Learn to Read (1987)
Learn To Read is an adult educational TV series that consists of 30 programs, hosted by entrepreneur and literacy advocate Wally Amos. Co-instructors include Doris Biscoe and Charlotte Scot. Bruce Jenner guest-starred on the first episode. This was based on 27 million Americans having almost no reading skills. On Friday, there is a review of the week. The final program reviews the entire series. In every episode a "Getting Along" segment is used, with either Sylvia Glover or Jim Johnson as instructors. Aside, there was Les the Letter Man and Nancy the Word Woman. Finally, there was Billy Green, referred as the "Book Guy", telling viewers to get their workbook. Learn to Read was produced by Kentucky Educational Television in association with WXYZ-TV, and funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The program was produced at WXYZ's studios in Southfield, Michigan, with additional production done by KET in Kentucky. The program was televised on many PBS member stations, as well as syndicated to commercial stations. The program was also seen locally on WXYZ-TV, generally weekday mornings at 5AM.
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Learn to Read
1987Seasons & Episode
Bruce Jenner is guest host of this program, introducing the concepts in the entire Learn to Read series. Wally Amos interjects a couple of explanatory pointers of his own. Interspersed among all this orientation, are painful interviews with men and women who have difficulty reading.
Wally Amos. acting as the ""attendant"" with a key, introduces the format of the show. Doris Biscoe introduces the letters m, s, p, f, t and a, putting them in words and simple sentences. Two sight words, the and is, are introduced. The ""Getting Along"" segment features the requirements of working in the auto industry.
Les the Letterman hints to the two sounds of g before the lesson begins. Doris Biscoe introduces the letters g, r, and l. After dealing with these small letters, she also introduces capital letters F and R, along with sight words his and her. A cheerleading squad calls out the long vowel sounds. The Getting Along segment features a succession of traffic signs.
Les the Letterman works the pool table to introduce the quirky letter q. Doris Biscoe picks up the lesson from there. She introduces letters q, y and e (short sound). Doris also introduces word families featuring the combinations -ick, -ack, -est, -et, -ip, -end, -ent and -ex. Wally ""Famous"" Amos shows the cursive l, t, b, h, k and d. The ""Getting Along"" segment shows off signs at a zoo. Sight words: to.
Following a few more consonant slides (gr-, tr-, br-, thr- and dr-), the show devotes itself to ways of making the long a. Featured are words with the combinations -air, -ait and -ay. Wally ""Famous"" Amos talks of the cursive triplets: capital letters U, V, W and P, B, R. The ""Getting Along"" segment has its fill at a restaurant.
Doris Biscoe talks of consonant slides beginning with s and introduces the sight word children. Wally ""Famous"" Amos introduces cursive capital letters H, K, T, F and X. Slyvia Glover uses the ""Getting Along"" segment to discuss the basics of a newspaper (in this case, the Detroit Free Press).
After reviewing some of the sounds and consonant slides discussed earlier, this program introduces the capital letters A, E, I, O and U. These rules lead to a succession of sentences. In the ""Getting Along"" segment, Sylvia Glover extends her lecture on newspaper reading from the previous episode, this time using a front page story from The Detroit News.
The long I sound is put to use in the combinations -ine, -ide, -y, -igh, -ight, -ire, -ife and -ipe. A succession of compound words using the long I sound pop up and, instead of sight words, the abbreviations Mr., Mrs. and Ms. are put forth. Word endings -ed and -ing get reviewed. Wally ""Famous"" Amos talks of spacing of cursive letters in addition to the cursive numerals. The ""Getting Along"" segment touches up on classes of greeting cards.
Doris Biscoe introduces the long o sound, used in the combinations -oke, -ope, -one and -ose. Along the way, she reminds viewers along the way about suffix endings. The sight words give, gives and does are introduced. Wally ""Famous"" Amos discusses spacing between handwritten words. In the ""Getting Along"" segment, Sylvia Glover reveals social services.
Charlotte Scot gives more combinations that use the long o sound, such as -oe, -ole, -old, -olt, -oal, -oach, -oan and -ow. Plural ending rules are introduced, along with three sight words: all, some and as. Wally ""Famous"" Amos discusses handwriting ""joiners"" and ""nonjoiners."" The ""Getting Along"" segment is set around public summer recreation.
Charlotte Scot introduces the long u sound, used in combination with silent e. She also produces the sight words you and your. Doris Biscoe takes over with the sight word yours and the long u combinations -ue and -ew. With so much accomplished, Biscoe reviews the vowel sound rules and reads stories. Sylvia Glover uses the ""Getting Along"" segment running through rules and other signs posted at an amusement park.
Charlotte Scot tells of the long e sound that y can make at the end of long words. She gives hints on how to read three-syllable words such as handyman. Scot also introduces the oi sound in combinations oi-, -oy, -oil, -oin and -oint. Wally ""Famous"" Amos discusses the shape of handwritten words and paragraphs. In the ""Getting Along"" segment, Sylvia Glover illustrates the signs at a Post Office. Sight word: said.
After a review, Doris Biscoe shows more polysyllabic words. She also implores the sight word from and the spellings au and aw. This leads to the combinations -ause, -aught, -aunch, -awn and -awl. The ""Getting Along"" segment deals with voting.
Doris Biscoe and Charlotte Scot provide a recap of reading polysyllabic words, reviewing the only two rules (so often vulnerable) for breaking words into syllables. Scot also goes back through the words with oi, oy, au and aw. The ""Getting Along"" segment goes to school, reading signs at doors and bulletin boards.
Learn To Read is an adult educational TV series that consists of 30 programs, hosted by entrepreneur and literacy advocate Wally Amos. Co-instructors include Doris Biscoe and Charlotte Scot. Bruce Jenner guest-starred on the first episode. This was based on 27 million Americans having almost no reading skills. On Friday, there is a review of the week. The final program reviews the entire series. In every episode a "Getting Along" segment is used, with either Sylvia Glover or Jim Johnson as instructors. Aside, there was Les the Letter Man and Nancy the Word Woman. Finally, there was Billy Green, referred as the "Book Guy", telling viewers to get their workbook. Learn to Read was produced by Kentucky Educational Television in association with WXYZ-TV, and funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The program was produced at WXYZ's studios in Southfield, Michigan, with additional production done by KET in Kentucky. The program was televised on many PBS member stations, as well as syndicated to commercial stations. The program was also seen locally on WXYZ-TV, generally weekday mornings at 5AM.
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