About Us

How it all Began

In the late Fall of 2000, the founders of The Reading Matrix recognized a need for a web site that would make the Internet easier for all educators of adult learners, and college/university learners to use. While the Internet provides thousands of resources, many sites are focused on the younger learner. They wanted to create a home for both educators and learners, a place where teachers of Reading, Composition, Literature and Languages, and English as a Second Language could find information without searching the entire Internet, as well as a place where learners could find information and resources to assist them in their reading, writing, and language courses. They have created the Matrix Archives which is continually growing as a result of the input and suggestions from all users. Many other projects are currently underway such as the creation of online computer-mediated exercises and software development. While there is no subscription fee to the journal or the software materials currently under development, the support of corporate sponsorship and advertisers is welcome in order for us to cover costs of site development and support.

Our Goals

Our goal at The Reading Matrix is to offer a dynamic and innovative online forum for the exploration and discussion of the study and teaching of reading in both traditional academic and hypertextual environments like the World-Wide Web. The Reading Matrix is a site consisting of computer mediated and online materials designed specifically to meet the language needs of the ESL/international student population as well as English-speaking students enrolled in colleges and universities. The primary goal of this web site is to prepare students to successfully manage the academic reading undertaken at colleges/universities. In an effort to accomplish this goal and meet the specific needs of such students, The Reading Matrix supports the students' needs by providing them with both information as well as access to numerous resources located in our archives. These resources and sites have been carefully selected as we believe they will be helpful to students in managing the standard reading content and writing assignments they are likely to encounter in their classes. We have also developed web-based tools to create online tests, activities, and games. Two versions are available. One is free while the second more comprehensive one is available for a minimal annual membership fee. We invite all users to explore Script-O! and Script-O! Pro.

The Reading Matrix is also intended to serve all other readers who feel they may benefit from this site including reading specialists, teachers of composition and literature, curriculum consultants, researchers, and those integrating and applying technology in the classroom. We also publish The Reading Matrix: An International Online Journal, and welcome articles and book reviews. It is our sincere hope that this journal becomes a cooperative endeavor of students, educators, and researchers. We would like to extend a direct invitation to this group to make use of the Comments page and provide us with your invaluable feedback, ideas, and needs. Additionally, we welcome all commentary from other site visitors in other countries whose insights are needed if this site is truly to offer an international perspective. We are committed to providing a forum for alternative modes of inquiry and viewpoints about the nature of literacy practices of diverse groups of persons around the globe. This web site was created in order to continually support the goals of The Reading Matrix by using the feedback we get from those who will benefit from its existence. Finally, if you are not sure what you are looking for, we suggest that you look through the site via the links on this page. If you have an idea of what you need, try finding it via the Search option.