I wanted students to use words such as “happy,” “fun,” or “great” to describe reading. That's why I created RoboKind Phonics – a program designed to help students learn to read in a way that is engaging, fun, and effective.
When I see students using RoboKind Phonics, I feel a sense of joy and fulfillment, knowing that I am making a positive impact on their lives. I've witnessed students who were struggling to read suddenly have a breakthrough moment and exclaim, "Wait, I can read!" Others have giggled and smiled as they interacted with the RoboKind robot, and I've seen students make significant progress in their reading abilities after just a few lessons.
At its core, it is a program that utilizes the latest research in reading instruction, multi-sensory input, and play-based learning to teach phonics. The program includes an assistive robot and virtual avatars that act as a teaching assistant, guiding students through each lesson and providing them with personalized feedback. support, and rewards. But what sets RoboKind Phonics apart from other phonics programs is its focus on making learning to read a fun and enjoyable experience. We know that when students are engaged and motivated, they are more likely to retain what they've learned and continue to make progress. That's why we've designed the program to include interactive, multisensory, hands-on, and play-based activities, as well as rewards and incentives to keep students motivated and excited about learning. Simply put, we want to help make phonics the best thirty minutes of the student’s day.
In one study, students who participated in RoboKind Phonics showed an increase in four reading levels and retained their skills into the next grade level (Redcay, 2023). Another recent study found that after just eleven lessons, students who used RoboKind Phonics were able to read fifteen Consonant-Vowel-Consonant words correctly in a minute, compared to just two for students who did not use the program (Redcay, 2023). Additionally, students who used RoboKind Phonics reported significantly higher levels of engagement and enjoyment in their reading lessons compared to those who did not use the program. On the national norm-referenced self-reported attitude survey; the students' engagement levels were in the 84th percentile; whereas students who did not receive RoboKind Phonics were in the 40th percentile (Redcay, 2023).
As an educator, I am passionate about finding new and innovative ways to help every student succeed. The concept of neuroplasticity is particularly exciting to me, as it means that we can rewire the brain and create new neuropathways that change students' understanding and perceptions of reading (Cleary, 2021). By using programs like RoboKind Phonics, we can help students develop a love of reading and a lifelong appreciation for learning.
Unfortunately, the reality is that many students struggle with reading, and illiteracy (an illiterate person is unable to read) and aliteracy (an aliterate person can read but does not select to read) rates remain high. In America, 65% of fourth graders are reading below grade level (The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance, 2022), and 43 million adults read at a third-grade level (ProLiteracy, 2022). Out of the adults who are literate, only 23% read a book or a part of a book last year (Gelles-Watnick & Perrin, 2021) demonstrating a problem with aliteracy in America. Further, the impact of COVID-19 in 2020 is not fully reflected in the statistics yet. One research did confirm that second and third graders were scoring 30 percent behind the expected typical year of learning due to the pandemic (Gelles-Watnick & Perrin, 2021). The problem spans beyond America. In the world, 781 million people are considered to be illiterate and cannot read a single word (Bernard, 2022). These statistics are alarming, and they highlight the need for innovative and effective programs like RoboKind Phonics to help students improve their reading skills and achieve their full potential.
RoboKind Phonics is a program that is designed to make learning to read a fun, engaging, and effective experience for students. By utilizing the latest research in reading instruction, multi-sensory input, play-based learning, and a robot and virtual avatar teaching assistant, we can help students develop a love of reading and a lifelong appreciation for learning. As an educator, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing the positive impact that RoboKind Phonics can have on students' lives.
Are you a primary school teacher, an ESL instructor, a specialist, or an educator working with students with learning differences?
Are you looking for an innovative and research-supported program to help your students learn to read and enjoy the process?
Look no further than RoboKind Phonics, the first-ever program to use a robot teaching assistant and I-VAKT strategies for multi-sensory, play-based learning experiences that activate neural pathways within the whole brain.
Do you want phonics to be the best 30 minutes of your day?
Do you want to have fun teaching the science of reading with your students?
Are you ready to boost your students' reading skills with a fun and effective phonics program?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then RoboKind Phonics is for you! Get on the waitlist and see the difference RoboKind Phonics can make in your classroom.
References
Bernard, M. (2022). How Serious is America’s Literacy Problem? 2022. https://www.readingkingdom.com/blog/how-serious-is-americas-literacy-problem/
Cleary, M.F. (2021). Reading Can Grow Students’ Brains: Neuroplasticity, Literacy, and Hope for Struggling Readers. https://www.ace-ed.org/reading-can-grow-students-brains-neuroplasticity-literacy-hope-for-struggling-readers/
Gelles-Watnick R. & Perrin A. (2021). Who Doesn’t Read Books in America? https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/09/21/who-doesnt-read-books-in-america/
The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance. (2022). Statistics. https://thencbla.org/literacyresources/statistics/#:~:text=In%20addition%2C%2064%20percent%20of,were%20readi
ProLiteracy. (2022). Adult Literacy Facts. https://www.proliteracy.org/Adult-Literacy-Facts
Redcay, J.D. (2023). Ludus Reading: A Mixed Method Study. https://www.proquest.com/openview/f92c66c8a6dc938a04e5535027817307/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750
Redcay, J.D. (2023). Ludus reading and RoboKind robots increase early literacy rates. DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.110603