Controlled Phonetic Reading (CPR) is an Orton–Gillingham–based curriculum designed for 1st–3rd grade students who struggle with reading and spelling.
Instead of introducing phonograms alphabetically, CPR teaches sounds in the order of their frequency in the English language. This gives students early wins and helps them quickly build confidence.
Each CPR lesson is simple, structured, and 15–20 minutes long. Lessons introduce only ONE new sound at a time and reinforce it through a phonetic story, word-card games, and multisensory activities every 5 minutes.
Parents also receive take-home stories and speed drills for daily reinforcement.
Melissa Hanson is a certified teacher, Orton–Gillingham–trained reading specialist, and the creator of the Controlled Phonetic Reading Program.
Her passion began at home while homeschooling her three children who struggled with reading and spelling. One of her children was identified as dyslexic and placed in a school environment where he was bullied—an experience that sparked her commitment to mastering phonetic instruction.
Through years of training in Alphabetic Phonics and hands-on work with struggling readers, Melissa developed a step-by-step system that introduces only three letters in the first story and adds a single new phonogram in each lesson until students master all alphabet and multi-letter sounds.
Today, her children are successful honor roll students and college learners—living proof of what structured reading intervention can do.
CPR is specifically designed for 1st–3rd grade students, but it can also support older learners who need a solid foundation in phonics or struggle with decoding.
Not at all. CPR was created for parents, teachers, and homeschoolers. Each lesson is simple, sequential, and scripted step-by-step, making it easy to teach—even if you’re new to phonics instruction.
Most lessons take 15–20 minutes, making them ideal for small groups, homeschool sessions, intervention blocks, or one-on-one reading practice.
Yes. CPR is rooted in the Orton–Gillingham approach, which is highly effective for dyslexic and struggling readers. The program’s multisensory, incremental structure helps students progress at a comfortable pace.
The program includes phonetic stories, lesson instructions, flashcards, speed drills, word cards, multisensory activity guides, and a reading readiness test. Everything you need is included—no extra purchases required.
Bring a proven, structured phonetic reading system into your home or classroom. Whether you’re teaching one student or an entire group, our program gives you everything you need for measurable success.
