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Learn To Read is an adult educational TV series that consists of 30 programs, hosted by entrepreneur and literacy advocate Wally Amos. Co-instructors include Doris Biscoe and Charlotte Scot. Bruce Jenner guest-starred on the first episode. This was based on 27 million Americans having almost no reading skills. On Friday, there is a review of the week. The final program reviews the entire series. In every episode a "Getting Along" segment is used, with either Sylvia Glover or Jim Johnson as instructors. Aside, there was Les the Letter Man and Nancy the Word Woman. Finally, there was Billy Green, referred as the "Book Guy", telling viewers to get their workbook. Learn to Read was produced by Kentucky Educational Television in association with WXYZ-TV, and funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The program was produced at WXYZ's studios in Southfield, Michigan, with additional production done by KET in Kentucky. The program was televised on many PBS member stations, as well as syndicated to commercial stations. The program was also seen locally on WXYZ-TV, generally weekday mornings at 5AM.
1987
Bruce Jenner is guest host of this program, introducing the concepts in the entire Learn to Read series. Wally Amos interjects a couple of explanatory pointers of his own. Interspersed among all this orientation, are painful interviews with men and women who have difficulty reading.
Wally Amos. acting as the ""attendant"" with a key, introduces the format of the show. Doris Biscoe introduces the letters m, s, p, f, t and a, putting them in words and simple sentences. Two sight words, the and is, are introduced. The ""Getting Along"" segment features the requirements of working in the auto industry.
Charlottte Scot dictates the lesson for the first time, introducing lettersb, d, c, k, n and i, along with the sight word has. We get to meet the ""Book Guy,"" who gives a few pointers on the Learn to Read workbook and where one can get help to improve reading skills. The ""Getting Along"" sequence is set in a Secretary of State's office, where some people take their driver's test.
Les the Letterman hints to the two sounds of g before the lesson begins. Doris Biscoe introduces the letters g, r, and l. After dealing with these small letters, she also introduces capital letters F and R, along with sight words his and her. A cheerleading squad calls out the long vowel sounds. The Getting Along segment features a succession of traffic signs.
A quick review of the series' concept and the letters found in the previous programs, precedes Doris Biscoe's new lecture. She introduces capital letters S, M, D, T, N, B, K, G, L and (reviews) R. Also featured are the endings -er and -s. Les the Letterman teases the audience with the multiple sounds of c and y. Jim Johnson points out some important signs found at airports.
Charlotte Scot gives some spelling tips to improve reading skills. Doris Biscoe introduces the letter h and points out how it creates different sounds (sh, th). She also introduces the short o sound, along with consonant-vowel combinations -on, -ond, -in, -ift, -ick and -ing. The ""Getting Along"" section focuses on the signs at gas stations. Sight words: of, put.
Les the Letterman opens by introducing the standard ch sound. Charlotte Scot picks up the baton from there. She introduces the short u sound as well as the letters j and z. She also presents words with the groupings -at, -atch, -um, -umb and -ump. The ""Getting Along"" section discusses community recreation. Wally ""Famous"" Amos has the last instruction, shedding the first light on cursive handwriting. He shows all the cursive letters that fit between the base line and the center line. Sight words: are, they.
Les the Letterman works the pool table to introduce the quirky letter q. Doris Biscoe picks up the lesson from there. She introduces letters q, y and e (short sound). Doris also introduces word families featuring the combinations -ick, -ack, -est, -et, -ip, -end, -ent and -ex. Wally ""Famous"" Amos shows the cursive l, t, b, h, k and d. The ""Getting Along"" segment shows off signs at a zoo. Sight words: to.
Charlotte Scot introduces the letters v, w and x, using them in a variety of words and phrases. The sight word do is a central figure in a collection of sentences. Scot also introduces compound words that are built on short vowel sounds. Wally ""Famous"" Amos introduces cursive letters that run below the base line (g, q, p, j, y and z). The ""Getting Along"" segment focuses on commands and signs at a bank.
Wally ""Famous"" Amos opens by reviewing signs used in the ""Getting Along"" segments of the previous week of shows. Charlotte Scot shows the capital letters J, Z, V, X, w and H. Doris Biscoe reviews the short vowel sounds. Les the Letterman shows off a few words with silent letters. The ""Getting Along"" segment discusses certain signs and rulings at concert halls.
Charlotte Scot discusses the long a sound, made in conjunction with Silent E in the groupings -ade, -ake, -ale and -ame. She also introduces consonant slides pl-, sl-, fl- and cl-. Wally ""Famous"" Amos emphasizes slanting in the cursive handwriting, using as examples capital letters A, C, D, E, L, O and Q. Sylvia Glover talks about letter writing in the ""Getting Along"" segment. Sight word: have.
Following a few more consonant slides (gr-, tr-, br-, thr- and dr-), the show devotes itself to ways of making the long a. Featured are words with the combinations -air, -ait and -ay. Wally ""Famous"" Amos talks of the cursive triplets: capital letters U, V, W and P, B, R. The ""Getting Along"" segment has its fill at a restaurant.
Consonant slides and the long a sound are reviewed and used to help with spelling. Emphasis is given to the consonant slides made with r at the end. Doris Biscoe introduces the sight word were before discussing words with the long e sound. Wally ""Famous"" Amos reinforces slant in the cursive capital letters N, M, Y and Z. The ""Getting Along"" segment finds signs littered at a car wash.
Doris Biscoe talks of consonant slides beginning with s and introduces the sight word children. Wally ""Famous"" Amos introduces cursive capital letters H, K, T, F and X. Slyvia Glover uses the ""Getting Along"" segment to discuss the basics of a newspaper (in this case, the Detroit Free Press).
After reviewing some of the sounds and consonant slides discussed earlier, this program introduces the capital letters A, E, I, O and U. These rules lead to a succession of sentences. In the ""Getting Along"" segment, Sylvia Glover extends her lecture on newspaper reading from the previous episode, this time using a front page story from The Detroit News.
After Charlotte Scot briefly reviews the consonant slides and vowel sounds, Doris Biscoe discusses the long i sound in word endings -ine, -ike, -ide, -ile, -ine and -ie. Biscoe also introduces y as a vowel bearing the long i sound. The pronoun I is introduced, as are word endings -s and -ed. Wally ""Famous"" Amos introduces the cursive capital letters I, J, G and S. The ""Getting Along"" segment exposes signs at the hospital. Sight words: wants, want, wanted, have, puts
The long I sound is put to use in the combinations -ine, -ide, -y, -igh, -ight, -ire, -ife and -ipe. A succession of compound words using the long I sound pop up and, instead of sight words, the abbreviations Mr., Mrs. and Ms. are put forth. Word endings -ed and -ing get reviewed. Wally ""Famous"" Amos talks of spacing of cursive letters in addition to the cursive numerals. The ""Getting Along"" segment touches up on classes of greeting cards.
Doris Biscoe introduces the long o sound, used in the combinations -oke, -ope, -one and -ose. Along the way, she reminds viewers along the way about suffix endings. The sight words give, gives and does are introduced. Wally ""Famous"" Amos discusses spacing between handwritten words. In the ""Getting Along"" segment, Sylvia Glover reveals social services.
Charlotte Scot gives more combinations that use the long o sound, such as -oe, -ole, -old, -olt, -oal, -oach, -oan and -ow. Plural ending rules are introduced, along with three sight words: all, some and as. Wally ""Famous"" Amos discusses handwriting ""joiners"" and ""nonjoiners."" The ""Getting Along"" segment is set around public summer recreation.
Charlotte Scot introduces the long u sound, used in combination with silent e. She also produces the sight words you and your. Doris Biscoe takes over with the sight word yours and the long u combinations -ue and -ew. With so much accomplished, Biscoe reviews the vowel sound rules and reads stories. Sylvia Glover uses the ""Getting Along"" segment running through rules and other signs posted at an amusement park.
Doris Biscoe restates the series' mission before explaining two-syllable words. Charlotte Scot takes over, hoping to provide clues to break longer words into syllables. She also introduces the ar sound, such as in words containing -ark, -art and -ard. Wally ""Famous"" Amos discusses job application forms. In the ""Getting Along"" segment, Sylvia Glover shops around with the signs at a supermarket. Sight Words: work, worked, works.
Charlotte Scot pulls two-syllable words apart (only using words that follow the often-broken rule). Doris Biscoe takes over, pulling in the sight words come and comes. She also introducing the in- and con- prefixes. In addition, Biscoe presents the or, er, ir and ur sounds. Jim Johnson warns viewers of the warning labels on hazardous chemicals.
Charlotte Scot tells of the long e sound that y can make at the end of long words. She gives hints on how to read three-syllable words such as handyman. Scot also introduces the oi sound in combinations oi-, -oy, -oil, -oin and -oint. Wally ""Famous"" Amos discusses the shape of handwritten words and paragraphs. In the ""Getting Along"" segment, Sylvia Glover illustrates the signs at a Post Office. Sight word: said.
After a review, Doris Biscoe shows more polysyllabic words. She also implores the sight word from and the spellings au and aw. This leads to the combinations -ause, -aught, -aunch, -awn and -awl. The ""Getting Along"" segment deals with voting.
Doris Biscoe and Charlotte Scot provide a recap of reading polysyllabic words, reviewing the only two rules (so often vulnerable) for breaking words into syllables. Scot also goes back through the words with oi, oy, au and aw. The ""Getting Along"" segment goes to school, reading signs at doors and bulletin boards.
Doris Biscoe briefly reviews the suffixes -er, -ing and s before introducing the word ending -le. She also discusses two major rules for breaking words into syllables. The two oo sounds are introduced, as are the sight words live and lives. Another sight ploy is introduced with the suffix -tion. The ""Getting Along"" segment discusses libraries and the signs inside them.
Wally ""Famous"" Amos reviews the endings -tion and -le as well as the two oo sounds. Charlotte Scot reveals the ow sound in the combinations -ow, -own, -owl, -out, -ound, -oud, -ouch and -outh. She also goes through new rules used to split words into syllables (rules so often disregarded). The ""Getting Along"" segment introduces a new moderator, who informs viewers the instructions on medications. Sight words: two, one.
Finally, Doris Biscoe introduces some of the many words that break (to put it mildly) the syllable rules Learn to Read had established over the past few days. Biscoe also introduces the wh sound and ph. She reveals soft c used in the combinations -ace, -ice, -oice, and -ounce, as well as the soft g regularly used in the combinations -age, -arge, and -ange. The ""Getting Along"" segment sees Sylvia Glover at an amusement park once again. Sight words: what, who.
Charlotte Scot reviews the short C and G in longer words, adding the suffix -tion along the way. By now, it is obvious the syllabication rules aren't always on the level, either. Scot introduces two more sight words, there and this, as well as the consonant combinations kn- and wr-. For his last ""Writing Time"" segment, Wally ""Famous"" Amos reviews the basics of handwriting. The ""Getting Along"" segment points out the divisions in a record store (no CDs highlighted).
Wally Amos and the others review all the elements of the entire Learn to Read series. Before leaving, the show features an extended confessional from an adult just starting to learn to read.
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