"It has to be taught for an hour each day first thing in the morning, the elements are timed so each element is given the right amount of input and the books are highly structured to complement the elements taught that day."

Its just another way to sell a program and new books.

Everytime you see a new catch phrase for learning to read, you can be sure there is a publisher behind it. School boards promote the publisher by insisting that teachers follow the prescription. I often wonder about the possibility of kick-backs to board member.

University trained educators know the importance of phonics instruction and they know the importance of learning sight words (high frequency words that cannot be sounded out). They also know that the best preparation for learning to read is reading to the child on a regular basis. Establishing the left to right and top to bottom progression of print while the child's eyes follow your finger is essential.

The best parents can do is model an interest in books and help establish a love of learning. Regular book time also establishes good homework habits.