By Barbara Choudhury, SLP at Cleveland hearing & Speech Center.
The Wilson Reading System (WRS) is a multi-sensory, research-based reading and writing program. It is a complete curriculum for teaching decoding (sounding out words) and encoding (spelling), beginning with phoneme segmentation. WRS directly teaches the structure of words in the English language so that students master the coding system for reading and spelling.
Unlike other programs that overwhelm the student with rules, the language system of English is presented in a systematic and cumulative manner so that it is manageable. It provides an organized, sequential system with extensive controlled text to help teachers implement a multi-sensory structured language program.
Fundations lessons focus on carefully sequenced skills that include print knowledge, alphabet awareness, phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, decoding, spelling, handwriting and vocabulary development. Critical thinking, speaking and listening skills are practiced during storytime activities.
Fundations lessons consist of 15 different activities targeting difference skills that are rotated throughout the week. When students complete the program, they have automatic control over the fundamental components of literacy. These components provide a foundation in literacy on which they can build for the remainder of their education.
Fundations is designed to supplement existing literature-based reading programs in general education classes for 25- to 30-minute daily lessons. It is also highly appropriate for the lowest 30 percent of the children who may be at risk for reading or writing difficulties. In this case, students should receive additional instruction three to five times per week.
In schools where Fundations is not used in the general education classrooms, a small-group early intervention model is appropriate. In this model, students should receive Fundations instruction for 40-60 minutes each day.
Target Population: Third Grade and Beyond
WRS is designed for use with individuals who have difficulty with written language in the areas of decoding and spelling. The program is generally taught to students beginning with the upper elementary grades through adult. Many students who benefit from WRS have deficiencies in phonologic awareness and/or orthographic processing, which makes it challenging to learn to read and spell without an explicit, systematic and multi-sensory approach. The Wilson Reading System specifically addresses the learning style of students with a language-based learning disability; however, it is beneficial to any student lacking basic reading and spelling skills. It is appropriate for students with beginning literacy skills through sixth grade-level skills if the student has not mastered the decoding and spelling process.
WRS was developed for students in third grade and beyond. It is widely used with upper elementary students, adolescents and adults.
The program will greatly benefit:
- Students with a language-based learning disability (such as dyslexia)
- Students unable to decode accurately
- Slow, labored readers who lack fluency
- Students who may know words by sight but have difficulty reading new words and “nonsense” syllables
- Students who often guess at words
- Students able to speak and understand English but not read or write it (such as ELL students)
- Poor spellers
- Students unsuccessful with other reading programs or who have gaps in their decoding and/or spelling
Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center currently employs four speech-language pathologists with Level 1 Wilson Reading System Certification. This means that the SLPs have completed a nearly yearlong training experience using the Wilson Reading System, under the supervision of an experienced Wilson trainer. They have attended workshops and meetings to discuss appropriate use of the program.
Therapy is conducted on an individualized basis after an appropriate evaluation has been completed. Group or individual therapy is offered. Therapy can range from one to three times per week for 30-90 minutes.
For more information, contact Cleveland hearing & Speech Center at 216-231-8787 or visit www.chsc.org.
