Teaching Literacy

HMH Combines Phonics Instruction with AI-Driven 1:1 Reading Tutoring in New Connected Foundational Skills Solution

• By Kristal Kuykendall
• 08/08/22

Learning technology company HMH has unveiled a new connected teaching and learning solution for literacy that combines its AI-driven Amira Learning literacy tutoring solution with its Saxon Phonics & Spelling instruction for K–2 classrooms.

Rooted in science of reading research and supported by evidence meeting ESSA standards, HMH’s new connected literacy instruction platform is “designed to complement a comprehensive language arts program with a dynamic mix of print and digital resources that connect explicit, systematic phonics instruction with reading tutoring,” the company said in a news release.

The integration of Amira’s voice AI-based reading tutoring with Saxon Phonics & Spelling “provides a simple way to pair explicit phonics instruction with 1:1 reading tutoring” for students at any level of reading proficiency, HMH said.

Saxon Phonics & Spelling takes a structured literacy approach to teaching phonics and spelling concepts and is based on the science of reading and cognitive science; it emphasizes phonemic awareness and phonics during instruction. It was created specifically to help students with learning difficulties such as dyslexia. Amira uses state-of-the-art speech recognition and AI software to provide 1:1 reading tutoring, oral fluency assessment, and dyslexia screening, HMH said.

Within the integrated solution, “Amira will recommend print Saxon resources and Saxon fluency titles will be available in Amira,” HMH said. “Amira assessment will drive instructional recommendations in the classroom and provide valuable 1:1 digital reading tutoring to support differentiated independent reading.”

Learn more at HMHco.com/connected.