Learning to Read

Pathway Readers

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.

There are a vast number of reading programs with new ones popping up all the time. For our purposes we want a program that is comprehensive, easy-to-teach, doesn’t break the bank, and most importantly is morally sound. Pathway readers have been used successfully for decades and they check all the boxes.  Originally developed by Amish parents, the books are full of character building stories, so they are learning to read, with content that you can use to talk about life too - exactly what Portals is looking for!

Your Pathway Readers kit includes teacher guides, student workbooks and practice sheets for K-2. If you purchase your reading materials through the Portals Book Order, you will have the option to select which level of materials you need.  If you choose, you may also continue with Pathway Readers beyond 2nd grade, in addition to, or instead of using the Portals 3rd-12th grade reading and writing curriculum. 

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. After 2nd grade they are ready to take on readers of their own.   

Founders: (Grades K-2) 

Pathway Readers Beginning to Read Program

See links below in Pathway Readers Sequence

• Old fashioned stories of family life on an Amish farm are wholesome and delightful

• Workbooks include phonics instruction, vocabulary work, reading comprehension

• As the child's reading ability improves, the books encourage independent learning

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Growers, Thinkers, and Leaders: (Grades 3-12)

Literature Readers (Not Pathway)

See list of readers on the Book List page

• Short stories, portions from classic literature, poems

• Workbooks include assignments developing reading comprehension skills