Lynne Wajon For the Love of Reading

For the Love of ReadingBy Anthony Kilner

Supernal caught up with Lynne Wajon from Reading For Sure, discussing home schooling and tutoring to help kids learn to read in a sensible fun way – in a way that simply works!

What is Reading For Sure, why was it developed and where?

“Reading for Sure is a specialised program originally developed to help young people who had fallen behind or not been able to learn to read. Clinical Psychologist and Educator Dr Julia Solomon, recognised that the reason these students had behavioural and anxiety issues was the lack of literacy to cope with the demands of school.

“Reading is a complex process for the brain. If the brain is not stimulated in the correct way through early childhood, as the child begins formal learning the ability to read may not develop. We must also consider that not all brains are wired the same and therefore many children will need extra help to attain the ability to read.

“In 1992, Dr Solomon believed that everyone had the right to be literate and set about developing an alternative method of reading instruction. The current instruction methods were leaving many young people and adults unable to read and write and in danger of being socially and economically disadvantaged, through no fault of their own. So, in a small office in West Perth Western Australia, Reading For Sure was born. “As a systematic, explicit phonics-based program, it was the opposite of the teaching methods at the time. Phonics had been dismissed by a considerable number of educators as something that did not work, since English is not 100 percent phonetic. While that is true, a vast number of English words are, while a lesser amount are not. Therefore, the challenge for Dr Solomon was what to do about them.

“With her extensive knowledge of how children learn and her experiences with other languages, Dr Solomon was able to produce a solution that solved the shortcomings of traditional phonics.

“The main difficulty with English is that there are eighteen vowel sounds and only five vowel letters. The eighteen vowel sounds can each be spelt a

“We must also consider that not all brains are wired the same and therefore many children will need extra help to attain the ability to read.”

“…in a small office in West Perth Western Australia, Reading For Sure was born.”

multitude of ways and are difficult for most students to memorise. Learning the spelling rules is also problematic, as there are around 52 rules and most have a lengthy list of exceptions. The solution to this was to give each of these vowel sounds a diacritical mark. This would be inserted above or below the text, to clue a student to the sound related to the spelling. This, coupled with the teaching of how to sound-blend a word, resulted in vast improvements in a student’s reading in a very short time. The diacritical marks and teaching methods improve reading accuracy resulting in improved comprehension and spelling.

“Over time, Dr Solomon extended her program to help students from three years old through to adults to improve all aspects of their English literacy.

“It quickly became apparent to Dr Solomon that she could not help the considerable number of young people that were struggling to read. Therefore, by setting up World Literacy International, she began to train people as licensed providers of Reading for Sure to extend her service.”

How did you get started in Reading For Sure?

“In 1998 I heard about Reading for Sure and, with dyslexic readers in my extended family, I was extremely excited to see a method that made total sense to me and that it worked so well. I instantly started the training. Over the next 18 years I worked closely with Dr Solomon, further developing the training. I helped her publish the more than 90 reading books that she had written especially for the program, as well as developing new learning materials. I have personally taught hundreds of children how to read and to enjoy the wonderful world that books can open up for us using the Reading For Sure program in my own Reading For Sure clinic.

“In 2016, on her passing, I took over the management of Reading for Sure for her family and continue the work, developing her legacy. I have extended the teaching materials available, enabled student’s easy access to the program, further promoted the program and its providers and trained many new tutors.

“Most students come to us via word of mouth and see our highly trained tutors once a week for tailored one-to-one tutoring sessions.

“It quickly became apparent to Dr Solomon that she could not help the considerable number of young people that were struggling to read.”

“Over the next 18 years I worked closely with Dr Solomon, further developing the training.”

Clinical Psychologist and Educator Dr Julia Solomon

Many students come with complex issues alongside their reading difficulties, so this is the ideal format. The program works so well that there is the possibility of parents using it in their own homes.”

You have a new program starting for home schooling?

“To improve home access this year, we launched the Early Reading For Sure Package. This consists of a selection of the materials we use in class to teach the sounds of the alphabet and to blend them into words, without using long lists of words or flashcards. Also included is a series of instruction videos to help parents make the most of the package’s contents. We love to support anyone who buys and uses our packages.

“Over the next 12 months we hope to extend the availability of the program in the home. All materials are produced, printed and packaged by us in Perth.

“If you are interested in learning more, you will find further information on our website www.readingforsure.com.au. The site also has blogs detailing the fun activities that will develop essential pre-literacy skills and other literacy development skills. “I would love to answer any questions the readers might have about gaining access to or using our program. Perhaps you might be interested in becoming a tutor in your own area. Email Lynne at: info@readingforsure.com.au.”

“Many students come with complex issues alongside their reading difficulties…”

Anthony is available for 1:1 Readings and Bridging Realms Core Issue Vibrational Healing™ sessions.

Image Credit: Supplied by Lynne Wajon

Anthony Kilner

Core Issue Vibrational Healing™ Facilitator

ak@bridgingrealms.com.au | 0407 181 701

BRCIVH™ is an energy healing system designed to help people get into balance energetically.

BRCIVH™ utilises instruments, crystals and energetic healing to help people to work through energy, physical and mental crisis. It includes a a range of skills to help people understand their dis-ease and to get their mind, body and energy working together as one.

BRCIVH™ Energy healing work is available in person or remotely via zoom.

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