Need help from teachers with experience in Wilson, step 3

Submitted by an LD OnLine user on

Happy New Year, everyone! I would like some advice from teachers using Wilson, especially those familiar with step 3. I’m working with a group of 6-7 6th graders on Step 3.2, beginning Monday. I’m trying to follow the instructions in the teacher’s manual for this step, but it’s difficult, if not impossible, with that many students. We have one hour, if we’re lucky, and we’re working in a small room where not everyone has a desk. I want to keep as closely to their recommended procedures as possible, but am finding it impossible. I can’t change the number of students, the time allotted, or the room, but was wondering if anyone had experience doing this step with a group who could offer some suggestions, especially with giving each student time to read the words and sentences, and listening to each one read! I know the Wilson Academy is available, but the price at this time is just too much.

Thanks for any help!

Jenn

Submitted by des on Sat, 01/03/2004 - 6:01 AM

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You might try emailing or calling them? Have you had any training? Have you done any practicing— ie take the manual and materials and practice as if you were teaching with them. BTW, I have no training or experience. I have the manual but decided not to go on with it. I think that large a group is difficult even with tons of training and experience.

—des

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 01/05/2004 - 1:23 AM

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Jenn:

<<I would like some advice from teachers using Wilson, especially those familiar with step 3. I’m working with a group of 6-7 6th graders on Step 3.2, beginning Monday. I’m trying to follow the instructions in the teacher’s manual for this step, but it’s difficult, if not impossible, with that many students.>>

I think your first step should be to request a reading table, or just a rectangular table large enough for your students. Maybe you can exchange a few desks for one table. I can’t imagine doing this with indivdual desks!

Are you following the suggestion at the beginning of the manual, which suggests teaching Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9 on one day and Parts 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 on the other days? Also, since you have such a large group, I would only chart once or twice in one week. You can shorten Step 1 by having everyone do the vowels together, since we review those every single day, and just quiz on consonants, digraphs and welded sounds that you feel your students need. That should cut down on some of the time. Part 2 seems to take the longest every day, since I try and make sure that everyone has a turn. Part 3 doesn’t need to be done with everyone, every single day, either.

Part 7 is another step that is time-consuming. You might only have time to do one word per person, but if they are watching each other, they will benefit from one another.

And Part 8, I have their papers already set up, so that they don’t have to take the time to do that every day. It goes relatively quickly that way. And since your kids are on the same step, it shouldn’t be too difficult.

I think that you’ll find that if your students did well on 2.4, and 2.5 and 3.1, they won’t have any real difficulty with Step 3.2. I have one Wilson group of 5 students where each is on a different substep, but with good organization, it is manageable.

I hope this is helpful. You’re welcome to EMail me and perhaps I can provide some more help.

Marilyn

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