Help Your Child Become a Confident Reader — Faster Than You’d Believe
A simple, joyful method that helps children learn to read in about 20 hours. Perfect for parents and grandparents of beginning or struggling readers (ages 4–9).
Why Parents Come Here
Does your child struggle with reading?
Do they guess words instead of reading them?
Do you worry they’re falling behind?
You’re not alone — and it’s not your fault. Most children are taught using methods that don’t match how the brain actually learns to read.
Black Swan Reading is different.
We use a simple, brain-aligned approach that teaches children to read quickly by connecting:
- sounds
- sound spellings
- full word spellings
This eliminates guessing and makes reading effortless.
How It Works
Our method is based on decades of reading science and aligns with David Kilpatrick’s research on orthographic mapping — how the brain stores words.
We use a unique four-step sequence called H-S-S-R:
Heard → Said → Spelled → Read
Heard: Your child hears the whole word and the sounds inside it.
Said: They repeat the sounds in order — no guessing.
Spelled: They learn how each sound is spelled — the breakthrough moment.
Read: With the sound spellings in place, reading becomes immediate.
Once a child can spell a word, they can read it instantly — slow and error-prone sounding-out is not required.
No Guessing
We eliminate the #1 cause of reading frustration.
Brain-Aligned Method
Based on phoneme science, not outdated phonics rules.
Short, Joyful Sessions
10–20 minutes a day is enough for real progress.
Parent-Involved
Your attention accelerates their success.
Free Entry Offer
Get Started — Completely Free
Join the Confident Reader Community: a supportive space for parents and grandparents.
- Getting Started Guide
- Sound Map Previews
- Early Access to the App
- Weekly Tips
- Invitations to 10-Minute Sessions
- Support from other families
About Black Swan Reading
Black Swan Reading was created by Byron Davies after decades of research into how children actually learn. The method combines:
- phoneme cognition
- memory science
- brain-aligned sequencing
- iconic sound cues
- and orthographic mapping principles
The result is a fast, joyful path to confident reading.
Q: What ages is this for?
A: 4-9, beginning or struggling readers
Q: How long are the lessons?
A: 10-20 minutes
Q: Do I need teaching experience?
A: No, we guide you as you guide your child through the learning experience with the app.
Q: Does this work over Zoom?
A: Yes, beautifully.
Q: When is the app coming?
A: A pre-release version of the app is available for use now. Founding Families will get early access.