Innovative Learning Tools
They learn to read first with pictures!
Visual and Intuitive Way of Learning
Reading Games
The Rainforest Reading Games reinforce the spelling patterns students will learn.
Premium Videos
Videos teach, guide and model how to use the Rainforest Reading Program.
Reading Tools
Innovative unique reading tools scaffold and differentiate instruction as students learn to read.
My name is Sabrina Tsuyuki and I have been teaching for over 28 years. In my time as a teacher I have observed hundreds of children as they learn to read. I have always felt there is a disconnect between reading programs and the texts students are expected to read. I believe that the foundations of reading are the sounds. In Rainforest Reading children start by building words with picture-sound tiles. They gain renewed confidence in the phonetic nature of English.
My mom always told me that if you are not satisfied with what you have, and don’t have the resources to buy something else, make it yourself! She is an entrepreneur and led me by example. At the time I began creating this program, I didn’t have the money to go back to school to become a reading specialist, so I decided to do my own research and start from scratch. I read books about the history of English and learned that the English language and the Roman alphabet adopted many years ago were not a good match. I also learned that several different countries influenced the ways words are spelled in English.
The Ocean
At the Ocean Level of Rainforest Reading, students will learn the 17 most common (capital) letters and the sound that goes with each. At this level there is a 1-1 correspondence between the letters and the sounds.
The Sand
At the Sand Level there is also a 1-1 relationship between the letters and the sounds. It is very important at this level that students gain or regain confidence in the phonetic nature of English spelling. Students will learn 25 lowercase letters at this level.
The Forest Floor
At the Forest Floor Level students will begin to get a glimpse into the complexity of English spelling. They will learn an alternate pronunciation for 10 of the lowercase letters. They will also be introduced to 20 consonant digraphs.
The Understory
At the Understory Level, students will learn 24 vowel digraphs. When students get to this level they should also continue to review skills from the other levels, especially the Forest Floor Level.
The Canopy
At the Canopy Level students will be introduced to vowel-consonant combinations. They are generally called r-controlled vowels. There will also be a few l-controlled vowels. In all, 18 new patterns are learned at this level.
The Emergent Zone
At the last level, The Emergent Zone, students will be introduced to 7 complex word-endings. They will also learn about compound words, prefixes and suffixes.
Customer feedback
Hi! I’ve been an English teacher for 27 years. This year under this pandemic, I started homeschooling and tutoring with Rainforest Reading. I am amazed how quickly kids engage with this program, how easy, friendly and fun it has been. But best of all, seeing them learning how to read so easily has meant the world to me! Just loved it! So proud of you Sabrina! How lucky I was to find you and your program!
Karina Sánchez C.
Teacher
I am a homeschooler and Rainforest Reading has been great for teaching my son to read. He is 6 years old and has an IEP with our homeschool charter school, which qualifies him for extra services in reading. Unfortunately, those are all on Zoom right now and that was not working for him. Instead, I have been using Rainforest Reading resources exclusively and keeping my assigned specialist teacher advised of what we do each week. She is very impressed with his progress. The therapist that evaluated him for the IEP thinks he is on the autism spectrum and I have noticed that he has similar behaviors to his ADHD siblings, so teaching him to read is not the easiest. Now that I am using Rainforest Reading and have him spell words with hands-on letter cards with the sounds on one side, he is having more success and enjoying it more. He is really getting it and enjoying reading!
Roekmini Pullom
Homeschooling Mom
I got to know the Rainforest Reading program when my first grade son struggled with his reading skills. As a working parent, I needed guidance to create a plan in which my son could work independently. I found out that the Rainforest Reading phonics program is amazing because it teaches children about all the different sounds that are found in the English language. The program taught him how to identify sounds he didn’t know. The workbooks gave him the opportunity to practice and reinforce each of the sounds.
Since reading was such a hard subject for him, he was resistant towards anything related to letters and sounds.
With the program he learned to associate each picture to a given sound and put sounds together to create words.
His English skills improved a lot and most of all he gained independence and a positive outlook towards reading.
I am thankful because Ms. Sabrina took the time to explain to me every component of the program. Her guidance helped me have a better understanding of my child’s learning needs. With the materials she provided I was able to create a structured plan for my child to be successful and improve his attitude towards reading.
Carolina Rojas
Kindergarten Teacher
Rainforest Reading, along with Sabrina’s guidance, helped my 7-year-old son climb 7 reading levels in 3 months. The usual expectation is for a child to scale up 6 levels in an entire school year. The fun and visual method of Rainforest Reading just works. It is intuitive for young learners. Within the first week, my son was actually explaining to me what the pictures sounded like. The levels within the program help children build up their learning in a magical way.
We are forever grateful. With this improvement, our child was able to achieve mid-2nd grade level reading when 3 months prior all evaluations pointed him to 1st grade. Against all odds we stood firm and thanks to tutoring structured around Rainforest Reading we were saved. My now 8-year-old boy is a proud 2nd grader coasting along without effort.
Alejandro Martén
Thankful Father
My 8-year-old daughter was having a difficult time reading at the expected level for her age. Ms. Sabrina, using the rainforest reading program she developed, has helped her enormously and she is now a motivated reader and reading well for her age! We could not have done this without your expertise and caring attitude. I recommend this program 100%!!!!!
Lisa Riggioni
Happy Mother
I am delighted to share my wonderful experience with Rainforest Reading. My daughter had the privilege of being taught by Ms. Sabrina, who is an exceptionally patient and dedicated teacher. Throughout the course, Ms. Sabrina provided invaluable support to my daughter, helping her grasp the basic English sounds, improve her pronunciation, and develop essential reading skills. Thanks to Ms. Sabrina's guidance, my daughter has made remarkable progress. I wholeheartedly recommend Rainforest Reading and Ms. Sabrina to any parent seeking a nurturing and effective learning environment for their child.
Wendy Gu
Happy Mother