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Frequently Asked Questions
Schedule
Q: Can I pick a time that works best for my child?
A: Yes. We will have a schedule of available time slots you can choose from.
Q: I’d like to get some of my child’s friends together in a group. Is that possible?
A: Yes! We can work with you to create a cohort of similar level readers that meet online together.
Q: Is this a 12-month program? Does it follow a school calendar? Have holidays off?
A: Savvy Reading is a year-round program with the most common US holidays off and two holiday weeks off. The monthly pricing was set with these holidays in mind, so instead of lowering the monthly price for holidays, including in November and December, all months are slightly lower in price than they otherwise would be. Savvy follows a school calendar in the sense that from September to the following August, we focus on introducing and practicing standards-aligned content for a given grade level. May-August is typically a time of preparation to start the next year’s content strong.
Here are the holidays Savvy Reading takes off: Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving week, Christmas week, New Year’s Day, MLK Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day.
Q: How long would you suggest a child needs to have this kind of coaching?
A: Providing a strong foundation in reading is no small task. We recommend 6-12 months as the minimum amount of time it will take for Savvy Reading to help most children 1) build a strong foundation of reading capabilities, 2) develop a lasting confidence in their reading skills, and 3) realize a love of reading that comes from positive, engaging experiences over time.
Q: What if my child misses a session?
A: Savvy Reading’s curriculum is built with 3 sessions per unit as the core. It’s okay if your child cannot attend 3 or 4 sessions every week. Repetition is built into each unit so readers have multiple exposures to new topics.
Curriculum, Content & Delivery
Q: My child is going into kindergarten, but is a strong reader. What ability level should I select?
A: Savvy readers are grouped by ability rather than by age or school grade level. If your child is ready to learn at a first grade reading level, select first grade.
Q: How do I choose a reading level for my child?
A: Savvy Reading groups are leveled by skills typically taught in a specific grade, but our readers are grouped by ability rather than age or school grade level. You can assess your reader’s level by using our At-Home Assessment, accessible via your account dashboard. Once your child is enrolled into a Savvy Reading group, we will provide additional support to be sure it is the right fit.
Q: What if my child already knows some, but not all of a particular grade level reading skills? What reading level should I select?
A: It is generally better to select a lower grade level than one that is too high, and it’s okay if your child already knows some of the skills that will be introduced in his/her reading level. Learning to read is a complex process that requires lots of repetition, practice, and reinforcement. Our curriculum is designed so that each session includes work with sight words, phonological awareness, phonics, story comprehension, and fluency. This means that even if your child already knows one of the specific lesson pieces, she or he will still be challenged in other skill areas. Repeated practice produces mastery and confidence! Our Savvy Reading coaches can help make sure your child is enrolled in the right level, including making adjustments as appropriate.
Q: Do you align with the Common Core State Standards that schools use?
A: Yes! Our curriculum and each of our lessons are designed by well qualified, experienced teachers to align with Common Core State Standards.
Q: How is Savvy Reading’s curriculum designed?
A: Savvy Reading’s curriculum is designed to engage readers in an online format that aligns with Common Core State Standards. These are a set of high-quality, research based standards providing a clear and consistent framework for educators. Our program is also informed by the 5 pillars of literacy instruction identified by the National Reading Panel. These include phonemic awareness, phonics, reading fluency, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. Our lessons include grade-level appropriate instruction in sight words, phonemic awareness, phonics, reading comprehension, and fluency. Repetition and review is built into each lesson to help readers build confidence and mastery.
Q: Do you use a structured literacy approach?
A: Savvy’s reading curriculum is not specifically designed to align with the ‘structured literacy approach’ (sometimes referred to as Orton-Gillingham), which is most often used specifically for dyslexia instruction. Savvy’s curriculum is designed to align with Common Core State Standards which utilize a ‘balanced literacy approach.’ This means that along with phoneme and phonics instruction, we also focus on teaching reading comprehension and literature.
Q: What platform do you use?
A: Coaching sessions are held via our web-based platform that includes video conferencing, slides and interactive elements.
Q: Do children get book lists? Or how do they read with coaches?
A: All reading material is presented in our online format as text that coaches and readers can access together.
Q: How would this help a child you suspect has dyslexia?
A: Our program is not specifically designed for readers with dyslexia, but does incorporate several aspects of instruction that are recognized to be beneficial for these types of readers, including systematic phonics and instruction in phonemic awareness. We also have some coaches with experience teaching children with dyslexia. Please contact us at support@savvyreading.com if you’d like to discuss how we might cater to your child’s situation.
Q: Do you think learning to read and write go hand in hand, or does reading come first?
A: We recognize that reading and writing are both important pieces to well-rounded literacy. The focus for Savvy Reading is on reading, and other than some simple activities such as writing letters or words as part of some reading lessons, our curriculum does not currently focus on teaching writing in addition to reading.
Q: Does Savvy Reading have a program for Spanish speakers learning to read in English?
A: We have not built our initial curriculum and lesson plans with English Language Learners (ELL) in mind.
Q: Do you have a sample class video or trial classes to try it out?
A: Our month-to-month subscriptions are effectively trial periods during which you can figure out if this is a good fit for your child.
Q: Do you accept special education children?
A: We are not yet set up to fully support and help special education students. We hope to offer this in the future.
Coaches
Q: Is it possible to become a coach?
A: Yes. Please see our “Become a Coach” page to learn more.
Q: What experience or qualifications do coaches have?
A: All of our coaches have teaching experience and teaching certificates/credentials.
Q: What kind of course training do coaches go through for Savvy certification?
A: We provide coaches with the curriculum and content for all coaching sessions. Coaches are trained on Savvy’s values, curriculum and content, safety and session management, rules and procedures, and our online platform.
Q: Are there coach bios?
A: Once your child is enrolled in a class, you will receive information about your child’s new coach, including education and a summary of relevant experience.
Readers
Q: Is Savvy Reading only for struggling readers or can it be a fun learning to read option for anyone learning to read?
A: Savvy is for anyone learning to read, whether they’re struggling, at level, or ahead of their grade level. No matter the situation, we work to build skills, confidence, and a lasting love of reading, which everyone should have!
Q: My child turns 4 next month. Too young?
A: Generally, we recommend you wait until your child is at least 4 or 5 to enroll, in large part to ensure an adequate ability to focus and engage with a cohort of similarly aged children.
Q: Can I enroll a child who doesn’t know their letters or any sounds?
A: Yes. Our Kindergarten level covers all of the basics.
Q: Is this for a preschooler 4 or 5 years old who knows phonics and can sound out words slowly?
A: This could be a perfect fit for kindergarten level. With young children, you will need to gauge whether this online format with other children (possibly a year or two older than them) will be a good fit.
Q: I have a child in a higher grade (e.g., 3rd, 4th, 5th grade) who is well below their grade level, reading closer to a first or second grade level. Will you have classes for my child?
A: Individual coaching sessions (instead of group) may be the right fit for an older reader at this point in time. We have coaches who can cater the content and coaching to help older readers gain the skills and confidence they need.
Q: Do you assess children somehow so they’re at the same learning level as their group?
A: When you enroll, there is an At-Home Assessment available on your account dashboard that you can use to gauge the appropriate grade level for your child. Coaches will be continually monitoring and assessing readers to ensure they are at an appropriate level with a group that makes sense.
Q: Any plans to expand beyond second grade?
A: Yes. We plan to expand to higher grade levels in the future.
Parents
Q: How involved do parents need to be? Can kids do this independently?
A: Savvy is intended to be a standalone program where children are fully engaged by a coach during a fast and fun 25 minute session. Most parents will not need to be involved. Of course we hope you read with your child consistently on your own, but Savvy’s curriculum is standalone.
Membership & Financial Questions
Q: Can we upgrade or change membership levels, (i.e., start monthly and move to annual subscription)?
A: Yes. You can always move from a month-to-month to an annual plan at any time. The pricing will change starting the next full month. You can also change from an individual to group plan, or group to individual plan of the same time period. For example, you can switch from an individual annual plan to an individual group plan at any time.
Q: Is there an option to pay for the entire year up front?
A: Yes. Please contact finance@savvyreading.com to pay for your annual subscription up front.
Q: Is the my current promotional discount applicable to my whole family?
A: Yes. If you sign up in any of the early adopter groups prior to January of 2021, we are happy to keep you at the promotional discount pricing for all of the readers in your immediate family. We’ll even let you change plans and get the associated promotional pricing for the different plans (i.e., group vs. individual or month-to-month vs. annual).
Q: Can I cancel if my child doesn’t like it?
A: The month-to-month plan can be cancelled anytime. The annual plan, which is discounted due to the annual contract, can be cancelled as well, but there will be a cancellation fee based on how long you have remaining in the contract.
Q: Can I get an annual subscription and switch kids halfway through?
A: Yes. The annual plan is a contract between Savvy and you – the parent/custodian. You can decide when and if to switch readers under one plan. Please contact support@savvyreading.com to coordinate if/when you decide to make a switch.
Q: Is there a Sliding Scale or Scholarship Program?
A: It would be amazing to have a scholarship fund to support readers whose families can’t afford Savvy’s regular price. We are looking into how to make this happen. If you would like to sponsor a scholarship, please contact support@savvyreading.com.
Q: Do you have resources for people if this is out of budget?
A: We are working to qualify for state funds that will pay for homeschool programs.
Q: Is there a discounted trial price?
A: We offer month-to-month subscriptions as trial periods, during which you can figure out if this is a good fit for your child.
Q: I’m in Canada. Is this available for folks north of the border?
A: Absolutely. We welcome international readers!
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