Denise Abrams
As a former homeschooler, tutor, special-education substitute, and education major, I worked in the school district and watched bright, capable students struggle — not because they lacked ability, but because they were taught to read by memory and rote instead of being shown how to decode words. I knew there was a better way, and I vowed to share it.
"I believe every student is capable of learning to read if they are taught the basics of decoding words."
— Denise Abrams
Jordan's Story — Why I Created I Learned to Read
This program is dedicated to Jordan — my son and a truly brilliant young man.
Jordan is intelligent, articulate, and has an exceptional mind. He can solve a Rubik's Cube in minutes and understand things that demonstrate just how capable he really is.
But there was something Jordan struggled with.
Reading.
For years, Jordan struggled to read — not because he wasn't intelligent and not because he wasn't capable.
He had never been taught how to decode words.
And when you struggle with something that seems to come easily to everyone around you, eventually you can begin to believe that something is wrong with you.
Jordan began to believe he was stupid.
That broke my heart because I knew the truth.
Jordan wasn't incapable of learning.
He simply had not been taught in a way that allowed him to understand how reading actually works.
He needed someone to go back to the foundation.
To teach the sounds.
To show him how letters and sounds work together.
To teach him how to break words apart and decode them instead of guessing at them.
And to build those skills step by step without making him feel ashamed for what he didn't already know.
That experience changed the way I thought about reading.
How I Teach — Step by Step
A strong foundation, built one layer at a time. Nothing is skipped. Nothing is assumed.
Master the Phonetic Sounds
It begins with sound — not memorization. Every letter, every sound, taught explicitly until it's automatic. No guessing, no skipping.
Build the Blends
Once the single sounds are owned, we blend them together. Consonant sounds combine, and words start to take shape.
Conquer the Diphthongs
Vowel teams and diphthongs — the combinations that trip up so many readers — are taught directly, one rule at a time.
Decode the Words
Now the real magic: a student looks at a word and breaks it open, piece by piece. They are no longer stranded. They hold the key.
Add Prefixes & Suffixes
With decoding in place, we grow — adding prefixes and suffixes that change and extend meaning, layer by layer.
Uncover Roots & Word Origins
Root words and word origins reveal how language is built. A student who understands roots can unlock thousands of new words.
Build Vocabulary & Comprehension
The final layer: a rich, growing vocabulary and true comprehension. A reader who understands not just the words, but the world they open.
The Conviction Behind Every Lesson
Every lesson in this program carries the conviction behind these words.
"One reader, one breakthrough, and a lifetime of possibilities."
— Denise Abrams
"His only challenge was this: no one had ever taught him the skill to decode words."
— Denise Abrams
"They are not broken. They were simply never taught the basics. And that, I promise you, we can fix."
— Denise Abrams
"Phonics had been removed from the schools. The moment a student met a new word, they were stranded."
— Denise Abrams
"I took one student and taught him to read in thirty days. He walked back into school confident, reading and was received the most improved award."
— Denise Abrams
This Program Is Her Promise
I Learned to Read was built for Jordan — and for every Jordan. Every phase, every drill, every spelling test, every carefully chosen word is grounded in the approach I have proven works: systematic phonics, mastery before moving on, and the unshakeable conviction that every person is capable of reading.
If you or someone you love has been made to feel that reading is beyond them, I want you to hear this: it is not. They are not broken. They were simply never taught the basics. And that is exactly what this program will give them.
"Every person who learns to read through this program is the reason I built it."