Secret Codes Camp
The Center for READing on the campus of Pittsburg State University will be offering the Secret Codes 
Camp this summer. The Secret Codes curriculum uses cutting edge science to teach beginning reading skills and was developed to prevent reading failure. The camp will be open to all children who want to get a jump start learning to read or who are struggling to learn to read. The Secret Codes Camp is open to all children.
Camp Description
When is the camp?
- June 5th - July 27th, 2023
- Mondays through Thursdays
- Fridays are open for students who have missed due to vacations or other activities.
The Secret Codes Camp will use the highly effective science-based Secret Codes curriculum.
- Reading failure can be prevented.
- Students have been very successful in strengthening their reading skills with the Secret Codes.
The camp will:
- Teach beginning readers the foundations of reading so that they become good readers.
- Provide students who are currently struggling to read an effective intervention to help them become stronger readers.
The Secret Codes curriculum is a year-long curriculum. Students will be receiving half of the curriculum during the Secret Codes Camp.
Students’ reading skills will be assessed at the beginning and end of camp using the science-based Dyslexia Evaluation Tool (DET).
Requirements:
To participate in the Secret Codes Camp, each student will need a device with a webcam and access to the internet. Since the Secret Codes Camp will be delivered through Zoom, others in the house may need to refrain from viewing streamed shows or movies as those are competing for the same bandwidth and may interfere with the Zoom sessions.
Description of Instruction
Each day will consist of one 50-minute session. The first part of the session will focus on whole-group instruction followed by individual practice.
Class Session Size
- Class size will be limited to ten (10) student per class session for in-person instruction and four (4) students per class for online instruction.
- Students will need to be ready to begin class five to ten minutes before their session begins.
Learning to Read is Hard!
- Many children struggle to learn to read
- 33% of children do not read at the Basic Level
Why is Learning to Read so Difficult?
- The English writing system can be challenging for beginning and struggling readers
- Did you know that there are twelve (12) different ways to spell the long a (ā) sound?
- There are also a lot of different ways to spell similar sounding words
- to, too, and two
- threw and through
To teach reading a very systematic and structured teaching approach needs to be taken.
The Secret Codes curriculum provides this structure and children become competent readers as a result.
Expectations
By the end of the Secret Codes Summer Camp, students will have learned the essentials of how to read and will improve their reading skills tremendously.
Students will be instructed by staff who have been trained on the Secret Codes concepts and teaching methods. Class sessions will be provided in a fun and child-friendly environment.
Class Session Times
All sessions run Monday through Thursday.
Designated Session Times:
- 9:00-9:50 (in-person or online)
- 10:00-10:50 (in-person or online)
- 11:00-11:50 (in-person or online)
Efforts will be made to accommodate family schedules, but class times will generally be assigned by the Center for READing and based on student age and skill level when possible. Friday sessions are open for students who have missed any sessions and need to catch up.
Total Cost Per Student ($450)
Materials $100 + Tuition $350 = $450
Tuition and Material Fees must be paid in full on May 22, 2023.
For those who qualify, four weekly installments of $112.50 can be made on May 22, May 29, June 5, and June 12.