Positions available: 3

Read Right Systems Public Relations Project Description:

Students will assist Read Right Systems and founder Dr. Dee Tadlock in the identification of strategic Blog, Article and Pod Cast opportunities to share Read Right’s core message: The way reading is taught in grades K – 3 is wrong and the cause of widespread reading under-achievement in the U.S. The Intern or Team will also recommend appropriate theme or themes (single sentence statements) for each of the strategic resources identified.

Our Objective for this Project:

Help Read Right Systems spread the message “reading instruction is the cause of most reading problems” and grow contacts for Read Right Systems and Dr. Tadlock.

Background:

The rapid success of Read Right Methodology suggests that the popular way reading is taught in Grades K-3 (phonics, decoding, and individual word identification) is the reason 2/3rds of all American students in Grades 4, 8 and 12 read at a “Basic” level or below (sources: National Assessment of Educational Progress data, 2002 to present, and an independent, gold-standard study of Read Right methodology completed in 2010 by Scott et al.) Even a three-year, gold-standard study of the “five skills” theory of reading development, which received $6 billion in federal Reading First funding 2002 - 2008 found that the popular theory had “NO POSITIVE EFFECT” for children, Grades 1 – 3. Thus, the theory that has guided reading instruction in the U.S. for the past 20 years is seriously flawed. Brain science identified by Read Right Systems and applied to a significantly different approach to reading development explains why education is failing to teach reading in a manner that guarantees excellence for the majority of children and teens—and why so many cannot comprehend what they read.

Project Work:

(1) Assess the merits of Read Right promotional messaging (e.g., revolutionary approach to reading development) before launching the media search (see #2 below), so that the most impactful methods of dissemination are identified. The objective: Spread the message “reading instruction is the cause of most reading problems” and grow contacts for Read Right Systems.

(2) Examine the data documenting Read Right’s effectiveness in order to verify the perceived effectiveness—and use the information to identify the appropriate level of media sources. For the identified sources, assess the mission and/or common themes of each to determine “best fit” for Read Right messaging.

(3) Investigate appropriate non-academic (general public) and academic (educators and education researchers) blogs, articles, and pod casts. List, describe and determine “Impressions” (inclusive of readership, listenership, and viewership) to determine highest-profile sources sufficient to create grassroots “buzz” about the offerings of Read Right Methodology.

(4) Analyze all media identified and rank based upon impressions. The list for each of the topics (blogs, articles, pod casts) must include no fewer than 5 per method (x3) if it is an individual project, 7x3 if it is a small group project, and 10x3 if it is a class project.

(5) Create a “compelling theme” statement for Read Right Methodology for the top 3 methods in each category (individual or small group) or top 5 (class project). This requires knowing enough about Read Right’s services and the focus of each media provider to craft a customized compelling theme.

Project Deliverables:

(1) Final report with executive summary and supporting documentation. Must be organized as follows and include:

a. Table of Contents

b. Executive Summary

c. Analysis of Read Right Messaging

d. Blog Section (organized format to be provided for Read Right Systems)

e. Article Section (same as Blog)

f. Pod Cast (same as Blog)

g. APPENDIX: Source list for each identified Blog, Article, and Pod Cast (URL or “other”)

The project will be managed by Rhonda Stone, M.P.A., Read Right Communications/Marketing Director, with additional support from Read Right founder Dee Tadlock, Ph.D. We will provide the following supervision and/or mentorship:

1) Guidance in general standards of professionalism.

2) Invaluable experience learning to work effectively with experienced professionals (Dr. Tadlock: 40 years of experience in education and 30 years of experience as a private education business owner; Rhonda Stone: 35 years of experience in education communications and marketing).

3) Technical guidance for use of Internet to identify education sources.

4) Professional guidance associated with the challenges of education messaging associated with paradigm shifts--a delicate area of expertise that creates controversy and must confront marginalization.