Pathway Readers

Product Description

The Pathway Readers were cherished companions for our children as they learned to read. Originally created for use in Amish schools, the books contain wholesome stories that reinforce good character traits and family relationships.

Our children were eager to read these stories aloud because the books follow the same family of children through their everyday experiences of growing up on a farm and valuable life lessons they learn along the way. We found that our students formed a relation with Peter, Rachel, and Andrew and wanted to find out what would happen next.

Our copies are still in great shape thanks to the sturdy, durable hardback covers. The stories feature minimal black-and-white illustrations and increase in difficulty and length as the student progresses through the series.

Have your student read aloud a story from these readers every day or two. It takes just a few minutes, but he will gain confidence and fluency through the short, constant practice.

Your student will enjoy the Pathway Readers best in this order:

• First Steps (Pre-Primer)—Simple stories with a small inventory of words to build confidence and gently ease beginners into the joy of reading books. The first five stories are designed for the parent to read a portion first to set the stage and get the story going, then the student uses just a few words to finish it. From the sixth story on, the student reads the entire short story on his own. If you are using Delightful Reading, we recommend that you add this book after your student has finished the lessons on “Rain.” Simply alternate one day doing a Delightful Reading lesson and one day practicing reading aloud from First Steps. When your student has finished First Steps, continue with Days Go By.
• Days Go By (First Grade level)—Sweet childhood adventures with Peter, Rachel, and Andrew continue, and their friends, Susan and Levi, are introduced. Among other things, the children learn about playing nicely and the adjustments that a new dog can require.
• More Days Go By (First Grade level)—Rachel turns six; Peter learns to laugh at himself; the family solves a little wintertime mystery; and spring brings a surprise at Peter’s one-room school.
• Busy Times (Second Grade level)—Peter learns a hard lesson about responsibility; the children experience the importance of the Golden Rule; and new neighbors move nearby.
• More Busy Times (Second Grade level)—The family unites around the children as they battle the measles; Nancy and Nelson have opportunities to be brave; Peter learns about money, greed, and honesty; and Susan becomes a better friend.
• New Friends (Third Grade level)—Peter and Rachel’s family works on cultivating some good habits; then the stories expand to feature other children’s lives and lessons about birds, hard work, compassion and wise spending, and playing tricks.
• More New Friends (Third Grade level)—A variety of stories about animals and children who learn lessons on honesty, diligence, thankfulness, kindness, the Golden Rule, and loving your enemies. It has been our experience that once the student can read aloud More New Friends without help, he is adequately prepared to read his own school books in history and other subjects.

In First Steps, new words are highlighted at the bottom of the pages on which they are first used, so you can see at a glance if there are any words you need to introduce or review before your student reads each story. In the rest of the books, new words are highlighted in the back of the book, listed under the chapter in which they are first used.

Note: Some stories mention spanking.