What are Secret Stories?
Secret Stories® is a supplemental phonics program designed to fast-track phonics mastery by aligning instruction with how the brain naturally learns. Unlike traditional phonics programs that introduce letter-sound relationships slowly and in isolation, Secret Stories® teaches the entire phonics code in context through engaging “secrets” (short, memorable stories that explain why letters behave the way they do in words).
Key Features:
● Brain-Based Learning: Grounded in neuroscience, the program leverages storytelling, emotion, and pattern recognition to make phonics stick.
● Multisensory Approach: Combines auditory, visual, and kinesthetic elements to support diverse learners.
● Accelerated Access to the Code: Students learn all phonics patterns early, allowing them to decode unfamiliar words from the start.
● Flexible Integration: Secret Stories® fits into any existing curriculum or literacy framework, including the Science of Reading and Scarborough’s Reading Rope.
● ESSA Tier I Evidence: Backed by research, it meets the highest level of evidence aligned to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
Impact on Learning:
● Improved Decoding: Students can read more complex words earlier.
● Increased Confidence: The playful nature of the stories reduces anxiety around reading.
● Enhanced Writing: With access to the full phonics code, students can spell and write more fluently.
● Higher Test Scores: Studies show that 95% of students using Secret Stories® outperform peers using other phonics programs.
I am thankful for the opportunity to implement this program with our students.