Our History
A legacy of learning.
It all began with a boy who was struggling to read. In 1987, a father was determined to help his son overcome his reading troubles. He developed an in-home learning program using phonics to nurture an understanding of reading. The rest was history.
It wasn’t long before Hooked on Phonics® became a household name for educational excellence. While our products helped children to build a foundation of essential learning skills, our advertising campaign gained national recognition through the memorable 1-800-ABCDEFG® phone number and the tagline, “Hooked on Phonics worked for me.”
Twenty years later, over two million families and thousands of schools have turned to our award-winning products to help their children and students reach their full potential. We continue our proud legacy of making a difference in the lives of children through an ever-growing library of educational tools that are fun, effective, easy to use, and incredibly successful.
1987
Hooked on Phonics is born. The original Hooked on Phonics program debuts and Gateway Educational Products, Ltd. is founded.
1990
Hooked on Math® debuts to rave reviews.
1996
Our growing company is acquired by Gateway Learning Corporation.
1998
Amid much anticipation, the all-new Hooked on Phonics® Learn to Read program is released. The program features an exciting library of books by award-winning authors and illustrators. Shortly after its release, the program is awarded the National Parenting Center Seal of Approval, naming Hooked on Phonics Learn to Read “one of the finest products and services being marketed to the parent/child audience.”
1999
A new edition of Hooked on Math is released. The improved program features fun new games and activities to help children to learn essential math skills.
2001
Hooked on School Success® is created. The program helps children excel in school with a comprehensive learning approach to essential reading skills, study habits, and test-taking strategies.
Learning magazine honors Hooked on Math with a prestigious Teacher’s Choice Award.
Learn to Read is named “One of the Top 100 Classroom Products” by Curriculum Administrator magazine (now District Administrator magazine).
Hooked on Phonics partners with KinderCare to offer Hooked on Phonics tutoring programs in KinderCare daycare centers across the nation.
2002
Learn to Read is named one of the “Best Vacation Products” by Dr. Toy.
2003
Hooked on School Success wins a Teacher’s Choice Award from Learning magazine.
Hooked on Phonics® Master Reader premieres. The new program teaches children the advanced phonics skills they need to read with speed and accuracy by breaking down large words into manageable parts.
2004
Hooked on Phonics is honored with another Teacher’s Choice Award from Learning magazine. This time, the award is for the effective new Master Reader program.
2005
Educate, Inc. acquires Hooked on Phonics, and the company now known as Smarterville Productions LLC is formed.
Through our partnership with KinderCare, Hooked on Phonics begins offering the Hooked on Phonics® Get Ready to Read program in KinderCare centers nationwide. The program helps prepare young children by teaching them the foundation of reading.
Learn to Read grade-level kits are introduced.
Hooked on Phonics products appear in major retailers nationwide.
2006
Hooked on Math wins double accolades from Dr. Toy. It is named one of the “10 Best Educational products” and one of the “100 Best Children’s Products.”
The NationalParentingCenterrecognizes Hooked on Phonics® Get Ready to Read and Hooked on Math.
The National Parenting Publications chooses Hooked on Pre-K™ as the winner of the “Best Pre-K Book” category.
Hooked on Phonics announces the debut of several exciting new additions to its library of products:
- Hooked on Handwriting™
- Hooked on Pre-K™
- Hooked on Kindergarten™
- Hooked on First Grade™
- Hooked on Phonics Workbooks™
- Hooked on Spanish™
- Hooked on French™
- Hooked on Chinese™
- Hooked on Spelling™
- Hooked on Bible Stories™
Dr. Toy also names Hooked on Handwriting™, Hooked on Numbers™, Hooked on Colors™, and Hooked on Shapes™ to the list of “Best Vacation Products.”
Smarterville Productions LLC begins offering Hooked on Phonics programs internationally.
2007
Hooked on Phonics celebrates 20 years of teaching kids to read with events around the country. The anniversary celebration includes the introduction of HOP Across America, a ten-city mobile bus tour that gets children excited about reading and teaches parents the importance of nurturing their children’s reading skills. By partnering with First Book, Hooked on Phonics is able to donate over $1 million worth of reading and educational programs to libraries, schools, and literacy programs across the nation.
Smarterville Productions LLC expands its flagship reading product library to include three effective new titles:
- Discover Reading Baby Edition
- Discover Reading Toddler Edition
- Learn to Read Pre-K Edition
Learning magazine celebrates Hooked on Handwriting with a Teacher’s Choice Award.
Dr. Toy honors Discover Reading Baby Edition, Discover Reading Toddler Edition, and Hooked on First Grade by naming them to the list of “Best Summer Products.”
2008
Judy L. Harris is named Chief Executive Officer of Smarterville, Inc.
Hooked on Phonics wins two Teachers’ Choice Awards for Learn to Read and Learn to Read Pre-K edition.
Dr. Toy awards “Best Educational Product” to Hooked on Phonics Learn to Read Pre-K Edition.
Hooked on Phonics Learn to Read wins Product of the Year from the Creative Child Awards.
The Association of Educational Publishers presents Hooked on Phonics with their Distinguished Achievement Award for the Hooked on Math Addition and Subtraction workbook.
Hooked on Phonics increases their support of literacy by donating educational products to national literacy non-profit organizations First Book and Books for Kids.
HOP Across America bus tour wins Silver Reggie Award for awareness and promotion of the importance of literacy.
2009
Hooked on Phonics wins another Teachers’ Choice Award, this the second annual award for Learn to Read Pre-K Edition.
Hooked on Phonics releases the all-new Learn to Read, complete with a Teacher's Edition and the first digital offering.
Hooked on Phonics launches the new Learn to Read product site, learntoread.hookedonphonics.com.
The new Learn to Read program wins several national awards, including the Parent's Choice Silver Award, iParenting Outstanding Product Award, Dr. Toy 100 Best Products Award, Creative Child Magazine Award: Kids Product of the Year Award, National Parenting Center Seal of Approval Award, and Mom's Choice Gold Award.