The Purpose of the Controlled Text

Often parents of my students ask me what their child should be reading, or they are apologizing to me for not having their child practice their reading more.  

Here is my response:

It is extremely important that if your child is being tutored in the Barton System they should ONLY read the texts (word lists, phrases, stories, work sheets) provided by the tutor until they have completed Level 4.  This is important because their brain is learning to decode  language in a systematic manner and we are eliminating "Guessing" of the text.  This is what we call reading a "controlled text".   If your child volunteers to read a few words that they recognize, great...but don't ever force.  Read orally and use Audio stories.  Help  your child's oral vocabulary grow.  As they progress in tutoring they will be amazed when they "see" and "read" a word for the first time that they've had stored up in their oral memory bank.   Your tutor will supply plenty of sheets and stories that they can practice with as they grow in confidence. 

Don't worry.  Your child will read more and more on their own as they grow in confidence.   That is our goal and prize.....Their confidence.