I’m an LD teacher with 9 children in my room at one time for reading. They are grades 2-5. We have been using SFA unsuccessfully for several years and my principal has told me we have some money and to go ahead and order what I need. I’m interested in looking at the Wilson Method. Does anyone have any other suggestions for a reading program, taped texts, and language arts programs? Because of the differences in levels, we are looking at forming 2 groups.
Re: reading methods
Hmm I forgot grade 2, I don’t think Wilson is appropriate for the youngest kids. Though Wilson has now added some stories, etc with lower age content. But for the older kids yes.
With the younger kids, as well as some older ones, you would want to combine some good phonemic awareness activities with a good sound phonic approach. I think there are a few to choose from.
—des
Re: reading methods
Wilson now has a program for K-2 called Fundations (3 different kits). The problem is, it is a regular classroom based kit and not a remedial program (smaller) kit. Wilson probably is better for 4th on up. I’d probably just use Phono-Graphix for the small ones. Of course, it’s a fast remediater for older kids, too, but you’d have to bring in other components for fluency and comprehension.
I posted to you on another board, Andra, but i just remembered I did not list my very favorite comprehension program: Visualizing and Verbalizing by Lindamood Bell. The training is great if you are able to go to one.
Janis
reading programs
Wilson would be my first choice. However, if you have the money for a second program, I personally had good results using the SRA Reading Mastery. In the Reading Mastery Fast Cycle kids can make 2 years progress in a year. It’s not perfect, and it has it’s detractors, but it is very good so long as you supplement with other materials. I also liked using the Barnell-Loft comprehension skill building series.
Re: reading methods
Well I liked the Barnell Loft comprehension series before I saw Visualizing and Verbalizing. IMO, Barnell Loft, which has been around forever btw, and isn’t it called something else now (?) is just great for the typical learning child. It has many areas of comprehension (following directions, main idea, sequencing, making inductions, etc.).
However, for a kid with very poor comprehension, it assumes a lot.
I think a few of the books would be good for the V/V. They do have books with V/V but imo, there is not enough reading material in there to take a kid from one level to another.
Visualizing and Verbalizing takes the kid back to the picture and single word level and has them visualize there, and once there on to whole sentences and then sentence to sentence before asking them to do several sentences and then make do the main idea and so on.
The training would be very nice but isn’t absolutely necessary, but would require a bit of study. Not just sitting down and expecting to do it.
There is another more expensive program that some of the home schoolers like “Idea Chain”. I think it is a similar concept and much more structured, lesson plans that kind of thing.
Wilson is fine, might not be my first choice but it is adequate for most of the dyslexic kids. They have added material that is younger age, ie sentences like “Chad had a cat”, instead of “Chad and Jan did neck in bed.” :-) You could add some more multisensory stuff for the younger kids, writing in hair gel and the like.
—des
Re: reading methods
des,
In the Visualizing and Verbalizing training, they used certain passages/books from the Specific Skill Series (Barnell-Loft, sold by SRA) to teach the program! You are right, V/V teaches the skills which underlie comprehension. I’d never use them again (and I have for years!) without teaching V/V first!
Janis
Wilson would be appropriate. Your principal would need to send you to one of their three day overviews. But I’m sure you wouldn’t miss work for a few days.
—des