The Wilson Reading System will help to improve literacy skills for struggling readers in grades 2-12. Specifically, the Wilson Reading System is an intensive tier 3 reading intervention program for students with word level deficits who are not making sufficient progress through their current instruction; have been unable to learn with other teaching strategies and requires multi-sensory language instruction; or who require more intensive structured literacy instruction due to a language-based learning disability, such as dyslexia. Reading research has found that multi-sensory, explicit, direct, and systematic reading programs help students who struggle with reading. The Wilson Reading System is based on this reading research and is evidence based. As a structured literacy program based on phonological-coding research and Orton-Gillingham principles, the Wilson Reading System directly and systematically teaches the structure of the English language. Through the program, students learn fluent decoding and encoding skills to the level of mastery. Students receive instruction in: phonemic awareness, decoding and word study, sight word recognition, spelling, fluency, vocabulary, oral expressive language development, and comprehension. This program will target students who are not responding to classroom interventions and need a program that delivers a multi-sensory approach.
At each school in our district we continue to have students that are reading significantly below grade level and are not responding to current interventions. This reading program, for grades 2-12, targets students who are not making sufficient progress with their current instruction/intervention. This program will greatly benefit students with dyslexia, students unable to decode accurately, students able to speak and understand English, but not read or write it (such as ESL students), poor spellers, and students unsuccessful with other reading programs or who still have "gaps" in their decoding and/or spelling. The Wilson Reading System directly and systematically teaches students how to fluently and accurately decode.
This program will be assessed in a variety of ways. On-going progress monitoring by teachers and students will evaluate students’ reading progress through the 12 step program. Assessments are also built into the program and students are required to master concepts before moving on to future levels. Overall success of this program would be students improving their reading levels, showing their reading progress through assessments and teacher observations, and continuing to receive this instruction year after year, in attempt to close the reading gaps.
The Wilson Reading System is designed to be implemented one-on-one or in a small group setting of up to five students to one teacher or tutor, or with lots of teacher training, 10-12 students in a group. The program can be implemented in a Special Education environment or in before or after school programs. This program can also be implemented in classrooms that have paraprofessional support or consistent parent support. Finally, to ensure effective and consistent implementation, training videos and tutorials are provided and can be watched online or on personal computers. If this grant is awarded, this program will be implemented in a small group setting.
Yes. This program will provide Special Education teachers and Reading Intervention teachers with yet another tool to use for students that struggle with reading and are not responding to other methods. As struggling readers begin to improve their skills, they are more likely to access the core curriculum which also ties into our participation in our Special Education's Public Learning Communities (PLC) and our site grade level PLC. This program can also be used in the Student Study Team process, giving students access to tier two and three interventions.
Dictation Book (Steps 7-12) (1) $20/each = $20 WRS Sound Cards (1) $15/each = $15 Word Cards (Steps 1-12) (7) $15/each = $105 Syllable Cards (Steps 3-6) (7) $15/each = $105 Syllable Cards (Steps 7-12) (8) $15/each = $120 Magnetic Journal with Letter Tiles (7) $25/each = $175 Total = $540
Classroom funds and Special Education Department funds to purchase any supplemental materials are available, but no other additional funding is available at this time.
As I noted in the Sustainability section, the Wilson Reading Starter Kit has been purchased for me through the Special Education Department. However, in order to properly implement this program to a variety of elementary students reading below grade level, I will need this grant to purchase supplemental material for multiple students. Thank you for your time and effort.