Updated Foundational Literacy Program Will Include New Digital Experience, Integrated Phonics Assessments and More
PORTSMOUTH, N.H., May 5, 2025 -- Heinemann today announced the release of an updated edition of its popular foundational literacy program Saxon Reading Foundations. Previously known as Saxon Phonics and Spelling, the new program will be redesigned to feature engaging and kid-friendly illustrations alongside a brand new digital experience and new and updated content aligned to the latest science of reading research. Saxon Reading Foundations will be available on the Heinemann Flight platform for the 2025-2026 school year.
Authored by special education teacher Lorna Simmons, Saxon Reading Foundations is a research-based, structured, sequential phonics program for K-2 students, designed to explicitly teach phonemic awareness, phonics and fluency. Simmons' years of formal training and classroom experience combined with her personal struggles to guide her own dyslexic son to reading success provide a unique foundation for this immersive program that has been found to be consistently effective for children of varying ability levels and socioeconomic backgrounds.
"I know from firsthand experience as a parent and as an educator how absolutely crucial it is all for students to receive evidence-based foundational skills instruction," said Lorna Simmons. "I'm proud that Saxon has helped to turn so many children into successful readers and I'm excited to offer a new edition that builds on the program's strengths, incorporates the most up-to-date research on effective instruction, and provides digital tools that will help make teachers' lives easier."
Research-Based Enhancements to Strengthen Instruction
The new edition of Saxon will add a new scope and sequence in Grade K with students being introduced to a new letter a day to reflect the latest research on appropriate pacing. There will be new practice opportunities with decodable text included in student workbooks and phonological awareness instruction integrated into the lessons in Grades K and 1. Grade 2 will add morphology extension lessons as part of an updated scope and sequence, giving students additional opportunities to practice advanced phonics skills. The new program will also have improved multilingual learner supports throughout and new beginning-, middle- and end-of-year phonics assessments to help teachers track student progress and tailor instruction to meet students' needs.
New Digital Tools to Increase Ease of Use for Teachers
An updated digital experience on the Heinemann Flight platform will provide teachers with implementation and pacing support alongside expanded classroom modeling and tutorial videos. The new edition of Saxon will also add digital assessment and reporting capabilities so teachers can quickly monitor student progress and access student data to inform classroom instruction.
"Over the course of its nearly 40-year history, Saxon Reading Foundations has been incredibly popular among classroom teachers, thanks to its immersive, innovative and engaging design. But the main driver of the program's continued success is a simple yet powerful one: it is extremely effective at helping children master the foundational skills they need to become confident and joyful readers," said Maggie DeMont, general manager of Heinemann. "Heinemann is delighted to be able to continue to perfect this proven program with a brand new edition, designed to help transform the next generation of students into successful readers."
For more information about Saxon Reading Foundations, please visit: https://www.heinemann.com/saxon-reading-foundations/.
About Heinemann
Heinemann is a leading provider of professional resources and educational services for educators, kindergarten through college. Heinemann supports the professionalism of teachers as they help children become literate, compassionate, engaged citizens of the world. Heinemann authors are exemplary educators eager to support the practice of other teachers through professional books and explicit teaching materials, streaming videos, podcasts and blogs, as well as professional learning experiences, both live and online. Heinemann is dedicated to teachers and the modernization of the teaching profession. Visit Heinemann.com to learn more.
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