Want to learn how to teach someone to read? Veteran teacher plans free workshop

A local educator presenting a workshop on teaching reading is hoping to gauge interest via early sign-ups, so here’s his announcement:

Teaching Reading: Want to learn how to teach beginning readers, or know someone who is having difficulty? Then this free workshop is for you. Robert Femiano, long-time Seattle school teacher, will explain, step by step, how to teach anyone to read regardless of age. A free PDF of his latest book, Scientific Phonics, includes all needed activities. High Point Library conference room (3411 SW Raymond St.), Saturday, November 22 at 1:00 – 4:00. To ensure sufficient use for this public room, please sign up now, with an email to rfemiano@gmail.com .

(Note that this is a community-sponsored, not library-sponsored, event.)

Seattlite November 3, 2025 (10:30 pm)

In first grade, 1953, we were taught to read by using phonics, vowel sounds…a e i o u sometimes y. Reading for me and the other kids in class was like a duck to water…comfortable and confident. We sat on our little chairs in circles of five kids (30 students total) with our books and each kid would read two or three sentences. The teacher would walk to each circle making sure she could help any student who got stuck on a word. Personally, I think phonics instruction is the best way to teach reading.

Eva November 4, 2025 (9:36 am)

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Agree. I learned to read in the 50s same way. Phonics is a great system.
Jeff November 4, 2025 (9:54 am)

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Cough, rough, through, though, bough. Still think phonics is great?
- Seattlite November 4, 2025 (12:57 pm)
  
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  Absolutely. Teachers need to be skilled and consistent in teaching phonics as well. There are many documented studies in the USA and England that prove phonics instruction results in high reading comprehension.

BJG November 4, 2025 (3:07 pm)

I learned phonics in the 50s and it was my gateway to worlds of great literature. Grateful to every encouraging teacher who told me how good I was at reading, writing and spelling. It was easy for me. My husband was taught phonics in the same way in a one-room school house in Iowa. He could not read, write, or spell for years, and was punished for his profound dyslexia. His stories are the stuff of nightmares. He did finally develop workarounds and graduated from college.Will this teacher be offering some assistance for those who need help reaching out to dyslexic students?