The curriculum I am adapting for this project is Wilson Fundations for students in grades K-3. I have used Fundations as a teacher for the past 4 years and have found it to be an effective phonics intervention program for students in the lower 30th percentile. It incorporates the multisensory techniques that most young students with disabilities require in order to learn. Research indicates that because Fundations incorporates explicit and systematic techniques, it is the most effective approach to reading and teaching spelling.
See below for links to publications, citations, and studies that provide evidence of effectiveness of Wilson's programs' explicit, direct, and multi-sensory instruction.
Principles of Instruction
Since its' original publication in 1988, the basis of the program is based upon 10 principles of instruction. Research in the field of reading has validated these principles or, "critical points" of the Fundations program and help to explain its effectiveness in the field.
Critical Point 1: Teach sounds to automaticity.
Critical Point 1: Teach sounds to automaticity.
- Students develop a sound notebook and master sounds with the help of keywords and daily drills
Critical Point 2: Teach total word structure – not just sounds.
- The program is organized according to the six syllable types of the English language. Sounds are taught only as they relate to the syllable type being studied. Also, orthographic rules involving basewords and suffixes are directly taught. In Wilson, students move from a phonological focus to more of an orthographical focus. They eventually learn to process words more quickly through the patterns of syllables and affixes.
Critical Point 3: Present concepts within context of controlled, written text.
- The Wilson controlled text includes extensive wordlists, sentences and paragraphs containing only the elements of word structure taught. This is critical so that the learner has ample opportunity to practice and master skills for both reading and spelling concurrently.
Critical Point 4: Present the structure of language in a systematic, cumulative manner.
- Concepts are taught step by step, following a specified sequence. Steps 1-6 exclude sound options and complex spelling rules in order to establish a solid foundation to build upon. Steps 7-12 present more complex rules of the language including sound options, spelling rules, and morphological principles
Critical Point 5: Teach all principles of English language structure directly and thoroughly.
- Students are taught all concepts by manipulating phoneme cards, syllable cards, and affix cards. In every lesson, students are involved with cards to practice word structure.
Critical Point 6: Teach/reinforce concepts with visual-auditory-kinesthetic-tactile methods.
- Multisensory methods of instruction are integral to the standard lesson procedures.
Critical Point 7: Teach phonemic and syllabic segmentation.
- Phoneme segmentation training is thoroughly done in steps 1 and 2 with phoneme cards, blank cards and finger tapping. Beginning in Step 3, syllable division is taught as rules apply to the structure of the words being studied.
Critical Point 8: Include constant review and repetition.
- Within the standardized lesson plan, all concepts taught are practiced continually for reading fluency and writing accuracy.
Critical Point 9: Use questioning techniques for re-enforcement and student error correction.
- With the help from a teacher’s questioning, students learn to self-monitor reading and writing and self-correct errors.
Critical Point 10: Use diagnostic teaching within the scope and sequence of program.
- Teachers must identify and record specific “trouble spots.” These are discussed with the student and then targeted in subsequent lesson planning.
Reading First
Fundations has been incorporated in the United States Government Reading First Grants as an early intervention or supplemental program. The Florida Center for Reading Reseach conducted a review of Fundations, its effectiveness, and alignment with reading research. Their results found no weakness in Fundations program and confirmed alignment with Reading First. Click here to read full report
Evidence
The following includes publications, citations, and studies that provide evidence of effectiveness of Wilson programs'.
Quote of the moment: A book is a garden carried in your pocket ~Chinese Proverb
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