Our program features several thematic units that enable students to develop a more profound understanding of reading and vocabulary across various subjects, while also improving their phonics and word study abilities.

Phonemic Awareness is emphasized in Grades K–1, while Fluency takes center stage in Grades 2–3. The program includes:

  • Comprehensive decoding and encoding practices.
  • Considerate cognitive load in each text. 
  • Meaningful connected texts with comprehension questions.  
  • Oral language development through small group and partner conversations.   

Phonics, Reading, and Me®

Reading can be challenging for many students, so it's essential to provide effective instruction. Phonics, Reading, and Me adopts a Science of Reading-based approach, emphasizing vital phonics and word recognition skills. Our program utilizes engaging texts to guide students through a structured learning journey, enabling them to master each step and boost their reading confidence.

Systematic, Explicit Instruction

Phonics, Reading, and Me is designed to systematically teach phonics skills to enhance reading comprehension. The program's scope and sequence emphasize critical reading skills, ensuring efficient and effective small-group activities.

Systematic — The program follows a structured sequence, enabling students to advance from basic to advanced phonics skills, fostering reading proficiency.   

Explicit —  Each lesson offers teachers explicit teaching routines to strengthen phonics and word study skills.

Building Skills and Knowledge

Our program features several thematic units that enable students to develop a more profound understanding of reading and vocabulary across various subjects, while also improving their phonics and word study abilities.

Phonemic Awareness is emphasized in Grades K–1, while Fluency takes center stage in Grades 2–3. The program includes:

  • Comprehensive decoding and encoding practices.
  • Considerate cognitive load in each text. 
  • Meaningful connected texts with comprehension questions.  
  • Oral language development through small group and partner conversations.   

A–Z for Mat Man® and Me

A–Z for Mat Man and Me’s instructional design is built on the premise that children learn best when skills are set in the context of the “why.” With the help of Mat Man, students can easily master the mechanics of writing using a science-based approach to learning the alphabet.  

By integrating phonics with connected texts, students reinforce what they already know and equip themselves with the knowledge to go beyond. 

Systematic, Explicit Instruction

Students become proficient readers through systematic and explicit instruction, both of which A-Z for Mat Man and Me provides.

Systematic — The Letter Learning lessons in each book follow a highly structured approach, ensuring thorough comprehension of every alphabet letter. The Meaning Making lessons further strengthen letter usage within words and narratives.

Explicit — We explicitly cover each letter's name, sound, and form, allowing students to practice and apply their knowledge effectively.

Building Skills and Knowledge

Young learners embark on an exciting journey through the alphabet, refining familiar skills while acquiring new ones along the way. They gradually refine their sound awareness, forging strong connections between these sounds and their corresponding letters. As they engage in a diverse range of engaging texts each day, the process of decoding and effortlessly recognizing words becomes an integral part of their daily routine.