Reading Club | Science-Based Reading Instruction

The Foundation

What Is the Science of Reading?

The Science of Reading is not a program, curriculum, or philosophy. It is a vast body of research — spanning over five decades and drawing from cognitive science, neuroscience, linguistics, and education — that tells us how the human brain learns to read.

This research converges on a clear conclusion: reading is not natural. Unlike spoken language, which humans acquire instinctively, reading must be explicitly taught. The brain must be trained to connect letters (graphemes) with sounds (phonemes) and build the neural pathways that turn written symbols into meaning.

When instruction is aligned with this science, 95% of children can learn to read proficiently. When it is not, struggling readers are often left behind — not because of ability, but because of method.

The Framework

The Five Pillars of Reading

Identified by the National Reading Panel, these five components form the foundation of effective reading instruction.

1

Phonemic Awareness

The ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words. This is the foundational skill that allows children to understand that words are made up of discrete sounds.

2

Phonics

Understanding the systematic relationship between letters and sounds. Explicit, systematic phonics instruction teaches children to decode words by mapping graphemes to phonemes — the alphabetic principle.

3

Fluency

The ability to read text accurately, quickly, and with proper expression. Fluent readers can focus their mental energy on comprehension rather than decoding, making reading feel effortless.

4

Vocabulary

Knowledge of words and their meanings. A rich vocabulary is essential for comprehension. Children need both direct vocabulary instruction and wide exposure to language in context.

5

Comprehension

The ultimate goal of reading — constructing meaning from text. Comprehension strategies include summarizing, questioning, visualizing, and making connections to prior knowledge.

Best Practices

What Does Good Reading Instruction Look Like?

✎

Explicit & Direct

Skills are taught directly and clearly — nothing is left to guessing. Teachers model exactly what students need to do, then guide them through practice step by step.

🛠

Systematic & Sequential

Concepts are introduced in a logical order, from simple to complex. Each new skill builds on previously mastered ones, creating a strong, cumulative foundation.

📈

Data-Driven

Ongoing assessment ensures instruction targets each child's specific needs. Progress is monitored so adjustments can be made quickly and effectively.

👥

Small-Group & Differentiated

Children learn best when instruction is tailored to their level. Small groups allow for personalized attention, targeted practice, and immediate corrective feedback.

🔁

Multi-Sensory

Effective instruction engages visual, auditory, and kinesthetic pathways simultaneously, strengthening neural connections and making learning stick.

⏱

Consistent Practice

Repetition and cumulative review are non-negotiable. Frequent practice with immediate feedback solidifies skills and builds automaticity.

Neuroscience

What Happens in the Brain When We Read?

🧠 No "Reading Center"

Unlike speech, there is no area of the brain pre-wired for reading. The brain must repurpose existing circuits — regions originally evolved for visual processing and language — and weave them together into a new "reading network."

👁 Visual Processing

The occipital lobe first processes the visual pattern of letters. A specialized region called the Visual Word Form Area learns to instantly recognize letter combinations, enabling rapid word identification.

🔈 Phonological Decoding

Regions in the left temporal and parietal lobes convert letters into their corresponding sounds. This phonological processing is the engine of decoding and is why systematic phonics instruction is so critical.

💡 Meaning & Comprehension

The frontal and temporal lobes activate to retrieve word meanings, integrate syntax, and build understanding. Skilled readers do this almost instantaneously — a process that took years of practice to develop.

⚡ Building Neural Pathways

With repeated practice, the brain strengthens these connections through myelination — coating neural pathways in a fatty sheath that speeds signal transmission. This is why practice and repetition matter so much.

🕒 From Effortful to Automatic

Beginning readers rely heavily on slow, effortful decoding. Over time, the brain shifts from a phonological route (sounding out) to an orthographic route (instant recognition), freeing mental resources for comprehension.

The Movement

A Historic Shift in Education

Across the nation, a seismic shift is underway in how reading is taught. After decades of debate, state legislatures are passing laws requiring schools to adopt evidence-based reading instruction aligned with the Science of Reading.

This movement is driven by sobering data: roughly two-thirds of American fourth graders read below proficiency. For too long, many classrooms relied on methods — like three-cueing and balanced literacy — that lacked scientific support. Children were told to guess at words using pictures or context clues instead of being taught to decode them.

Now, states are mandating that schools use structured literacy approaches: explicit phonics, phonemic awareness, and decodable texts. Teachers are being retrained, curricula are being replaced, and accountability measures are being strengthened.

This is the biggest topic in education right now — and it matters because every child's future depends on the ability to read.

Our Approach

Why Reading Club Works

Reading Club delivers instruction that is fully aligned with the Science of Reading — because when you teach the right way, every child can succeed.

🎯

Direct & Explicit Instruction

Every lesson is clear, intentional, and structured. Students are never left to figure it out on their own — skills are modeled, practiced, and reinforced systematically.

📜

Systematic Phonics

Our phonics instruction follows a carefully sequenced scope and sequence, ensuring students master each sound-spelling pattern before moving to the next.

💪

Lots of Practice

Repetition builds fluency and automaticity. Students get abundant opportunities to apply new skills through reading, writing, and word work activities.

⚡

Immediate Feedback

Errors are corrected in real time so students don't practice mistakes. Positive, specific feedback builds confidence and accelerates progress.

👥

Small-Group Instruction

With small groups, every child gets the attention they deserve. Instruction is differentiated to meet each student exactly where they are.

Our Programs

Clubs

In addition to Reading Club, we offer focused programs to help your child build confidence and skills across subjects.

🔢

Math Club

Build a strong math foundation through hands-on, engaging instruction that makes math fun and accessible for every learner.

Number sense, operations, and problem-solving skills
Fun, structured sessions that make math enjoyable
Hands-on activities and real-world connections
Small groups for personalized support
Confidence-building through mastery and practice
Led by experienced educators

Register for Math Club

📝

Test Prep Club

Prepare your child for standardized tests with targeted practice, proven strategies, and the confidence to perform their best on test day.

Familiarity with test formats and question types
Reading comprehension and math test strategies
Timed practice sessions to build stamina and pacing
Small groups for personalized coaching
Reduce test anxiety through preparation and practice
Led by experienced educators

Register for Test Prep Club

Progression

Reading Instruction Levels

Our five-level framework guides students from foundational awareness to confident, independent reading.

Level 1

Pre-Reader

Phonemic Awareness & Letter Knowledge

Students develop awareness of sounds in spoken language and learn to identify and form letters. Activities focus on rhyming, segmenting, blending sounds, and letter-sound correspondence. This stage builds the critical foundation for all future reading.

Level 2

Emerging Reader

Basic Decoding & CVC Words

Students begin blending sounds together to read simple consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) words like "cat," "sit," and "hop." They practice reading decodable texts and begin building sight word recognition for high-frequency words.

Level 3

Developing Reader

Advanced Phonics & Fluency Building

Students tackle consonant blends, digraphs, long vowel patterns, and multi-syllable words. Fluency practice increases as students read longer, more complex decodable texts with growing accuracy and expression.

Level 4

Transitional Reader

Comprehension & Vocabulary Expansion

With strong decoding skills in place, focus shifts to comprehension strategies: summarizing, predicting, questioning, and making inferences. Vocabulary instruction deepens, and students read a wider variety of text types.

Level 5

Independent Reader

Fluent Reading & Critical Thinking

Students read grade-level text fluently and with strong comprehension. They analyze texts, compare perspectives, and read across genres. The goal is a confident, self-motivated reader who reads for both learning and pleasure.

Success Stories

What Families Are Saying

★★★★★

"I can't say enough about the reading club, I recommend it to everyone. My daughter started kindergarten during Covid and on top of that is very dyslexic so the poor thing had a rough start. As I also struggle with it was really hard for me to try and help her. I had tried every app, dvd and gimmick I could find and I really just wasn't sure what else to do. Mrs Jaramillo immediately knew how to reach her and in the few short years she has been in her group Lily has jumped multiple grade levels in reading and her whole attitude towards school has changed. Watching your child finally click and understanding is worth everything. We can't thank her enough."

— Danielle and Michael Taylor

★★★★★

"I'm totally amazed at how quick you get them to understand, Evan is loving it and that's what makes the difference. You're teaching them how to LOVE learning!"

— Karen Jurgeson

★★★★★

"Mrs. Jaramillo's reading and writing club has helped our son not only keep up the skills he learned in kindergarten but also expand his knowledge base. Mrs. Jaramillo engages with the kids and helps keep them focused while having fun. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to further our son's learning. Thank you so much Mrs. Jaramillo!"

— Briann Peralta

★★★★★

"I highly recommend the reading and writing club as it is phenomenal! It has helped my son continue building on lessons learned during the school year resulting in astonishing growth in his penmanship and reading skills. The extra support from the club increased his confidence and interest in reading and writing, his least favorite school subjects. Thanks to Mrs. Jaramillo, he loves reading and writing now."

— Jasmine Desiderio

★★★★★

"My twins attended kindergarten virtually due to COVID and although their teacher did great considering the situation my husband and I felt like our twins needed extra support to prepare them for First Grade. Mrs. Jaramillo's program has given them that! Her program is fun and keeps them engaged. We have noticed that their confidence has grown and they enjoy the program that she teaches. The program is easy to use and they are able to do their work and login on their own without an adult standing nearby."

— Cathy Matthews

Enrollment Is Now Open

Summer 2026 Sessions

Help your child stay confident and prepared for the next school year with engaging, small-group instruction designed to prevent summer learning loss.

📖 Reading Club

Evidence-based reading instruction aligned with the Science of Reading
Systematic phonics and phonemic awareness
Fun, structured sessions that keep kids engaged
Small groups for personalized support
Led by experienced educators
Immediate feedback to build confidence

🔢 Math Club

Building strong math skill foundations
Fun, structured sessions that make math enjoyable
Small groups for personalized support
Led by experienced educators
Hands-on activities and problem solving
Confidence-building through mastery

Spots are limited and expected to fill quickly. Secure your child's place today.

Scan the QR code or click the button below to fill out the registration & interest form.

Register & Interest Form

What Happens After You Register?

1

Brief Assessment

To ensure students are placed in the most effective small group, I conduct a brief assessment prior to the start of sessions. This allows me to better understand your child's current skills and learning needs.

2

Session Placement

After the assessment, students will receive their session placement based on their individual skill level, ensuring they are grouped for maximum growth.

3

Schedule & Tuition Details

You will receive schedule options and tuition details so you can choose the sessions that work best for your family.

Thank you again for your interest — I look forward to working with your child!

Leadership

Meet the Founder

Jennifer Jaramillo

Master in Education • Level 3 Teacher

With over 20 years of classroom experience, Jennifer Jaramillo has dedicated her career to delivering proven results in reading instruction. As a Level 3 teacher — the highest performance designation — she brings deep expertise in structured literacy, phonics-based instruction, and differentiated learning to every Reading Club session.

Jennifer founded Reading Club with a simple mission: every child can learn to read when given the right instruction. Her approach combines the rigor of the Science of Reading with the warmth and encouragement that helps children thrive.

dj.jaramillo99@gmail.com (505) 306-8309