About the Shining Light Reading Series

The Shining Light Reading Series is a product of Born Free, Inc., a 501-(c)-3 not-for-profit corporation, and is tailored specifically to meet the needs of your child as he or she explores the vast world of learning, self-expression and communication. This 4-volume series begins by introducing the 26 letters of the alphabet in an effective, easy-to-follow format. Your child will learn to recognize letters and distinguish individual sounds in a word and continue until, with Volume 4, he or she can write in both print and cursive.

Ten-Year Research Project

In 1994 we handed out our first videos to families with three-year olds. We began to collect data on these students when they entered first grade. We have been able to gather information on these six-year-olds for six years.

During these six years we used the Brigance Diagnostic Comprehensive Inventory of Basic Skills, Revised and First Edition. We asked each entering student to sing the Shining Light Reading Series (SLRS) Alphabet Song with the teacher. We found that if they recognized the song they scored two grade levels above their classmates who did not recognize the song. We gathered and analyzed test information in four critical reading areas: reading, spelling, writing and vocabulary.

Our findings showed that students who were able to recognize the SLRS Alphabet Song showed a significant difference in reading ability when measured against students who did not recognize the song.

About Our Creative Director

Maren Stark Schmidt, our creative director, is founder of a Montessori school and holds a Masters of Education from Loyola College in Maryland. She has over twenty years experience working with young children and holds teaching credentials from the Association Montessori Internationale. She designed our video based reading series for children ages three to six, The Shining Light Reading Series.

Maren has worked with children of different ages and learning styles to help them become successful readers. She tells us:

“I’ve worked with ten-year-olds who sobbed on my shoulder, “Ms. Maren, I can’t read. It just looks like scribbles to me.” Then comes the magical day when I get a phone call from them and they say something like, “I just read the first Harry Potter book and it was so cool!” I’ve also worked with four-year-olds that come to me jumping and laughing with a piece of paper and say, “Did you know this says “fish”?”. These are the moments I live for, when a child discovers the joy of learning.”

Contact her via e-mail at maren@shininglightreading.com.

For additional information, please contact us at info@shininglightreading.com or 503.550.3143.