Reading
There are many reading curriculum options. How do we select just one? We look to traditional programs that have a proven track record to start! Read our overview of Pathway Readers and how it fits with a Christ-centered education. At the bottom of the page you can find more information about each Pathway Readers level.
Learning by Reading
At Portals, we design around literature (Read), provide questions to ask about it (Think) and then give learners a project (Do) that gives the mind time to retain learning. All learning is cognitively amplified when we use not just our ears, but our experiences! Each individual student will learn at different paces and should be placed based on individual skill level as they begin the Portals program.
For our purposes we want to leverage a program that is comprehensive, easy-to-teach, doesn’t break the bank, and most importantly is morally sound. We build lessons around the Pathway Readers (C) that have been used successfully for decades.
Originally developed by Amish parents, the books are full of character building stories, so they are learning to read, with applicable content that you can use to talk about life too - exactly what Portals is looking for! Workbooks include phonics instruction, vocabulary work, and reading comprehension.
To start, identify your student's placement level for beginning / early readers using the Pathway placement process for kindergarten through 2nd grade. These are the formative years for learning to read. Complete the placement process with your student(s) so you can customize your lesson plans to receive digital resources such as videos, interactives, and games that correspond with the correct reading level.
We believe the best way to learn a skill is to do it. Once they are reading chapter books on their own, they are ready to move on to the Portals Literature and Writing curriculum for Growers. We do not have a "Language Arts" courses, instead we use that time for exposure to more books, and writing within the context of larger projects. We do include both "Literature" and "English" courses.
Students from 3rd through 12th grade will complete the Portals Literature and Writing courses which use short stories, portions from classic literature, poems, and are designed to teach reading and writing skills through practical application. You can read more about each of these courses in the complete course descriptions available for download on the Scope and Sequence page of the website.