Our Reading Philosophy | Explicit, Systematic, and Joyful Reading Instruction

Learn how Provo Mountain Academy teaches reading through explicit, systematic, and multisensory instruction while inspiring a lifelong love of reading in students.

Scott Long, M.Ed.

4/14/20262 min read

Our Reading Philosophy: How We Help Kids Become Confident, Lifelong Readers

Learning to read is one of the most important milestones in a child’s education. It affects everything else—confidence, academic success, and whether a child sees learning as something to enjoy or something to avoid.

At Provo Mountain Academy, we believe reading instruction should be clear, structured, and effective, while also inspiring a genuine love of reading. Those two goals are not opposites. In fact, they depend on each other.

Our Core Belief

Children learn to love reading after they learn how to read.

That means strong reading instruction comes first. Joy, creativity, and choice follow naturally once students feel confident and capable.

Explicit and Systematic Instruction Comes First

Reading is not intuitive for every child. Many students need skills taught clearly and in a logical order. Guessing strategies and loosely structured lessons often leave struggling readers confused and discouraged.

We believe in:

Explicit instruction so students know exactly what is being taught
Systematic instruction so skills build step by step
Consistent routines so students feel safe and confident
Plenty of guided practice so learning sticks

This approach benefits all learners and is especially important for students who struggle with reading.

Multisensory Instruction Supports All Learners

Students learn best when more than one sense is involved. Multisensory reading instruction allows students to see, hear, say, and interact with language at the same time.

This approach:

Makes reading more concrete
Supports memory and focus
Helps struggling readers make connections
Builds confidence through active participation

Multisensory instruction is not a trend for us—it’s a tool that works.

Dyslexia Support Is Built In

Dyslexia is a language-based difference, not a vision problem and not a sign of low intelligence. Students with dyslexia benefit from the same things all students benefit from—clear instruction, structure, and practice—just delivered more intentionally.

Our approach breaks reading down to the basics and teaches skills explicitly and systematically. With the right support, students with dyslexia can become confident, successful readers.

Confidence Changes Everything

When students finally understand how reading works, confidence grows quickly.

We’ve seen students move from avoiding reading to diving into book series they genuinely love. Once reading clicks, students stop seeing books as obstacles and start seeing them as opportunities.

Confidence doesn’t come from encouragement alone. It comes from competence.

Choice and Interest Keep Reading Alive

Once students have strong reading foundations, choice becomes powerful.

We encourage students to read books that interest them. Graphic novels count. Comic books count. Series books count. The goal is not perfection—the goal is engagement.

When students enjoy what they read, they read more. When they read more, they improve. That cycle is how lifelong readers are made.

How This Series Fits Together

This reading philosophy is supported by the following posts:

Each post explores one piece of how strong reading instruction works when it is done thoughtfully and intentionally.

Our Goal

Our goal is not just to teach children how to read in elementary school. Our goal is to help them become confident readers who choose to read long after school is over.

At Provo Mountain Academy, we believe strong foundations make joyful reading possible—and joyful reading keeps learning alive.

Written by Scott Long, M.Ed., Co-Founder of Provo Mountain Academy